Mbombela, South Africa – Faith Mdhluli, a South African Young African Leadership Initiative (YALI) Mandela Washington Fellow, is making a significant impact on girls in her community. Mdhluli, a passionate advocate for empowering young girls, particularly in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields, established a foundation after her 2023 fellowship program participation.
The foundation supports grade 12 girls from a village in Bushbuckridge, South Africa, by providing resources and mentorship in STEM education. Additionally, Mdhluli supports two girls in their tertiary education, ensuring their success.
“Faith’s commitment to empowering young girls in the local community is commendable and impacts their ability to succeed in the future,” stated the US Embassy South Africa in a recent post celebrating Women’s History Month.
Beyond her work with young women, Mdhluli brings over ten years of experience in public service to her role as Director of Sustainable Resource Management at the Department of Agriculture, Rural Development, Land and Environmental Affairs in Mbombela, South Africa. Her focus areas include engineering services, disaster risk management, land care, and land use management.
Driven by a passion for improving the lives of historically disadvantaged communities, Mdhluli holds a bachelor’s degree in Agricultural Engineering, a master’s degree in Chemical Engineering, and an MBA. Her commitment to servant leadership and sustainable development shines through her dedication to empowering young girls and advocating for positive change within public service.