Hontse Maria Masimini
Nominee's Province:
Limpopo
Age:
23
Project Name/Description:
Community Service Professional Nurse
Hontse Maria Masimini is already reshaping the future of healthcare education in her community. Currently serving as a Community Service Professional Nurse at Mokopane Hospital, she’s passionately committed to breaking the silence around sexual and reproductive health among young girls and women in Limpopo. Driven by personal experience and deep empathy for the struggles of rural youth, Hontse’s work extends far beyond the hospital walls. Through school visits, she educates learners on contraceptives, menstrual hygiene, and STIs—arming them with knowledge and confidence. She’s also used local media platforms like Mokopane Community Radio to promote cervical cancer screening, challenging stigma and misinformation with courage and compassion. A proud graduate of the University of KwaZulu-Natal, Hontse earned a First-Class Pass and received multiple merit certificates, including the esteemed 50th Anniversary Scholarship awarded by the Vice Chancellor. Yet her journey wasn’t easy. Rejected from nursing school on her first application, her resilience saw her reapply and rise to become one of the institution’s top students. Through mentorship programs, a youth Facebook initiative, and her role at a local clinic’s Youth Zone, she supports others on their academic and health journeys. For Hontse, empowering others isn’t just a calling—it’s a responsibility. “My mission is to build a community where women are informed, cervical cancer is preventable, and no girl is left behind due to lack of guidance,” she says. Hontse Maria Masimini is not only a nurse—she’s a changemaker, mentor, and beacon of hope for a generation ready to reclaim their health and their future.
