From Soul Buddy to Social Impact: Thabsie Mabezane.

Former members are now leaders, activists, and changemakers, carrying forward the values and lessons they learned in their youth.

Take Thabsie Mabezane, for example.

“I was part of Soul Buddy Club in Benoni from 2009–2010, serving as Deputy Chairperson. That experience shaped me into the leader I am today. Even then, I knew I was destined to become an award-winning queer activist, feminist, and human rights advocate. Thank you, Soul City Institute your work continues to change lives.”

For Thabsie, and many like them, Soul Buddy Clubs were more than extracurricular activities they were leadership incubators. Through group projects, peer mentorship, and community engagement, members learned to speak up, lead with empathy, and make meaningful contributions to society.

Today, former Soul Buddy members are making waves in diverse fields from human rights advocacy and feminist leadership to community development and social entrepreneurship. Their stories are living proof that youth programmes like Soul Buddy do more than teach skills; they plant seeds for lifelong social impact.

Soul City Institute’s commitment to fostering young leaders continues to shape the next generation. Every project, every mentorship session, and every community initiative leaves a lasting impression one that blooms into leadership, courage, and change.

Join us as we celebrate former Soul Buddy members and their journeys from club members to social impact leaders. Because at Soul City, the work we do today shapes the changemakers of tomorrow.