Volunteering has always been something I was intrigued by from my years in primary school. The idea of helping someone in need just because you can be such a beautiful concept. So, when I heard about UNICEF from a friend in my second year of varsity best believe I wasted no time in taking the initiative to join.
The goal was never to gain something or go somewhere, it was always to give my time and help wherever, it was to volunteer.
Amazingly my passion to help others helped me and directed me to rooms I had never dreamt of being in. Rooms I did not know existed and in those rooms, I met people that took a chance on me.
Ziyanda was my program manager in 2025, a prominent person in my life, she saw something in me I had not quite seen yet. From the beginning I wanted to be involved in everything, every small and big thing, every implementation or event coordinating I was involved in. It was the most fun and rewarding time ever, during this my work was recognized and appreciated and I was chosen to go to AstraZeneca and be part of their mission to bring women, young women to be specific into the world of research and it was then that I met a wonderful lady named Lebo from UNICEF.
It was at this time that I saw my potential to do and achieve great things, I realized my drive and from then exceeded even my own expectations. I was a program developer helping Ziyanda come up with educational and exciting ways to educate children about nutrition and planning a very successful Nutrition walk to the botanical gardens. Planning all of this was not only exciting but eye opening. I helped kids learn more about eating well and staying healthy and seeing through manipulation by big food companies and in turn learnt so much more than I did not know about healthy eating myself.
Today I am a Nutrition program manager and a Fix my Food advocate all because I dared to care and do something about it.
Insight by Tiisetso Mokoena, Volunteer Clubs Coordinator
Bathabile Dube’s story beautifully captures how volunteering can become a pathway to leadership, confidence and lasting impact. Her journey from a young person eager to serve, to a Healthy Lifestyles Lead and Fix My Food advocate, reflects the power of investing in youth through opportunities that connect learning, volunteering and future pathways to earning.
Her experience shows how young people can advance child rights, promote healthier communities and contribute meaningfully to a rights-respecting society when they are given the support and space to lead. As part of UNICEF’s Youth4Children vision, Bathabile’s story is a powerful example of the potential of South Africa’s youth to drive positive change.
