The chairperson of the DA Youth in the Free State, Sibusiso Tshabalala, has been announced as one of the 10 international winners of the Google Zeitgeist Young Minds competition.
Google Zeitgeist Young Minds is a competition that encourages young people from the EMEA region, between the ages of 18 and 24, to submit short videos detailing what issues matter to them and how they are making a positive impact on the world.
Tshabalala's submission showcased his “Afrika Kusama Literacy Initiative”, which promotes literacy and the development of critical thinking skills among previously disadvantaged learners in the Free State. Tshabalala developed the project in 2011 as part of the DA Young Leaders programme.
The project involves the establishment of reading clubs, renovation of libraries and provision of training opportunities for young debaters and public speakers, with the intention of encouraging the learners to be critical of their society and participate in public discourse.
According to Google, the aim of the initiative is to find “the most exceptional and inspiring young people who are helping others through science, the arts, education, leadership or innovation”.
In May, Tshabalala will attend the Google Zeitgeist conference, in London, along with the other winners. Google Zeitgeist brings together over 400 influential leaders from around the world to share perspectives on global issues.
Previous speakers at Google Zeitgeist have included Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Stephen Hawking, Larry Page and Richard Branson. The submissions of all of this year's 10 winners can be viewed on YouTube here.
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