A REFLECTION BY
Enxhi Hoxha
OD Day participant at Karibu · 29 October 2026
The People Behind the Movement
On my OD Day, I, Enxhi Hoxha, had the pleasure of meeting three young people from Equal Education: Aluyolo Mbeki, Khumo Petunia Kula, and Nosicelo Ngomana. I spent my OD Day working at Karibu, and meeting the people who are working for this year’s OD organization was truly such an honor. They shared incredible stories and personal experiences with us and offered so many valuable insights. One of the leaders who was in the Zoom meeting, Itumeleng Mothlabane, had just finished a protest march in one of the more rural areas of South Africa, yet she still showed up for our meeting. This felt so powerful to me, seeing how many things they did and how much work they put into their efforts.
A Conversation Across Borders
The meeting itself felt more like a conversation than an interview. Beforehand, I had prepared some questions to ask them, which they answered with a lot of thought and care. What surprised me was that they also had questions for me. Aluyolo Mbeki asked me what the Norwegian system had done to get kids so involved in politics and activities like OD Day. Our conversation on this topic opened my eyes to the systemic differences that existed even in childhood. Nosicelo pointed out how some of the things done in Norwegian schools would never be allowed in South African schools.
Working Towards a Fairer Future
The young people spoke about how they wished to see a future South Africa that had overcome all these problems and created a fair and safe space for everyone. It was really moving to hear them point out that they might not live to see this future, but were still proud to have done their part and put in the work towards making it a reality. I walked out of that meeting feeling wiser than I was when I entered the room.
Thank you so much for taking the time to visit us at Karibu, for answering all of our questions, and for the wonderful work that you do at Equal Education
Learn More About Equal Education
Equal Education is a South African grassroots movement bringing together learners, parents, teachers, and community members to advocate for quality and equality in education.
Discover more about their work and follow their campaigns: