Engineering Alumnus Named a “Young Mandela” for Humanitarian Work

Engineering Alumnus Named a “Young Mandela” for Humanitarian Work

Ms Michaela Geytenbeek is among the 30 exceptional South Africans honoured as News24’s Young Mandelas in recognition of their contributions to building a better South Africa.

The Young Mandelas made their mark in six categories: climate literacy and sustainability, social justice, innovation, mental health, humanitarianism, and deepening democracy.

Aged 28, UKZN Mechanical Engineering graduate Geytenbeek was one of eight to be honoured in the humanitarianism category. She founded the Durban-based non-profit, the Kinship Programme, which promotes environmental stewardship and nature-based education for young children.

Geytenbeek described the recognition as overwhelming but views her work as a privilege, believing that recognition can amplify positive impacts.

Geytenbeek’s appreciation for nature began in childhood through outdoor activities with her parents. Initially interested in biomedical engineering, she took a year off to train as a Montessori teacher before studying Mechanical Engineering at UKZN being drawn to the Institution for its strong engineering programmes. She spent time hiking as a student, guiding trips in the Drakensberg mountains, and chairing a student branch of the South African Institute of Mechanical Engineers. She completed a guiding qualification and started the PathFinders-SA organisation to guide mountaineering trips.

After graduation, Geytenbeek pursued a postgraduate diploma in sustainable development at Stellenbosch University. As the COVID-19 pandemic struck, she worked on litter boom designs with Professor Cristina Trois but realised that such interventions were temporary solutions to a broader problem of disconnection from nature. This insight led her to focus on nature connectedness and environmental education.

‘Nature connectedness is a prerequisite for people championing conservation and sustainable living later on,’ said Geytenbeek.

Geytenbeek started the Kinship Programme to address this disconnection, inviting children to explore Durban’s natural spaces. She went on to do her master’s in sustainable development at Stellenbosch University, looking at developing nature connectedness with children using findings from the Kinship Programme.

Geytenbeek expanded the programme to include a consulting wing focused on transforming environmental education. This year she has so far worked with 24 schools using evidence-based approaches to educational transformation.

Last year in her personal capacity, she designed a module on earth stewardship for the Indaba Foundation’s Community Rooted Education Programme for teachers in underserved communities, reaching around 240 women in Cape Town townships.

Geytenbeek sees engineering as providing a strong foundation for running the Kinship Programme, which she describes as a dynamic system requiring continuous adaptation. The programme has grown organically, with a team of facilitators and project-based community work. Her collaborative approach has received positive feedback, highlighting the importance of outdoor experiences for children’s well-being and environmental appreciation.

In a country facing significant environmental and social challenges, Geytenbeek emphasises the need to reconnect with nature, challenging the perception that modern society is separate from the natural world. The Kinship Programme has allowed her to combine creativity with community service, demonstrating that doing good and finding support for these initiatives is possible. She has developed partnerships with schools and secured funding for additional programmes, aiming for long-term impact.

Geytenbeek acknowledged AESSEAL and Zonke Engineering for funding the 2024 school rollout, training, and programme prototype. She also credited the Sustainability Institute and the Savanna Foundation for their support in working towards transformative education.

Words: Christine Cuénod

Photographs: Supplied