Young African Magazine
Alumni highlights – May 2024
Join us in celebrating our Mandela Rhodes Scholars seeds of change. We are proud to see our alumni making impactful moves all over the world.
Barbara Karuana (Kenya & AFDA, 2016) is a freelance film and television producer. Using film as a medium to tell stories, she recently line produced a Kenyan romcom series for Showmax called “Big Girl Small World”. The show follows Ciku, a plus-size woman who stumbles through a journey of self-discovery after a humiliating scandal. In the process, she finds out what it means to live big in a world determined to shrink her. Click here to watch the show.
Chido Dzinotyiwei (Zimbabwe & University of Cape Town, 2018) is an entrepreneur. Her company Vambo AI is 1 of 12 selected for the @injiniedtech_ @mastercardfoundation EdTech Fellowship. This six-month, equity-free acceleration programme is designed for high-growth and high-impact companies using technology and innovation to address challenges in South African education.
Kira Düsterwald (South Africa & University of Cape Town, 2017) is a junior doctor, computational neuroscientist PhD candidate and founder of a health tech company on AI-driven health resources optimisation. A part winner of the 2023 Äänit Prize, Kira’s company Amathambo (which means bones in isiXhosa) AI aims to address some of Africa's healthcare challenges by using artificial intelligence to optimise resource allocation in hospitals. Find out where Kira is on her innovation journey here.
Kirra Evans (South Africa & University of Cape Town, 2018) is part of the South African delegation heading to Y20 Brazil, an international platform enabling dialogue between young people from G20 member countries. As future leaders, they will reflect on the priority agenda of youth; influence debates; and contribute to the preparation of public policies. One of Kirra's policy proposals advocates for the establishment of more pathways for school-leavers to do artisanal learnerships in sectors like plumbing, repair and maintenance, acquiring skills needed to start their own businesses.
Maureen Etuket (Uganda & University of Cape Town, 2021) is a part winner of the 2023 Äänit Prize and director of Pumzi Devices Uganda Limited. Her team designed the SMART-PVD device, a volumetric drape which measures the amount of blood a woman loses after childbirth, preventing maternal death. With the pilot study complete, the device development stage is now underway, and thereafter approvals and certification. Click here for more about Maureen’s inspiring story.
Ntsako Mgiba (South Africa & University of Cape Town, 2018) is a Principal Solutions Strategist at The Delta, helping entrepreneurs and innovators build and scale impactful ventures across Africa. He was recently a guest speaker on the Entrepreneur Connect Africa #ECAfrica Talk Show, discussing his journey from childhood to his roles today as a venture builder and key player in South Africa's tech ecosystem. Watch Ntsako’s interview here.
