My name is Lumkisile Baku Baku, a 34-year-old South African changemaker, youth leader, and a published author. This campaign was not created by me but by my mentor and coach, Matthew Ladhoff, a senior lecturer at the University of Minnesota, Carlson School of Management, USA. Since 2023, Matthew has been guiding me since I was selected into the Mandela Washington Fellowship.

Photo taken at conclusion of 2023 Mandela Washington Fellowship Program.

Matthew is supporting me by creating this GoFundMe campaign on my behalf because South Africa is not currently a supported country for GoFundMe account creation. As someone who believes in me and my journey, he took the step of launching this fundraising initiative so that I can pursue my dream of studying International Relations and Human Rights at Leeds Beckett University in the UK, starting in September 2025. This is not just about an academic opportunity, this is about breaking barriers that have persisted since my birth and charting a new future, not just for me, but for many others I represent.

At first glance, shifting careers at the age of 34 may seem unusual, but for me this isn’t a detour it’s a return to purpose. I’ve spent the last decade navigating various roles, from community development to organizational leadership, always working towards justice and dignity for the marginalized. I have launched grassroots initiatives, worked with youth, and advocated for economic empowerment and cultural restoration. However, I came to a hard realization: I needed the right academic tools and global exposure to make a lasting policy-level impact.

My acceptance into the BA (Hons) in International Relations and Human Rights program at Leeds Beckett University came after much prayer, persistence, and planning. This program is not only aligned with my passion but is strategically positioned to equip me with the intellectual and global perspectives necessary to make meaningful change.

As someone raised in a rural village under very difficult circumstances, I have always known that education is the bridge between despair and possibility but South Africa’s limitations in opportunity; especially for people from underserved areas like mine have meant that even talent and effort aren’t always enough.

Studying abroad gives me more than a degree. It offers exposure to how democracies function, how human rights are protected through systems, and how global networks of change-makers collaborate. It gives me a front-row seat to policy dialogues, cultural exchange, and professional development that I could never access at home. More importantly, it allows me to represent my country and my community on international platforms where African voices are sorely underrepresented.

Even though I was rejected by both parents, I chose not to reject myself. I survived. I healed. Over time, I became a student leader, a community organizer, and eventually a published author writing about resilience, identity, and youth transformation. I founded Sivuleleni Nathi - Against Economic Exclusion, a nonprofit movement aimed at restoring economic dignity among Black South Africans. Our work includes pushing for economic reform, providing legal support for excluded communities, and establishing grassroots institutions for self-reliance. I built all of this with a vision, community trust, and hard work but have never received government support or institutional funding.

I have also collaborated with organizations like Africans Rising, in multiple African countries. The work involved ensuring Africa stands up and is counted as a powerhouse that she could be. I participated in continental dialogues around youth participation in peacekeeping, democracy, and equity such as the 2nd Biennale in Angola, which was organized by UNESCO, the UN and the Angolan government in 2023. What I'm trying to say is, I have reached the ceiling of what I can do without further education and global engagement. That’s why this next chapter is so crucial.

Image: Delivering speech to Circle of Peace leadership

I have knocked on every possible door in South Africa. I have written to government departments, parastatals, educational bursary boards, and even prominent companies. The responses have ranged from polite declines to complete silence. Some advised me to "wait my turn," while others said, “We do not fund individuals.” I believe in lifelong learning. I believe that communities need leaders who understand both pain and policy.

I don’t come from wealth. South African funding institutions are not structured to support non-traditional students pursuing studies abroad especially not in fields like human rights or diplomacy. This is why I am asking you, the global community, for help. With your support, I can raise the $40,000 needed to cover tuition, accommodation, visa, travel, and living costs for the duration of my studies.

This is not just my story. This is a shared story. Every dollar you donate is not just helping me go to school. It’s helping a rural child believe that even when faced with rejection, you can rise. It’s helping a nation begin to heal through new leadership. It’s helping reimagine diplomacy through African experiences.

With Matthew’s support and your generosity, I will not walk this journey alone. I am committed to paying this opportunity forward; through mentorship, policy reform, and institutional development back home. I want to one day sit at negotiation tables where African voices matter. I want to advocate for children like me who still wait for someone to believe in them.

Please consider contributing to this campaign or sharing it with your network. This is your chance to be part of something extraordinary. Help me prove that destiny delayed is not destiny denied.

I am immensely grateful for your support.

My formal appeal for funding to donors can be viewed on Matt's website here as well.

Lumkisile Baku Baku

Founder, Sivuleleni Nathi

Screenshot of acceptance letter to Leeds Beckett University.