can
change
.World
Award
AWARD FOR A BETTER WORLD
About the WeCanChange.World Award
Who is awarding?
The non-profit initiative "WeCanChange.World", which was launched by Martin Hubschneider,
founder and CEO of CAS Software AG.
Its aim is to promote "a humane, sustainable and welfare-oriented world in freedom and peace".
Who receives the award?
People, initiatives or organizations that make or have made an important contribution to a better world.
AWARD WINNER 2025 - FREEDOM. COURAGE. HUMANITY.
Dr. Siyabulela Mandela: A Profile
Siyabulela Mandela is a dedicated South African consultant, public speaker, and activist focused on peace and development in Africa. As Regional Project Manager for East and Southern Africa at Journalists for Human Rights (JHR), he builds on his previous role as Head of Office for JHR in South Sudan.
Dr. Mandela holds a Ph.D. in International Relations and Conflict Resolution from Nelson Mandela University. His work, deeply rooted in his Qunu upbringing, advocates for addressing basic human needs and institutional reform to achieve stability and durable peace across the continent.
With expertise in diplomacy, conflict resolution, and African politics, Dr. Mandela has shared his insights globally, championing human rights and a developed, peaceful Africa.
Human rights activism and peace work
Dr. Siyabulela Mandela has established himself as a prominent human rights activist working in conflict zones. As team leader for Journalists for Human Rights in South Sudan and regional project manager for East and Southern Africa, he actively promotes press freedom and human rights in unstable regions. His work focuses on using media and technology to promote human rights and peace in conflict zones.
Academic expertise and educational work
With a PhD in International Relations and Conflict Resolution from Nelson Mandela University, he brings a wealth of academic expertise. As a visiting professor at Kurdistan Hewler University, he teaches a new generation of leaders, emphasizing that "education is one of the greatest tools we can use to change the world".
International solidarity and support for oppressed peoples
His commitment to the Kurdish cause is particularly noteworthy. Despite his South African origins, he declared: "I may not have been born a Kurd, but I consider myself a Kurd". This solidarity is based on shared experiences of oppression and the struggle for self-determination.
Continuing the Mandela legacy with critical reflection
Dr. Mandela carries on the legacy of his great-grandfather Nelson Mandela, but with a differentiated and critical perspective. He resists the Western romanticization of his great-grandfather as an exclusively peace-loving leader and instead emphasizes his pragmatic approach and his role as commander-in-chief of the armed forces. This nuanced view of historical figures shows his intellectual maturity and his courage to question established narratives.
Decolonial perspective and cultural identity
His decision to introduce himself by his Thembu clan name "Madiba" reflects a decolonial approach to identity. He explains this as a way of "imagining yourself in a very decolonial way by locating yourself in the history of your people on the African continent".
The Wecanchange.World Award recognizes these multi-faceted contributions to global peace work, human rights promotion and intercultural understanding - qualities that Dr. Siyabulela Mandela embodies through his work, commitment and vision of a more humane, just world.