founder Profile
Our Journey
Our Journey
The Anisa Mazimpaka Foundation (NPC) was not born in a boardroom. Long before the Foundation was established, itspurpose was being shaped through more than a decade of leadership, advocacy, public service and an unwavering belief that every young person deserves equitable mopportunities to thrive. Every chapter of our journey has shaped the values, vision and purpose that define our Foundation today. Rooted in lived experience and strengthened through service, partnership and strategic intent, we continue to build pathways for young people to thrive, strengthen communities and create lasting, generational impact.
Anisa Mazimpaka is a social entrepreneur, communicator and strategist with a track record of over a decade experience in youth governance, youth leadership development, institutional reform through policy advocacy and stakeholder strategy. Her work sits at the intersection of education, governance and socio-economic inclusion focusing on advancing social justice through education. She has held senior roles within the City of Johannesburg working closely within executive political offices including serving as the youngest Director in the Office of the Executive Mayor, where she led stakeholder engagement and cross sector coordination. Anisa holds an undergraduate and postgraduate in Business Information Technology (UJ), a Postgraduate Diploma in Public Policy and African Studies (UJ) and currently pursuing her Masters in Politics and International Relations (UJ). She also holds a Professional Development Certificate (2026) in Essential Media and Communication Skills from the Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS).
As a former Student President at the University of Johannesburg, Anisa contributed to one of the institution’s most impactful fundraising initiatives, mobilising over R100 million togetherwith the institution to support financially excluded students in 2016. In 2019, Anisa was invited to contribute as a panellist for the Presidential pre-SONA (State of the nation Address) Youth Dialogue alongside the State President, Hon. Cyril Ramaphosa.
2025 Award Recipient: Equal Education, 100 Shining Stars.
2023 Award Recipient: She Leads Africa’s Top 50 Rising Motherland Moguls
2022 Award Recipient: Mail & Guardian’s Top 200 Young South Africans
2019: First Female Winner: One Day Leader, a 13-week flagship leadership reality debate show on SABC.
Panellist: Presidential pre-SONA Youth dialogue.
Panellist: Anglo America You Think Event: Indlulamithi SA Scenarios 2030.
Award Recipient: 25 under 25 next-gen fierce trailblazer females, Cosmopolitan Magazine.
2018: National Executive Committee (2016 – 2018), South African Union of Students (SAUS).
2017: Speaker: Tomorrow s Leaders Convention.
Member: University of Johannesburg Student Parliament.
2016: Student Representative Council (SRC) | Interim President
Member of University of Johannesburg Institutional Council
Branch Executive Committee Member
Student Academic Exclusions Appeal Committee
UJ SRC Elections Co-ordinator.
2015: Student Representative Council (SRC) Deputy Chairperson
Student Representative Council (SRC) Interim Chairperson
Head of Delegation, UJ Student Parliament
Branch Executive Committee
UJ SRC Elections Coordinator
Student Academic Exclusions Appeal Committee
Award Recipient: GradStar Top 100 Students SA.
2014: Student Representative Council (SRC) Treasurer
Student Academic Exclusions Appeal Committee
Award Recipient: SRC Academic Achiever, UJ Student Life and Governance
OUR JOURNEY
Officially registered in 2021 and launching publicly in 2026. However, the foundation’s story began more than a decade earlier. In classrooms, student representative councils, community initiative, national advocacy and public service.
Every chapter helped shape the values, experiences and vision that would eventually become today’s foundation.
Leadership begins long before a title.
- Representative Council of Learners (RCL)
- Free State Regional Youth Summit Speaker
- Media Prefect
- National Best Design Award (SAIMechE Technology Olympiad)
A new environment. A bigger purpose.
- Began studies at the University of Johannesburg
- First-Year Experience Winner
Leadership became more than a position—it became a responsibility.
- Entered university leadership structures
- Advocated for student access and inclusion
- SRC Treasurer
- Academic Tutor & Mentor (Department of Applied Information Systems)
- Academic & Financial Exclusions Appeals Committee
- Led the inaugural Bursaries & Careers Seminar
- SRC Academic Achiever Award
Leadership expanded beyond campus into community.
- SRC Deputy Chairperson & Acting SRC Chairperson
- University of Johannesburg Student Parliament (2015–2017)
- Head of Delegation, UJ Student Parliament
- Branch Executive Committee
- #FeesMustFall leadership
- GradStar Top 100 Student
One campus became many voices.
- UJ SRC President (interim)
- South African Union of Students (SAUS) National Executive Committee (2016-2018)
- Student funding advocacy, helped mobilise the UJ “Missing Middle” campaign, 100+ million fundraiser with UJ towards student fees
- UJ SRC Trust Fund Committee
- SRC Elections Coordinator
Advocacy in action.
- Speaker at Tomorrow’s Leaders Convention
- SAUS National Executive Committee (2016–2018)
The conversation became national.
- First female winner of One Day Leader South Africa
- Presidential pre-SONA Youth Dialogue panellist
- Anglo American–GIBS Active Citizenry for social cohesion panellist
- Cosmopolitan Top 25 Under 25 next-gen trailblazers
- Expanded public speaking and leadership engagements
- National Ministerial Strategic Plan Consultation on GBVF
The Foundation is formally established.
- Official registration of the Anisa Mazimpaka Foundation (NPC)
- Strategic planning and conceptualisation
Recognition strengthened purpose.
- Mail & Guardian Top 200 Young South Africans
- Continued youth development advocacy
- Foundation strategy refinement
Leadership enters government.
- Appointed youngest Director in the Private Office of the Executive Mayor, City of Johannesburg
- Cross-sector collaboration
- She Leads Africa Top 50 Rising Moguls
Quiet work. Lasting foundations.
- Refining the Foundation’s strategic direction and governance
- Policy commentary and G20 Leaders’ Summit Coverage Contributor
- 100 Shining Stars, Equal Education
THE JOURNEY CONTINUES.
The next chapter is no longer about one person’s story. It is about creating opportunities for thousands more to begin their own.
The chapters above tell the story of how the Foundation came to life.
The chapters ahead will be written by every learner, student, young leader, partner and community that joins this journey.
Together, we move forward—with purpose, with people, and for impact.
EVERY LEADERSHIP POSITION, EVERY CAMPAIGN, EVERY CONVERSATION WITH YOUNG PEOPLE
reinforced one truth: talent is abundant, but opportunity is not. The Foundation exists to bridge that gap through education, leadership development, advocacy and sustainable partnerships.
The timeline above tells the story of one leader.
The chapters ahead will be written by thousands more
HELP US WRITE THE NEXT CHAPTER
Your support and partnership helps us turn lived experiences into lasting impact.
Together, we can expand access to education, develop ethical leaders and create opportunities that shape South Africa’s future.