By Nozibele Mayaba
My name is Nozibele Qamngana born on the 20th of November 1990, the 2nd and last born of Sindiswa Fezzie Qamngana, born in Sterkstroom. My mother went to Port Elizabeth looking for a job and was rejected because she was uneducated.
She finally found a job as a cleaner. Life was tough. There’s not much you can do with a cleaner’s salary. Today, I’m a graduate. The first in the family. After passing Matric at 16, I went to become the first person to go to university in my family.
I secured a full-time position at a corporate company at 19 years old. After 1 and half year, I was nominated to go for 12 months marketing and sales trainee program in Germany. I came back to South Africa and later joined one of the most ambitious non-profit organizations in Africa (@ubuntupathways).
At 26, I now serve as the External Relations Manager at the Centre, advocating for a holistic approach when it comes to changing a life. I’m an advisor of what it really takes to transform a child’s life – because I know it first-hand.
I’m an international speaker, a mentor and development activist.
I was representing my country at the World Youth Conference in Belize. I was the only South African. I stand here full of pride of where I come from.
