Sylvia is joined by social entrepreneur, pilot, and educator Refilwe Ledwaba.  Refilwe is the first black woman from South Africa to fly a helicopter and she is also the first black woman to fly for the South African Police Service. Most recently she founded  the Girls Fly Program in Africa, a nonprofit designed to shape, empower, enable and support the next generation of changemakers and problemsolvers in the aviation and space industry.

Topics Include:

• Growing up in apartheid South Africa 
• An upbringing surrounded by strong women
• The importance of seeing people that look like you in positions you aspire to
• Giving recognition to the changemakers that came before us
• The burden of being “the first”
• The danger associated with breaking glass ceilings
• Pre and post apartheid
• The spirit of ubuntu ~ "I am because we are"
• Transforming community through mindset and education
• Flying into remote villages in Africa to run workshops in STEAM and design 
• Becoming an Obama Foundation Fellow and a Gates Foundation Goalkeeper
• Pivoting during COVID to serve a community with minimal internet access
• The problem of access and the digital divide
• Pausing to heal and self-reflect during quarantine
• And other topics...

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www.gfpafoundation.orgwww.areye.africaTwitter, Instagram, Facebook and Linkedin@gfpafoundation@areyestoriesInstagram @refilwe_ledFacebook: Refilwe LedwabaLinkedin: Refilwe ledwaba#gfpafoundation #areyestories Want to connect with us? Visit us online!Website: https://www.whenwomenfly.com/Instagram: @whenwomenfly