” What good is being the first if I am not holding the door open for the next girl to walk through?”Refilwe Ledwaba.

In a rural village, a young girl dreams of becoming an inventor, a pilot, anything beyond her limited surroundings. With no role models and limited access to STEM, she feels the weight of her aspirations slipping away. Refilwe Ledwaba once sat in that very same seat of uncertainty. Born in a small South African Township and raised by her mother alongside her six siblings, her options seemed limited. Yet, she became South Africa’s first Black female helicopter pilot, logging thousands of flight hours in rescue missions. After achieving this remarkable milestone, Refilwe established Girls Fly Africa (GFA), creating an empowering roadmap for youth, particularly girls and young women, who aspire to be inventors, pilots, and more. Refilwe emphasises that each one of us can contribute to creating an environment where dreams are not merely aspirations but achievable goals. Stay connected with Refilwe.