Meet Phathuxolo Vinqishe also known as “Owen” or “Bhuti kaSisi”.  He is a talented young person, who is always eager to learn and strives to fight for change within our communities.

Owen has worked for the South African Youth Federation as Youth Co-ordinator under the umbrella of ‘Homeless Peoples Federation’ for almost 11 years.

In 1997 he started volunteering for the Department of Sports and Culture, to develop indigenous games. In the same year he and some members registered an NPO called the Yep (clan) youth empowerment project that promotes youth development and a healthy lifestyle through cycling. In 1999 he was elected as the chairperson for the Khayelitsha Sports Council. Between that time and the year 2004, he was also playing for the Premier United soccer team in the first division league. In 2003 he enrolled as a student at Boston College studying Sports Management, however, was unable to complete the course due to financial constraints. In 2010 he participated in the Books on Bikes initiative collecting books in previously disadvantaged community libraries in the Western Cape and all-over South Africa. In 2013 his journey as a Community Educator and Recruiter began whilst working for the University of Stellenbosch TB centre for 4 years and even won a champion award as the top recruiter and educator in that year.

He later joined the University of Cape Town research group under the Prof Meintjes group in 2017 and has been with us to date.

Owen continues to push for change in communities through sporting activities and has had the privilege of registering another NPO in Khayelitsha called the Jukskei Club in December 2022.