DEF Scholar: Musatondwa (Musa) Mafelatshuma
Age: 18
Gender: Female
Home country: Thohoyandou, South Africa
Activities: Sport, community service
Musa is passionate about all issues relating to women’s empowerment and has a particular interest in women participating in traditionally male-dominated sports.
Musa’s Dream:
Growing up I participated in the traditionally male dominated sports of soccer and basketball. My participation broadened my view of how females were ill-treated, undermined and objectified. I took it upon myself to embark on a journey that will help girls to grow up with an attitude that would allow them to be confident in whatever they were doing – be it sports or academics. I was named “the girl who wanted to be a boy” because I always fought for equal treatment in my community. With this mentality, I started the first soccer team for girls at my high school. Not surprisingly this was frowned upon. We had no support and struggled to make our mark but my greatest achievement and a very proud moment was when the girls’ team won the regional championships – a tournament that the boys’ team to this day, still wishes to win. We proved them wrong! But that was not the end. I felt even prouder when my Principal shared with me a realization that he had come to. There had been a marked improvement in the grades that the girls were getting in almost all of their learning areas. They were also more confident during lessons and participated in most class discussions.
In the future I plan to study biology and women and gender studies. I also dream of starting a professional women’s football team.
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I’ve been in the beautiful city of Hong Kong for almost a week now. I am here to raise money for the Diamond Empowerment Fund (DEF), my non-profit organization which is dedicated to supporting the empowerment of African youth.
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