Meet the Young Leaders

We asked nine young delegates at the conference to tell us what they were looking forward to about the event.

Click here to download the SAIIA Young Leaders Declaration 2013.

Abidha Osman

Age: 15
Grade: 10
School: Buffelsdale Secondary School, Tongaat, KwaZulu-Natal
Programme: SAIIA Young Ambassadors Programme
Committee: Environmental Sustainability (focus: sustainable energy)

“I am very excited to meet the other delegates and hear their ideas. I am also very keen to take part in a learning experience that will not only change my life but the lives of others too.”

Angelique Pinto

Age: 18
Grade: 12
School: Chesterhouse College, Durbanville, Western Cape
Programme: SAIIA Caltex Schools’ Quiz
Committee: Conflict, Violence and Disasters (focus: gender)

“Gender roles are a topic that I am passionate about. I’m especially focused on the improvement of women’s position in the day to day world and hope to make the committee aware of the plight of women in conflicts, disasters and violence. I would also like to highlight the different ways in which males and females are affected… It’s always fascinating to meet people from different backgrounds to my own and learn from them.”

Sphesihle Mavuso

Age: 16
Grade: 10
School: Kiriyatswane Secondary School, Embalenhle, Mpumalanga
Programme: SAIIA Sasol Environmental Sustainability Project
Committee: Environmental Sustainability (focus: global conservation organisations)

“What excites me the most is that my research perspective and insights will be part of the 2013 Young Leaders Declaration.”

Annabel Lee Fenton

Age: 17
Grade: 11
School: Parktown High School for Girls, Parkview, Gauteng
Programme: SAIIA Model United Nations, SAIIA Sasol Environmental Sustainability Project
Committee: Environmental Sustainability (focus: gender)

“I am greatly looking forward to the opportunity to meet other ambitious young people who are dedicated to making a difference to our world today! I’m so excited about having an active role and learning more about the subjects which I am passionate about.”

Audriana Chagopa

Age: 16
Grade: 10
School: Crawford College Pretoria, Pretoria, Gauteng
Programme: SAIIA Model United Nations
Committee: Addressing Inequalities (focus: G8 and OECD Countries)

“The most exciting prospect of the upcoming Young Leaders Conference is the meeting of young individuals who share a common interest (resolving global problems).”

Lindokuhle Mangesi

Age: 17
Grade: 12
School: Makupula Secondary School, Kaya Mandi, Western Cape
Programme: SAIIA Sasol Environmental Sustainability Project
Committee: Environmental Sustainability (focus: public health; water, sanitation and hygiene)

“I will be surrounded by intelligent young people who have a global view of issues affecting the world as a whole and who are very passionate in dealing with the issues. It makes me see that the youth are involved and we’re not just depending on our leaders alone. We, as the youth, are a part of the bigger picture in trying to resolve the issues. Our contributions today will be a preparation for being future leaders. Dealing with global issues is not an easy task and this is an opportunity for me to understand the amount of responsibility that comes with the job. This for me is an opportunity to be part of something big.”

Gugu Vivica Malope

Age: 17
Grade: 11
School: Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls, Henley-on-Klip, Gauteng
Programme: SAIIA Young Ambassadors Programme
Committee: Conflict, Violence and Disasters (focus: Regional Organisations – Americas)

“What excites me most about the conference is the coming together of so many brilliant young people, to come up with a youth-led declaration. I am also excited about all the things I am going to learn, the negotiation process and about forming lifelong friendships with learners from different walks of life. The YLC is a place where I am at the table where decisions are made and I am excited to be sitting there. I am excited about being part of the change and being part of the generation that looks beyond textbooks and exams (these are important too) but looks at the world at large and does its bit to contribute to positive change.”

Raabeah Floris

Age: 16
Grade: 11
School: Spine Road High School, Mitchell’s Plain, Western Cape
Programme: SAIIA Sasol Environmental Sustainability Project
Committee: Environmental Sustainability (focus: food security)

“What excites me the most is the fact that we will all be able to have a say in our world’s future. Even though it won’t have such a big, immediate impact, it’s one of the little contributions that will sustain our world for us, the youth, and future generations to come.”

Shu-Ting Hsu

Age: 17
Grade: 11
School: Danville Park Girls’ High School, Durban North, KwaZulu-Natal
Programme: SAIIA Sasol Environmental Sustainability Project
Committee: Addressing Inequalities (focus: natural resources)

“The most exciting thing is to be able to meet other young people who are eager to share their thoughts and ideas with each other and express their opinions and concerns about the variety of topics we have received. I am also looking forward to creating the declaration with everyone!”

The SAIIA Young Leaders Conference forms part of Youth@SAIIA programmes for high school learners, and is made possible by the generous support of Sasol and Absa.

Click here to learn more about the Young Leaders Conference 2013.

The Complete List of Delegates attending the 2013 SAIIA Young Leaders Conference:

We also have a team of eleven dedicated and outstanding university students who will be chairing the negotiations and will help to run the 2013 SAIIA Young Leaders Conference:

Abongile Xantini
Janet Kachinga
Jessica Lawrence
Kenneth Diole
Levi Singh
Odwa Mtembu
Siwapiwe Madubela
Terry Kuzhanga
Thabisa Vanqa
Thabo Thulare
Usman Shahid