Zandile Mqwathi

Zandile Mqwathi is a confident, innovative young leader and a former Radio personality with a zeal and drive to empower girls and young women. She is also the National Focal Point for GYCA South Africa. Zandi has participated in Advocacy projects such as the “Through Positive Eyes South Africa,” the Positive Convention 2010, 5th SA AIDS Conference and she was part of the 5 Young Leaders which were selected to attend the 2011 International Youth Conference on HIV/AIDS in Mali, Bamako and the “Youth We Can” debate in Norway, Oslo. She has worked as a Programme Facilitator for Soul City Institute, HIV/AIDS Community Awareness Programmes and then worked for a Youth Programme, ZakheniTraining and Development Centre as the Programme Facilitator. After some time she got promoted to co ordinate the Provincial Youth Programmes for Gauteng for Get Down Productions. Zandi is currently employed as a Facilitator/Trainer for Themba Interactive Theatre, where she uses Applied Drama to educate others about HIV/AIDS prevention and SHRS (sexual reproductive health rights). She also works withteenage girls and boys on a Life Skills Programme (Amazing Grace Kids) a project which is aimed at paving a platform for young people to openly talk about their Social challenges and also get information, education and inspiration to face everyday challenges. She is also the Project Director for Butterfly Transformations Young Women’s Organization a movement which is designed to transform the lives of young women from previously disadvantaged backgrounds through monthly Empowerment events providing it’s Participants with skills, Mentorship, Peer to Peer Dialogues, Small Business Initiatives and Comprehensive Sexual Health Education. She is a Social activist and feminist. Her vision is to institute an Arts Academy which will be aimed at empowering young girls and women to face their everyday challenges.