Thaafir Mustapha, 21, has always been driven by one question: how can I help? As the founder and president of SoWeVote, Thaafir is mobilising South Africa’s youth to vote and engage politically. At just 18, Thaafir launched SoWeVote, an organisation using both digital platforms and in-person workshops to address one of South Africa’s most pressing challenges — youth disengagement from democracy. From designing graphics to building partnerships and leading public workshops, Thaafir has built SoWeVote from the ground up. His approach of blending social media, memes and political education has struck a chord with young South Africans. “When I host workshops at schools, I see the hunger for change many deny exists,” says Thaafir. His latest initiative — a schools programme combining voter registration, leadership training and relational organising — aims to reach learners across diverse communities. A second-year law student at the University of Cape Town, Thaafir credits leaders like Fasiha Hassan, Jacinda Ardern and Bernie Sanders for inspiring his belief that age is no barrier to driving change.
Bachelor of Laws (LLB), University of Cape Town (*second year)
Leaders abroad such as Zohran Mamdani, Bernie Sanders, Jacinda Ardern and Conner Rousseau have inspired me to fight for all people everywhere and to be relentless in my fight. Whether it is fighting for something that is right but unpopular, believing that being young should not deter you, or showing that radical kindness is what is needed, I look to their character as inspiration. Here at home, people such as Fasiha Hassan, Candice Chirwa and Nelson Mandela have inspired me through their audacity to try something outside of convention to further the cause. Lastly, young people everywhere — and those who took part in the Soweto Uprising, after whom I named my organisation — inspire me in knowing that, with a wealth of time, hope and willingness to engage, there can be nothing that deters us from achieving our dreams.