Almien Noko Mokobodi
Nominee's Province:
Limpopo
Age:
31
Project Name/Description:
Reimagining Education for South Africa’s Youth
“I’m building a future where education is not a privilege but a right — and no learner is left behind because of their background, language, or location.” From Moletjie Ga-Rankhuwe in Limpopo to international platforms advocating for education rights, Almien Noko Mokobodi is reshaping access to learning. At 31, the law graduate and founder of Tutor Mentor Connect is bridging academic and career guidance gaps for students across underserved communities. Her mobile learning app connects learners with qualified tutors and career mentors — helping young people understand not just their schoolwork, but their future options. “My grandmother only studied up to Grade 6, but her dream for us went far beyond that. She lit the fire,” Almien says. That fire led her to teach English in China, where she saw the global power of language. This inspired her to integrate French, Mandarin, and Swahili into her platform — helping African youth become global citizens. With no major capital, Almien bootstrapped the project — tutoring students herself, choosing the app over personal needs, and learning to innovate through every obstacle. Her efforts earned her R47,000 in seed funding from NYDA, an invitation to speak at Education Above All in Qatar, and a role on the UN OHCHR-EEA Youth Advisory Board. Today, Tutor Mentor Connect is live on Android and growing fast — proof of what happens when passion meets perseverance.
