Rifumo Mathebula, Programme Director of Wild Shots Outreach, has been selected as one of the Obama Foundation’s 2026 African Leaders – recognising his outstanding leadership and commitment to empowering young Africans through conservation, photography and visual storytelling.

Rifumo Mathebula’s journey from a rural community bordering South Africa’s Kruger National Park to being recognised as an Obama Foundation African Leader is a powerful testament to the transformative potential of investing in young people.

The Obama Foundation’s prestigious African Leaders programme identifies exceptional emerging leaders from across the continent who are driving positive change in their communities and beyond. As part of the 2026-27 cohort, Rifumo will join a network of inspiring African changemakers and participate in a leadership development programme, building skills, connections and collaborations to strengthen his impact.

Growing up in a rural community on the doorstep of Kruger National Park, Rifumo (29) spent much of his childhood herding livestock and having to often miss school. Despite living alongside one of Africa’s most iconic protected areas, he had never experienced its wildlife firsthand.

That changed when he joined Wild Shots Outreach (WSO).

Founded in 2015, WSO uses photography as a powerful tool to connect young people from disadvantaged communities with wildlife and conservation. Through photography workshops, conservation education, mentorship and practical skills development, WSO helps young people build confidence, broaden their horizons and discover pathways into the wildlife, tourism and creative industries.

For Rifumo, seeing wildlife for the first time sparked a passion that would change the course of his life. Photography gave him confidence and a voice; conservation gave him purpose.

Today, as WSO’s Programme Director, Rifumo leads programmes that have helped thousands of young people connect with wildlife, develop valuable skills and discover new possibilities for their futures.

His leadership has also taken him beyond South Africa, contributing to WSO programmes and partnerships in Botswana and Namibia and championing the role of young Africans as active participants in conservation. “I am overwhelmed to receive this honour. It shows that where you come from does not define where you can go. I hope my journey encourages other young people to dare to dream. Photography gave me a voice, conservation gave me purpose, and now I want to help other young Africans discover that same passion and belief in themselves. My vision is to build a future where young people living alongside our national parks see themselves as leaders in protecting Africa’s wildlife.”

For Wild Shots Outreach founder Mike Kendrick, Rifumo’s recognition is a powerful affirmation of what can happen when young people are given opportunity, encouragement and a platform to discover their potential. “Watching Rifumo grow from one of our first students into an internationally recognised leader has been one of the greatest privileges of my life. His selection by the Obama Foundation is a tremendous recognition of his remarkable leadership and determination. It also demonstrates the transformative impact of investing in young people and giving them the opportunity to see a positive future for themselves.”

Rifumo’s story embodies the vision at the heart of Wild Shots Outreach: that young people living alongside some of Africa’s most important protected areas should not simply be neighbours to conservation, but should have the opportunity to become its champions, storytellers and future leaders.