Ndileka Mandela is a South African social activist, former intensive care nurse, and founder of the Thembekile Mandela Foundation, established in 2012 to advance health, education, and youth development in rural communities. The Foundation has improved school facilities and delivered vital sanitation supplies to thousands of girls. A powerful advocate for breaking silences, she was the first in her family to publicly reject the ANC, and in 2017 she courageously shared her experience as a survivor of sexual violence, amplifying South Africa’s #MeToo movement. On the global stage, Ndileka has spoken out against “climate apartheid” at COP28, drawing attention to the disproportionate impact of climate change on the Global South. She is also the co-author of The Walking School Bus, named a USBBY Outstanding International Book of 2024.