The Future Starts Here

Celebrating our students who are shaping tomorrow through action today.

At Stellenbosch University, young people are not waiting for the future to arrive - they are actively shaping it.

Through innovation, leadership, research, entrepreneurship and community engagement, our students are making a difference today while preparing for tomorrow. Their stories show that when talent is nurtured and opportunity is created, meaningful impact follows.

Follow our annual Youth Month series to see how our students are shaping the future - today and together.

Image by: Designed by SU

Featured Youth Month Profiles

Impact

Justin de Villiers leads with empathy, not ego

Standing in front of a room full of students and asking them to vote for you is not everyone’s idea of fun. For Justin de Villiers, it was one of the most nerve...

Impact

Nelly Vilakazi is paying forward every act of kindness she received

Nelly Vilakazi arrived at Stellenbosch University (SU) in 2022 with a suitcase, a few items of clothing and a blanket. In her pocket was R1 500. Behind her lay...

Impact

James Taylor finds meaning in brains, beauty and hermit crabs

When James Taylor arrived at Stellenbosch University’s (SU) Biomedical Research Institute (BMRI) on the Tygerberg campus at the beginning of 2025, he burst into...

Impact

Alwaba Tom creates safe spaces for students to grow

For much of his childhood in the Eastern Cape, silence filled the small home where Alwaba Tom grew up. Encouragement was scarce. Money was tight. His...

Impact

For Haki Sebina the sky is the limit

For Haki Sebina, coming to Stellenbosch University (SU) was not simply about earning a degree. It was about discovering who she could become, authentically...

Impact

Lwandisile Mhlanga is passionate about empowering students to thrive

In 2020, Lwandisile Mhlanga arrived at Stellenbosch University (SU) from Orange Farm near Johannesburg with little more than a suitcase and the determination to...