Vuthlari Mabunda
Nominee's Province:
Gauteng
Age:
29
Project Name/Description:
Born and raised in Soweto, Vuthlari’s journey is one of passion and purpose. Witnessing her mother’s hard work as a domestic worker raising five children instilled in her a deep appreciation for sacrifice and determination. After completing her matric in 2015, Vuthlari pursued her studies at South-West Gauteng College and graduated with a National Diploma in Civil Engineering. After graduation, she struggled to find work but later applied and was selected for Phase 2 of the Basic Education Employment Initiative programme, where she gained a range of work-readiness skills. In 2021, she was introduced to SAYouth.mobi, where she found the BluLever plumbing apprenticeship. This three-year programme is designed to develop highly skilled, work-ready plumbing artisans in South Africa. Though her initial application was unsuccessful, her persistence paid off when an SA Youth guide helped her complete it, leading to her selection in BluLever’s inaugural cohort. The apprenticeship transformed Vuthlari from being a shy and uncertain young woman to someone confident and purposeful. Working in a male-dominated field meant confronting bias and proving her skills daily, but she used these challenges to fuel her ambition. After passing her trade test in 2023, Vuthlari joined the Allan Gray Startup Academy in 2024 – another opportunity she found through SA Youth. This opportunity is designed to provide entrepreneurship training and support to aspiring artisans aiming to establish new businesses. Today, she is building a plumbing business focused on hiring and developing women artisans, committed to creating a space where care, precision, and professionalism are valued. Vuthlari’s journey exemplifies grit and giving back. She speaks passionately about youth empowerment, skills development and gender inclusion, rewriting what’s possible for young women from under-resourced South African communities.
