Meet Thulile Khanyile, a scientist from Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, who is passionate about bridging science education with entrepreneurship. She holds a Master of Science in Medicine with a specialisation in biophotonics from the University of the Witwatersrand (WITS), where she is currently pursuing her doctoral degree in Molecular Medicine and Haematology.
Thulile champions Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 4: Quality Education and her dedication to this goal is evident in her work. In 2016 she co-founded Nka’Thuto EduPropeller, a non-profit organisation established to develop, upskill, and empower previously disadvantaged African youth through programs in Sciences, Technology, Engineering, the Arts, Mathematics, and Innovation (STEAMi).
The journey to establish Nka’Thuto EduPropeller began with a shared passion between Thulile and her co-founder, Thandeka Mhlanga, whom she met while they were both pursuing their master’s degrees. Recognizing the potential to leverage their research expertise to make a tangible impact on society, they created programs that empower youth to tackle real-world problems through innovation and entrepreneurship.
Nka’Thuto EduPropeller’s programs, such as Ideas To Concept (I2C) Incubation, innovation clubs and urban crop management, have significantly impacted the township and rural communities throughout South Africa. These initiatives encourage participants to identify societal challenges, develop technology-driven solutions, and transform these solutions into viable business propositions. The organisation operates to bridge the gap between groundbreaking research and practical applications that benefit under-resourced communities.
As the program grew, Thulile and her team faced challenges, particularly in adapting to the diverse needs of participants. Nka’Thuto EduPropeller responded by incorporating technical skills training in coding and electronics and enhancing communication skills to better prepare participants for the professional world. To streamline the evaluation process, the organisation also introduced a centralized digital judging platform, ensuring transparency and efficiency as they scaled up their initiatives.
Thulile takes great pride in the outcomes of her work. Nka’Thuto EduPropeller has distributed nearly 500 digital devices to bridge the digital divide in South Africa, raised awareness of STEM careers among over 30,000 learners, and taught research methodology to approximately 4,000 learners. The organisation has a national footprint across seven provinces and has established 18 innovation clubs in township schools, fostering a robust innovation ecosystem.
Despite her busy schedule, Thulile is deeply committed to personal and professional growth. She actively conducts training and master classes on STEM communication, entrepreneurship, and design thinking, sharing her expertise with young professionals and students. Thulile channels her creativity into podcasting, blogging, and solo travel adventures in her spare time. She also enjoys the discipline of weight training, finding balance and inspiration in these pursuits while staying connected with her passions.
LinkedIn: Thulile Khanyile
Email: goalkeepers@sun.ac.za