Lethabo kupa
Nominee's Province:
Gauteng
Age:
28
Project Name/Description:
Founder – Protea World Universal
With a heart rooted in service and a mind shaped by resilience, Lethabo Kupa is using pageantry, education, and health to open doors for others. Growing up with limited access to opportunity, he found purpose through mentorship and youth leadership—serving as a Junior Station Commander and a Junior City Councillor. These early experiences shaped his path to founding Protea World Universal, a nonprofit uplifting youth, and becoming one of South Africa’s youngest CEOs. “Beauty should be a platform for purpose. I’ve built spaces where young people—especially from underrepresented communities—can access education, build confidence, and find opportunity,” he says. Through his Global Citizen platform, he’s helped rural youth become national ambassadors. His healthcare venture, Vita Restore, promotes holistic wellness and preventative medicine. Inspired by Nelson Mandela and Princess Diana, he launched the Nelson Mandela & Lady Diana Fellowship to nurture compassionate leadership across Africa. Despite challenges in funding and recognition, Lethabo is focused on the long game. He dreams of opening Protea University, a bold, inclusive space for non-traditional thinkers. “My vision is a world where young people lead with heart, health is accessible, and education is reimagined,” he says.
