Cape Town - Two young Capetonians who have dedicated themselves to uplifting others have earned an award and a date with Queen Elizabeth.
Jessica Dewhurst, 23, from Rondebosch and Lethabo Ashleigh Letube, 19, from Langa are among 60 young people from across the Commonwealth who have been recognised as exceptional leaders in their community and who will receive the Queen’s Young Leaders Award.
The award forms part of the Queen’s Young Leaders Programme, and recipients will attend a week-long residential programme in the UK in June, when they will receive their award at Buckingham Palace from the queen.
The will also receive mentoring and online learning provided by the University of Cambridge.
Dewhurst was 14 when she started doing volunteer work.
She worked in NGO camps, supporting refugees, young people and children with HIV/Aids and victims of abuse.
She was 18 when she became the youth co-ordinator for The Edmund Rice Network for South Africa, training young people to start community-based projects.
In 2013 she co-founded The Social Justice & Advocacy Desk for South Central Africa. The organisation’s services include skills courses to help vulnerable young people find employment.
“I’m so honoured to be a recipient of this award. I think it will help to highlight the work that still needs to be done.
“We have so many people living in poverty.”
Letube, who is known to friends and family as “Lerato”, grew up in Langa and is involved in Project Playground, which gives pupils a place to go after school.
They take part in activities including dance and drama and receive a hot meal.
She is the chairwoman of violence and crime prevention programme called Great Corner Lugna Gatna which, among other things, gives young people, who have been using drugs and alcohol, classes to help turn their lives around.
“I’m so excited about the coming year and the opportunities it will bring,” she said.
Cape Argus
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