I’ve been to my fair share of events with big shots, but this one really took the cake. Let me tell you about the grand extravaganza that was the Sunday World Unsung Heroes awards.
I strutted my stuff into the prestigious Houghton Hotel, ready to be dazzled. And boy, was I in for a ride! The Unsung Heroes awards managed to do the impossible – they actually tamed a wild cat like yours truly, Shwa. Who would’ve thought?
Now, picture this: a room filled with the crème de la crème, the movers and shakers, and the oh-so-important people. We’re talking about the future leaders, darlings. The air was thick with inspiration, elegance, and a dash of intellectual brilliance. It was like being in the presence of greatness, if I do say so myself.
The guest list too was no joke, we had the big guns swaggering. Devaksha Christopher, the head of Organisational Effectiveness at African Bank, and Morné du Toit, the CEO of the Ikusasa Student Financial Aid Programme, were there, making us all feel just a tad bit starstruck. They added that extra oomph to the event, you know? Showed us all how important and relevant the Unsung Heroes platform truly is.
Let me school you for a second. The Unsung Heroes awards are all about celebrating those young folks who face challenges head-on and make a difference in their communities. In South Africa, where disillusionment runs rampant among the youth, these individuals are the real deal. They’re like superheroes, navigating a world that seems determined to bring them down. Poverty, unemployment and politics, you name it, they fight it. And they fight it with style,
honey. Even loadshedding.
This shindig showcased heroes from every corner. We had youth in business, entrepreneurship, climate warriors, agriculture enthusiasts, education champions, tourism gurus, and even those who sprinkle their magic in the realms of sport, arts, and culture. It was a showcase of talent, my dear, and a testament to the boundless opportunities available to South Africa’s youth.
Lufuno Netshithuthuni, the queen of traditional fashion design, stole the show. Her creativity and excellence were off the charts, darling. And then we had Bokang Rapatsa, the teacher extraordinaire and founder of Bokang Learning Academy. Not only does she shape young minds, but she also keeps those kiddos away from the streets. Talk about an inspiration!
But hold your breath, hun. Dr Lettah Sikhosana came in and slayed the game. This young environmental education graduate completed her PhD in just two years at the ripe age of 27! She’s the youngest female doctoral graduate at Unisa, and her passion for the environment is hotter than the summer sun you currently wish for. We’re talking serious goals here.
Oh, and the Rapatsa siblings are a force to be reckoned with. Tumelo, the founder of Alavanta cosmetics and author of “Strategic Hustle”, was there, standing tall alongside his sister Bokang. Their presence showed the power of family support and their shared drive for success. Tumelo’s determination to follow in his sister’s footsteps was palpable.
The panel of speakers, led by Phiwe Mathe the director for Social and Economic Transformation at the South African BricsYouth Association were experts. Their wisdom and guidance added a touch of class to the whole affair, making it even more memorable. Kudos to them for adding some extra oomph to the celebration. Tshepo Matseba, a brand reputation strategist in particular, stood out for me. I am not crushing; he is just a cool intellectual.
I gotta give it to the Sunday World team for putting this whole shebang together. Maybe they too need to be awarded for all this hard work in recognising the heroes.
Shout out to Aldrin Sampear the “seasoned radio and television host” for lending the team his expertise for three consecutive years, you’ve been great. There was no need for that little exercise you made us do though, you could’ve just asked me to dance, I would have rocked your world.
This event just reminded me that as the youth, we need to support each other instead of competing all the time. These young heroes are fighting for a better
future, and the energy in the air was simply electrifying.
“Collaboration rather than competition”, but don’t be naive because they are competing, or whatever Lufuno and Aldrin were chatting about.
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