FunDza is proud to announce that Zilungile Zimela – Marketing and PR Manager for FunDza – has been selected as one of the Mail & Guardian’s 200 Young South Africans for 2021. She was awarded under the Education category.

For the past 15 years, Mail & Guardian has recognised young people in South Africa across a range of categories of active citizenry. These are young people who have devoted their lives in service of others to improve different sectors and build on the gains made to promote Education, Health, the Environment and Business & Entrepreneurship. This year, M&G in partnership with the National Lotteries Commission, under the theme “Resilience and Innovation for Excellence”, identified and awarded 200 incredible young innovators and trailblazers in South Africa.

Zilungile, a writer and activist in her own right, has been with FunDza for the past three years – marketing FunDza’s online programmes. She is passionate about literacy and languages, and has dedicated her life to inspiring young people to fall in love with reading and writing, particularly in her mother tongue, isiXhosa.

Zilungile is a decorated speaker and communicator from the Eastern Cape, who has done a lot of work in starting, promoting and supporting debating societies and public speaking clubs from her days as a student. She has a heart for people and is a lover of country.

In Zilungile’s words: “I am from the Eastern Cape, a place and home to endless possibilities yet with some of the country’s worst poverty levels and broken education system or system of education. A place where you are advised to move out to bigger cities if you hope to ‘make it’. A place that could afford young people all the opportunities we need to succeed but there are bottlenecks and malfunctions in administration. I come from a province of legends and learned people. I come from a proud, culturally inclined and outspoken people. I come from a place, where everything good needs to be fought for. I am extremely humbled and honoured that an institution such as Mail & Guardian said, among the many amazing young innovators in South Africa, that my life’s work in the field of education is noteworthy. I am grateful beyond the description of words to everyone who nominated and supported me over the years. A win for me is a win for all of us.”

Thanks to the Mail & Guardian for this wonderful opportunity and huge congratulations to Zilungile on this great achievement. Hearty congratulations too go to the other 199 young people similarly honoured for their contributions.