Phumza tshume Qabaka
Nominee's Province:
Eastern Cape
Project Name/Description:
Founder, Raw Gold Academy
Tshume is known in her community as a woman who has a keen interest in the girl child, and how to keep the latter busy while distracting them from negative influences around them.
Scourges such as drugs, teenage pregnancies, dropping out of school, and alcohol abuse are what keep this driven woman going, and she has no intention of stopping.
Tshume is known in her community for organising, through her academy, camps for girls and competitions for young people, where their various talents are recognised. She also runs a shoe collection campaign – with the collected shoes donated to needy children.
One of the most definitive periods for Tshume was when around ten lives were lost due to a fire, and she hosted a candlelight prayer for the affected families. She is resolute in saying all of this was done in the name of her community, which was devastated at the time.
She has been described as an honest woman, who loves what she does. She is also invested in inspiring young people, particularly girls, to believe in themselves.
Tshume says: “Our young people need to be inspired and motivated to stay positive. They have dreams to fulfil, hence we need to protect them and encourage them to participate in their positive things in their respective communities.”
Among the many hats she wears, Tshume is also a wellness and modelling coach and community developer.
