Working as an analytical chemist felt like imprisonment to Bhongolwethu Sonti.

Now 26, Sonti had shown leadership potential early on when he served as president of his school’s Learners Representative Council for three years, and initiated its debate club. It seems inevitable that Sonti would swop chemistry to become a youth activist.

As an advisor to the United Nations Population Fund, he advocates and lobbies for youth sexual reproductive health rights, as well as the integration of comprehensive sexual education into South Africa’s school curriculum.

Until a few months ago, he managed Greenpop’s Urban Greening programme, overseeing 300 beneficiaries, including schools and churches; and assisting in the roll-out of eco-education workshops.

These days he is tasked with establishing a country programme for Tore’s Foundation – a British/Norwegian NGO which seeks to create a more democratic political atmosphere in disadvantaged communities. This is achieved through educating people from a young age.

Since April this year, he has been facilitating and driving the vision of the programme in Lavender Hill and Village Heights; reaching a total of 64 children thus far.

Moving forward, Sonti would like to mobilise the youth to actively engage with the African Union. “South African youth are key to changing the trajectory of Africa,” he says.

|The best advice I have ever received is not to take anything too seriously, including myself.|

Categories: Healers