Allan van der Meulen
Nominee's Province:
Western Cape
Age:
30
Project Name/Description:
He was an ambitious teenager when he walked into the Youth Café of RLabs, a digital social innovation hub, in Mitchell’s Plain over a decade ago. Fast forward to 2026, and Allan van der Meulen has impacted 1.6 million people across South Africa and has distributed R30-million to deserving community members. His platform, called Zlto, uses blockchain technology to incentivise people to participate in community upliftment projects and earn virtual currency, which can be used in large and community retailers. The Mondale High School alumnus has built a network of eager retailers across South Africa who see the value of corporate social investment, which is tangible, traceable and brings immediate relief to those who need it. “Zlto is a responsible giving platform. When someone participates in a park cleanup or volunteers in a neighbourhood watch shift, this action can be translated into airtime, food vouchers, etc,” he says. “People want to work and solve their own problems. This gives them a chance to volunteer within a network and see a result for that.” Zlto’s next project is using the same concept to partner with NGOs in Johannesburg and assist homeless people to earn shower, food and shelter vouchers.
