Prayer Rikhotso
Nominee's Province:
Gauteng
Age:
33
Project Name/Description:
Co-founder: MR Foundation
Prayer Rikhotso co-founded the MR Foundation with fellow University of Cape Town alumnus Dr Sthembiso Mhlanga. The non-profit, registered with the CIPC, was born out of their shared background and passion for using education as a tool for social mobility. “We started the foundation to prove that it’s possible to break the cycle of poverty through education and personal leadership,” says Rikhotso. “We want to be a lighthouse of hope for young people who feel structurally excluded from opportunity.” Rikhotso is currently Associate Director and Credit Specialist at Standard Chartered Bank, and he’s also pursuing a PhD in Economics at the University of Johannesburg. He’s an investment banker, deal negotiator, and analyst with a strong track record in finance. The MR Foundation identifies high school students from rural areas and provides them with academic support, career coaching, and psycho-social services to prepare them for life after school. They connect students with bursaries, mentorships, and leadership training programmes. Their initiatives include academic enrichment, life coaching, mega-career expos, and mentorship networks. Looking ahead, Rikhotso wants to build smart skills centres and digitally equipped learning hubs in underserved communities. He’s also working on plans for a library to promote reading from an early age, and a science and innovation lab to inspire a new generation of problem-solvers.
