The Young Women Peacebuilder Awards was launched in December 2022.

The IJR and its Partners would like to thank the following donors for making the awards possible: Embassy of Ireland, The Embassy of the Netherlands and UN Women.

To learn more about the work of Liyema Bhengu, watch her video below and watch the recap from our Executive Director.

Liyema Bhengu

Age: 18
Organisation: Your Purpose

Liyema Bengu is an 18 year old student from Sunningdale in East London. A student, speaker and emerging public figure, she is a determined social activist that advocates for women’s empowerment and developmental change. She is a voice of hope in her community.

Liyema started drives for blankets to help people affected by the floods and housed them temporarily in churches and community halls.

Liyema also started a vegetable garden to help feed the elderly people who come to the community center when there is nothing to eat at home. She has founded the Your Purpose Foundation to empower young people.

Her objectives are to establish community empowerment organization.

The Young Women Peacebuilder Awards was launched in December 2022.

The IJR and its Partners would like to thank the following donors for making the awards possible: Embassy of Ireland, The Embassy of the Netherlands and UN Women.

To learn more about the work of Bridget Moema, watch her video below and watch the recap from our Executive Director.

Bridget Moema

Age: 32
Organisation: The Seed of Hope

Bridget Moema is a founder of The Seed of Hope organisation, which caters to the holistic well-being of women. It donated 50+ pairs of school shoes to disadvantaged learners, encouragingthem to continue learning and to believe in their dreams. Another programmeof her organisation is the upskilling of women from all walks of life.

The Seed of Hope also has programmes such as the Gentlemen’s Camp that help young boys to be better men. Every year, she brings young men together and equips them with important skills. She collaborates with Boys Mentorship South Africa. She is an educator who lives by the motto, ‘I teach to Inspire. She is also an author of the book, ‘Being Refined: The Seed of Hope’. This book is in the form of a letter to young people to encourage them to not give up on their dreams.

The Young Women Peacebuilder Awards was launched in December 2022.

The IJR and its Partners would like to thank the following donors for making the awards possible: Embassy of Ireland, The Embassy of the Netherlands and UN Women.

To learn more about the work of Amber Julius, watch her video below and watch the recap from our Executive Director.

Amber Julius

Age: 21
Organisation: Sisterhood

Amber, a 21-year-old third year Bachelor of Education Student lives in Elsenburg, Stellenbosch in the Western Cape.

Amber has stood up against bullying, racial discrimination, and sexism, Her activist work includes championing Gender Based Violence, advocating for human rights and she is a climate change ambassador for Mother Earth.

Amber is a founding member of the Ulius Sisterhood Movement, a rural fernale led youth organisation, and the coordinator of the Youth Bank, a project supported by the Social Change Assistance Trust, ISCATI.

Amber lives by the motto of the late President, Nelson Mandela, “peace is the creation of an environment where all can flourish, regardless of race, colour,
creed, religion, gender, class, caste, or any other social markers of difference”