Enslaved By Poverty, Education Was My Liberation | Obakeng Leseyane | TEDxPretoria

Obakeng is a South African activist passionate about access to quality education in Africa.
His passion for education was informed by his own educational trajectory, in 2009 as an 11-year-old boy he asked the king to send him to a school where he could learn English. In 2012, he was selected as 1 of 2 boys to receive Kgosi Leruo Molotlegi Scholarship to commence high school at one of the best boys schools in South Africa. Obakeng credits this milestone as a moment of impact which redirected his life.
Obakeng is a South African activist passionate about access to quality education in Africa. He has started education-based initiatives (raised over $45,000 in 3 years for students), writes and speaks on international platforms with global shapers and changemakers. He has been featured on Forbes, eNCA, Huffington Post and other multimedia platforms. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at www.ted.com/tedx

[@boe3579]

Seeing him like this makes me feel proud. If you see this, congrats and keep shining.

[@leroymwas]

‘One thing that people cannot take away from you is what you know...’ profound. Happy to see you walk this amazingly courageous yet dreadful journey.

[@obakengleseyane3174]

Leroy, my brother! I don't thank you enough for your audacity to dream and do the unconventional. I am personally inspired and look up to you for strong habits.

[@tshepondlovu1562]

A leader in the making; well done my son.

[@wanjanjama]

This is so inspiring. I am so proud of you Obakeng! First and foremost, this is so well-written, and well orated. I wish you all the best with the future in which you are conquering, each and every day. Congratulations on this achievement!

[@obakengleseyane3174]

Thank you for your forever heartwarming words Wanja. Your support is unparalleled!

[@lucastshokwe3062]

I honor and celebrate you, keep on overcoming and tell your tell everywhere... for it liberates many. Much love.

[@buhledlulane9716]

Oh my gosh dude. I am so proud of you! You did that. Man, you're going everywhere!

[@obakengleseyane3174]

Thank you Buhle. We are going everywhere and coming for everything.

[@lethinjabulomazuze9717]

Why is this not on the Ted app?

[@obakengleseyane3174]

There is TED Talks and TEDx Talks, only TED Talks are available on the TED app. But soon, we might just find ourselves on the TED Global stage.

[@kittylife2262]

Hi me brathar. Uncle Cornal West is a dushe bag. Just ask auntie Candace Owens!

[@RJ-dz1hu]

One of the WORST talks from TEDx - he was untruthful in the first 30 seconds - can you please offer better quality talks and not only want to fill the open spaces.. dissapointed

[@lioong3433]

May i ask what you mean by this?

[@Michael21870]

That's very untruthful. This young man is going places. What's your contribution to society?Probably sitting on the couch critiquing dreamers!!!

[@RJ-dz1hu]

@@Michael21870 Nope, I guess my standards and intelligence are just much higher so I understand where you are coming from. Maybe if you speak to people on the same level you might find it interesting but my brother in kindergarten can come up with something more insightful. Trust me his contribution would be way more valuable to society to rather just not give a speech at all it's just noise pollution. Cheers

[@dp503]

@@RJ-dz1hu I was in his grade and class. I don't know who you are and you don't know who I am, we both have pseudonyms. That's probably good He basically said he felt like an outsider because of his background. In his opinion, because of the vast difference in background, he felt like he could not co-exist It's subjective. He may be conveying it from what one may call a political standpoint and this may be annoying for a couple of reasons, but what we can both surely agree on is one thing: It is hard to be an outsider. You must try to not sound so arrogant, not many people will like it and it's not very good for others. It's some good advice, cleanse yourself of arrogance