Zanele Makiwane

South African social entrepreneur who co-founded Mentorship for Youth, providing education and mentorship to thousands of underprivileged youth across Africa.

Zanele Makiwane is a South African social entrepreneur and founder of Mentorship for Youth, an organization that has empowered over 50,000 young people in 12 African countries since its launch in 2003. Growing up in a rural township, Makiwane recognized the systemic barriers preventing marginalized youth from accessing quality education and career opportunities. Her initiative focuses on mentorship programs, life skills training, and digital literacy workshops, with a particular emphasis on supporting girls and young women.

Makiwane's work has been recognized internationally, including being named one of Africa's 100 Most Influential Young People by the African Union in 2018. The organization's 'Career Pathways' program has partnered with companies like Google and Microsoft to provide internships, while its 'Girls in Tech' initiative has trained over 3,000 young women in coding and entrepreneurship. Learn more about her work at Mentorship for Youth or watch her TEDx talk here.

Her approach combines grassroots community engagement with corporate partnerships, creating sustainable pathways for youth to enter STEM fields. A 2020 study by the University of Cape Town found that program participants were 40% more likely to secure employment than their peers. Makiwane's vision extends beyond South Africa, with recent expansions into Kenya, Nigeria, and Ethiopia through strategic local partnerships.