Yanelisa Bokveld
Nominee's Province:
Eastern Cape
Project Name/Description:
Yanelisa Bokveld Foundation, Founder and CEO
Yanelisa Bokveld is very thankful for the childhood teachings she obtained from her loving parents and community. She is an ardent believer in the African saying, ‘it takes a village to raise a child.’ Having grown up in the rural Tsolo village in the Eastern Cape did not stop the ambitious Bokveld, who is currently pursuing a master’s degree in education. Through her Yanelisa Bokveld Foundation, they have touched so many lives through inclusive and sustainable education, literacy, youth empowerment, and access to opportunities for rural communities. The projects they run include Education Unlocked, Project Ubuntu, and EmpowHer. Like her parents, who taught her about the importance of education, she has witnessed the transformative power of education and the tragic consequences when it was denied. The impact of her work has not gone unnoticed. She was recognised as one of the 100 Rising Stars by Inside Education in 2024 and represented South Africa as Cultural Ambassador in Japan through a JET Programme.
