Making a lasting impact in girls’ lives
AMONGE Sinxoto is making a name for herself in the activism space.
The 19-year-old student and 2019’s Global Teen Leader has always been about initiating the change she wanted to see in the country.
“I was having a lot of frustrations around being a young black girl growing up in this version of South Africa and I was frustrated by my surroundings. It inspired me to talk about the issues and stories that aren’t being told about young Africans and where that platform is for them to speak,” said the social entrepreneur.
This is what initiated the NPO Blackboard Africa, which Sinxoto co-founded in 2016.
“We took it a step further to make it more than a platform to share your voice but also being a leader and being able to action solutions to the problems you are facing. Our MO (modus operandi) is making sure people have access to mentorship and leadership training.
“Being able to lead is not something you get to understand when you’re a chief executive. Young people need to understand what that is from a young age. If you start to equip yourself with those tools and start to practise them, then that’s how we become better and grow the nation.”
Since its inception, Blackboard has helped youth refocus on their dreams and leadership skills.
“When we started, I was 15 saying, this is something I need and my peers need. Right now we are moving into the space of actually making this a real, breathing and functioning organisation that can live beyond us.
“So many people have walked away learning things and we have seen it in their actions, like starting podcasts and fashion labels. Just really redirecting purpose in their lives. The results are speaking for themselves.”
The public speaker credits her parents for being the support system that keeps her going.
“They push me and see greatness within me when I don’t even see it myself. This path I’m on right now is because of their push, because they know I’m capable of so much more and they have made me believe that.”
Most recently, Sinxoto was part of a global BBC initiative that asked thought leaders around the world, including the Dalai Lama and the pope, about what they imagined would be the most inspirational and meaningful changes that might result from the coronavirus crisis.
Under the Rethink podcast, Sinxoto’s audio essay explores the things that have been normal in society but really shouldn’t be.
“Our reality as women in this country should never be the norm. Not being safe or protected or having the police to go to is not normal and it shouldn’t be acceptable.
“People have been talking about what will change after Covid, and I think we should start there before introducing all these other things. Let’s talk about the things that should have been fixed a long time ago.”
Issues that came up were gender-based violence in the country and Black Lives Matter in the US.
“That’s what really inspired me to take that approach with the essay. Blackboard Africa is running a women’s leadership programme with two groups of girls based in Alexandra and Soweto. It’s really around reminding young girls that they are leaders, affirming them and igniting the light within them and setting the world on fire.”
Sinxoto’s vision is simple: to make an impact in the lives of young people across the country and the continent.
“Whatever I am doing, wherever I am… that is going to be my intention.”