Sallies Village resident to represent SA at Global Youth Summit in Nepal
Sallies Village resident and United Nations Brand Ambassador Lerato Maris (31) has been selected as an international delegate and award recipient at the Global Youth Leadership Summit and Award 2025, taking place in Kathmandu, Nepal from June 20 to 24.
The summit aims to gather young leaders, innovators, peacemakers, youth activists and civil society pioneers from around the world in a single forum to share their contributions, experiences and knowledge on pertinent global issues.
'It is truly an honour to know that a small-town girl from Brakpan can have a major impact internationally through sheer passion and dedication in being a leader and mentor, and also holding up the pride of the United Nations in everything I do in effecting transformative change,' she said.
The political activist and influencer also bagged a nomination and was shortlisted in the WeAreTheCity Rising Star Awards 2025 in the Public Sector category.
These awards, now in their 11th year, continue to spotlight the achievements of women, showcasing the female talent pipeline and the next generation of future leaders.
ALSO READ: WATCH: Kwa-Thema's Deep Level residents face danger as housing structures collapse
Lerato was also shortlisted for the 2025 Southern Africa OSPAs (Outstanding Security Performance Awards) in the category Most Outstanding Female Security Professional. These awards recognise and reward outstanding performance across the security sector.
'The OSPAs are based on identified factors which contribute to security excellence and are designed to promote the security field and show the world that security is a fundamental and vitally important factor in business success,' explained Lerato.
'The United Nations is a massive organisation when it comes to security. Its crucial roles in addressing threats to international peace and promoting peaceful conflict resolution through international co-operation are all executed through mechanisms of diplomatic efforts, sanctions and regimes.
'It is my honour to be a nominee recipient for the UN through these awards.'
According to Lerato, her dreams of being a global leader, philanthropist and mentor, all stem from her pride and hometown.
'To the youth and future leaders rising up from Brakpan – if your dreams don't scare you, then they are not big enough,' she said.
'We possess so much more than we credit ourselves, and it is time to show the world that as much as we aim for the moon, we definitely will land amongst the stars.'
In addition, Lerato is also currently nominated for the FREESA Young Leaders Awards 2025 in the Politics and Government category.
This category recognises young leaders who are actively engaged in politics and government affairs, demonstrating a commitment to improving their communities and the nation as a whole.
Nominees in this category may have initiated positive policy changes, advocated for democratic rights, or shown exceptional leadership within political or governmental institutions.
At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
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