Sibongile Khumalo, South Africa
For nine years, Sibongile worked with a high-school scholarship program, where she focused on providing support to underprivileged children who were awarded scholarships to attend affluent schools. Sibongile believes that all young people can have access to quality education if local community members organize themselves and build partnerships to supplement what is offered at the country’s ill-resourced public schools. Sibongile holds a Master of Science degree and currently heads operations at an education systems change organization. As part of her community work, she has started libraries, tutored primary-school children, and now voluntarily manages a Saturday school program. When she returns from the Mandela Washington Fellowship, Sibongile intends to secure funding to start an afternoon academy.