Cape Town - If you dream, why not dream big?
That is exactly what 26-year-old Khadija Mayman of Bonteheuwel did and was chosen to accept the SDG Vanguard Award on behalf of actor, humanitarian and philanthropist, Forest Whitaker.
Mayman is a youth peacemaker and trainer for the Whitaker Peace and Development Initiative (WPDI), which focuses globally on youths aiming to help improve the communities they live in.
Mayman spoke with the Weekend Argus after returning from New York and shared her excitement, goals and appreciation for the organisation and the work they do.
“I have been part of WPDI for three years, my mother Nadia Mayman has always been working in the community and it was always my dream to be doing the same, to make a difference.
“I am part of 42 youths from the Cape Flats who are pacemakers. The organisation selected me to receive the award on behalf of Mr Whitaker and I was very honoured and excited to represent WPDI, especially for the work that is done globally by him and the organisation,” she said.
Mayman said she had met Whitaker more than once and that he was down to earth.
“He is very humble, I have met him on several occasions and he is really passionate about what he is doing, in making the world a better place.
“I also flew to New Work in September for the tenth anniversary of the organisation which has been in South Africa for three years,” she said.
In a statement WPDI said: “Khadija Mayman, a Youth Peacemaker and trainer at WPDI in Cape Town, South Africa, received the award on his behalf from the hands of Hans Vestberg, CEO of Verizon and long-time Board member of WPDI.
“The SDG Vanguard Award was designed to encourage and stimulate action in favour of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs, a comprehensive 17-goal agenda that was adopted by world leaders in 2015 to address the most pressing challenges of the world).
“Mr. Whitaker was distinguished for his special efforts to promote the Goal of Peace and Justice, both for the programmes he deploys on the ground in Africa, Europe and the Americas through WPDI, and for his advocacy work in his capacities as UNESCO Special Envoy for Peace and Reconciliation and as SDG Advocate.”
During her time on stage and her acceptance speech, Mayman said: “I hope that the SDG Vanguard Award will help more people around the world to learn from Mr Whitaker’s work and also to learn from it, so they will give young people a chance to make change happen.”
WPDI said the fact that Mayman was a young woman, was an inspiration.
They said: “It is also our hope at WPDI that this meaningful message delivered by a brilliant young woman will be heard and that, in the future, young people will be more and more recognised and empowered as a force for positive change.”
Bonteheuwel ward councillor, Angus Mckenzie said they were proud of Mayman and worked hand in hand with the foundation.
“My office has had a long standing association with Forest Whitaker and with the Whitaker foundation, we have ensured that we have consistently availed our support and commitment and its mission, to bring about peace and social change.
“We are ensuring young women are not just part of the foundation, but also be able to take the skills they have been taught to plough it back into their communities.
“We are extremely proud of Khadija, we are also proud of the total complement of young ladies who are graduating from the foundation in this year,” he said.