Jubilee Nhlovo Rivombo

Category
Civil Society

Age
25

Organisation / Company
National Child and Youth Care Workers’ Association
Website

Profile

Jubilee Nhlovo Rivombo is the liaison officer for the National Child and Youth Care Workers’ Association. Her job is to ensure that youth forums run in all nine provinces. She  organises, executes and facilitates youth forums and coordinates activities. For the past 12 years, Jubilee has built stakeholder relationships to ensure that youth are involved in advocacy work. To achieve this, she monitors and evaluates work to ensure the quality of the programmes are exemplary and adjusts the goals if necessary. Jubilee has a BA honours in psychology, a bachelor of social sciences majoring in psychology and criminology and a certificate in civic leadership, The 25-year-old also has numerous awards under her belt, including the Young Women Peacebuilders’ Award presented to her last year. Jubilee’s activism is recognised nationally and she forms part of international advocacy as well. She is among a few young people representing South Africa in the Brics forum and often joins United Nations consultation meetings and Commonwealth forums representing South Africa and Africa. She has consulted on the National Development Plan, the National Action Plan and, internationally, the Woman, Peace and Security Focal Points. But her achievements come with a price. She says she would advise her younger self “to take the precious moments in”. With all the travelling Jubilee does she  would also advise her to spend time with family and that it is not to be taken for granted. She would also advise her younger self to get mentors. 

List your educational background - qualifications and institutions?

• Certificate in Civic Leadership, University of South Africa (Unisa), 2023 
• BA honours in psychology, Unisa, 2022
• Facilitation (facilitating learning using a variety of methodologies), NQF: level 5, Ndzalama Training, 2021
• Covid-19: Psychological First Aid certificate, Public Health England, 2020 
• Bachelor of social sciences majoring in psychology and criminology, University of the Free State, 2019
• Academic achievement, Golden Key member and executive committee member, University of the Free State, 2017

Any awards or achievements in your field?

• Young African Leaders Initiative (Yali) Alumni, Young Woman Peacebuilder 2022 from the department of women, youth and persons with disabilities
• Award for outstanding advocacy work by the department of social development, 2018
• Emily Hobhouse best writer award-winning author, 
• Wits (Targeting Talent Programme) Alumni, 2015
• Consulted on the National Development Plan
• National Action Plan at national level, 2010-2023
• Consulted on the Woman, Peace and Security Focal Points at an international conference by the department of international relations and cooperation, 2022
• Participated in presidential pre-summit by the department of social development on gender-based violence and femicide focal points, 2022
• Hosted and facilitated the 9th biennial youth conference 2019 presentation at Unicef conferences, 2021-2023
• Part of the Brics forum
• Published in two international anthologies, 2015-2019

One childhood memory that has spurred you to such levels of achievement?

I was 13 years old and attending the National Association of Child Care Workers’ international conference. Don Mattera was giving a speech on advocacy and the rights of children being violated in South Africa. I was sitting with a child and youth care worker, watching him. That was the day that advocacy meant something to me. The tears were not inspired by the eloquence of his speech or how grand the occasion was, it was the passion in his voice. That moment changed my outlook on life and the meaning of life itself. I was just a child but I knew something significant had taken place that day.

Advice to your younger self?

I would advise her to take precious moments in. I moved from one achievement to the other without being in the moment, I wish I had taken in those precious moments. 

I would also advise her to spend time with family and be intentional about it. With all the travelling I do now, I realise how precious family is and that the time we get to spend together is not to be taken for granted.

I would advise her to get mentors. Some mistakes are avoided when one has mentored. The quickest way to get somewhere is to have someone who has been where you are going directing you.

What would you like South Africa to look like in five years?

I dream of a South Africa where children will play on the streets without fear of being kidnapped and mutilated for body parts. I dream of a South Africa where children will have a say in issues related to their safety on platforms such as parliament and community imbizos. I strive to see a South Africa where young girls can grow to become entrepreneurs and have mentors without having to sell their bodies. I strive to see a South Africa where young men will communicate their problems without fear of judgment and not turn to suicide. I dream of peaceful homes, without domestic violence. I dream of a happy, harmonious and peaceful people. I would like South Africa’s economy to do well, and her streets to be safe, with people who are at peace with themselves.