Out of a record breaking 1 350 entries into the Trust for Sustainable Living international essay competition, Durban’s very own Ziyanda Thwala was recently selected as a finalist for the 2021 contest.
“I was definitely taken by surprise and did not expect this at all. It felt amazing to know that my words were given recognition on an international stage, meaning that they really made an impact. It gives me hope that if my words can reach such prestigious eyes, my actions can change the world for the better,” said Thwala. The Grade 12 Danville Diamond and RCL representative, who describes herself as a passionate and hard-working perfectionist, said that the topic of “How can we protect biological diversity and stop the sixth mass extinction?” resonated with her, thus unearthing the need to have her opinion shared.
“I wanted to make it very clear in my essay that we, humanity as a whole, are at fault and have been the cause of so much destruction to our planet. But only we have the power to reverse it. I wanted to encourage people to act by making them realise the importance of their actions.”The bookworm-at-heart strongly believes that because young people are the future of this world, they cannot afford to inherit a broken planet, stating that it is up to them to bring about positive change, as it will be themselves and their future generations who will suffer the most. “One of my greatest dreams in life is to change lives, whether that be by helping people, fighting for their rights or anything else I have the power to do. I also hope to become a phenomenal woman that is successful, confident and innovative; who can be an inspiration to her peers and future generations,” added Thwala. Thwala’s parents Kheshe and Simphiwe Thwala said that they have always been proud of their daughter, adding that the only problem with Thwala growing up was getting her to sleep, as she loved reading so much.
“Ziyanda was and continues to be an ideal child any parent would want to raise, she is intelligent, independent, focused, respectful and she is a hard-worker who is not afraid of trying new things. Her way of thinking has always been so mature for her age. She has always loved nature and continues to be passionate about saving our planet and its humanity.” Thwala’s educator and head of department, Mrs Hardman, described her as not only a learner with incredible grades, but as a passionate young woman who leads with passion and integrity. This is shown in the final words of her submission, “I strongly believe that life should not be driven by a thirst for power, but rather a constant fight to keep and save our humanity”. “I wanted to conclude my essay with an impactful message that summed up my feelings on the topic. No matter how successful, advanced or powerful humans may get, we should never forget our humanity – our kindness, empathy and consideration for beings other than ourselves,” concluded Thwala.
