After completing a Bachelor of Arts degree at the University of Cape Town I took some time to work in hospitality which allowed me to travel in Europe and the United States. By the time I left the industry, I had progressed to a senior management role which enabled me to develop and practically apply an array of leadership skills as head of a high-performing team. Living and working away from my home country, South Africa, gave me time to reflect on the enormous disparities that exist because of South Africa’s colonial and apartheid past. I understood that I needed to return home to further my education and begin to develop the necessary skills to be able to make small and big positive changes in my country and on the continent. I am currently completing a post-graduate Honours degree in Conflict Transformation and Peace Studies at the University of KwaZulu-Natal in Durban. The course has greatly expanded my vocabulary, conceptual understanding, and commitment to practical conflict resolution and sustainable peace, particularly in the African context and has deepened my resolve to be an agent for change. During COVID-19 I worked with a human rights consultancy, Alkimia, running their social media and developing unique graphic videos and images for an economic empowerment and life skills programme for BRAC International to be distributed in Sierra Leone, Liberia and Tanzania. Alkimia works globally, particularly in Africa, and has collaborated with international organisations such as the UN, the Gender Innovation Lab at the World Bank, amongst many others. Alkimia works at the intersection between race and identity; gender and sexualities; and poverty alleviation of most marginalised groups through economic empowerment. This year, I have an official internship with Alkimia, attending workshops, managing social media and project management.