In a world where everyone continues to hope for change, but few are willing to put in the work, Palesa Mlangeni has proved her commitment to equipping young people with the skills and opportunities they need to thrive in this evolving world.

With her typical type A personality and zeal for youth empowerment, the 27-year-old from Klarinet says she has always been passionate about the state of affairs in regard to the young people in marginalised areas that continue to be underserved and excluded from having basic digital literacy.

“Bridging the digital gap is my aim, hence I co-founded Kuyenzeka Youth Centre and built strategic tools in order to advocate for young people to gain digital skills,” Palesa said.

Not only is she the co-founder for the Kuyenzeka Youth Centre, established in 2016, the visionary is also the founding director for the organisation through which she has built a community-driven hub that provides free Wi-Fi, digital skills training, and mentorship.

Palesa also leads programmes that introduce the youth to the Fourth Industrial Revolution, including coding, Internet of Things, and 3D printing, while continuing to support their growth through soft skills’ development, leadership training, and career readiness support, ensuring that they are well-rounded and prepared for the future.

Her passion for youth empowerment doesn’t end there, but she has also earned recognition on global platforms. She is a proud member of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation SDG 4 youth network, and a two-time participant of the 2025 Y20 Working Groups, where she contributes to shaping international youth policy discussions.

Palesa has also participated in transformative initiatives such as the Mandela Washington Fellowship, the Young African Leaders Initiative, the Tony Elumelu Foundation Entrepreneurs Program, Unite 2030, and the South African Brics Youth Association.

“Through these experiences, I continue to advocate for education, innovation, and inclusion, ensuring that young people, especially from underserved communities, are prepared to lead with resilience and creativity in the digital age,” she said.

Still with the youth’s best interest strongly at heart, Palesa says her current goal is to build a hub for digital transformation in her area, and though it might seem like a daunting task, she says, “I always see the bigger picture and always plan the steps to get there.”

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