By Mzukona Mantshontsho
It’s never too early to rise up and change lives. After rigorous and lengthy interviews, assignments and seminars, Lebidike Phatudi was selected to represent Johannesburg during the One Young World (OYW) Summit held in Johannesburg.
The OYW Summit provided a platform where an exchange of ideas took place on the importance of developing the youth into future leaders, taking home lessons from both developing and developed countries.
Spoke to Lebidike Phatudi on his views on leadership and life.
What are you passionate about?
I am particularly passionate about leadership. I have the conviction that many issues that face many African countries including South Africa, are due to a lack of ethical and moral leaders and leadership. I hold dear to me values of selflessness, courage and service. I’m convinced that if one embodies such values and embraces such as a leader, society would be holistically transformed, objectives achieved and goals for improvement of the standard of living for the majority of our people attained. These values go against corruption, which is based on self-entitlement and greed. South Africa is a rich country. We are blessed with resources to enable us to compete internationally, and progress to be a world class nation, not just limited to the confines of Sandton; sadly, we limit ourselves.
How did you make it to the OYW Summit?
I received the call about a week before the Summit, having thought I was no longer going to be part of it, to inform me that my work and active stance in promoting social justice and bringing about change in whatever way I could, was acknowledged, and was selected to be part of the delegation. It was a good day indeed!!
What did you learn from the OYW Summit?
Whatever ideas one may have, whatever action one may want to take to be at the forefront of his or her community in whatever aspects, whether it is through campaigning against gender violence, being an activist for deliverance of social justice, leadership and governance, human, children, women’s rights, there is a way to do something about anything you’re passionate about. There are people out there who are there to assist you, financially and otherwise. The tools are there, you just need to get up and do something about it. I have contacts of brilliant young people across the globe, from the Indonesian Islands to unknown countries I had never heard of until the Summit, and all across the African continent, who I communicate with on Facebook regularly, who are doing crazy amazing things. You’re never too young; you are the change you’ve been looking for. Across the globe there are people out there who are taking heed of our world and solving its problems one small project, campaign, speech at a time. The statement that we are a lost generation, after the summit, confirmed that it is an outrageous myth. We are the best generation yet!
What are you up currently and what do we expect going forward?
We formed an organisation which seeks to implement certain projects in certain areas such as sustainable energy, education and community upliftment. This will be a journey, but we have the full support of the City of Johannesburg in terms of assistance and resources.
I am working on my youth development organisation, and I am planning on speaking again. Speaking has taken me as far as speaking in the Constitutional Court of South Africa and winning numerous first place awards. Now I really want to become a motivational speaker and give back using whatever talent I have to make a positive impact in this country which I love.
