Taking science to the community
Germiston’s Dev Kolobe Mamabolo (32) shares his excitement after being named South African Man of the Year in the Science and Technology category at the 2017 SA Men of the Year Awards.
Dev Kolobe Mamabolo (32), from Airport Park in Germiston, has a love and enthusiasm for science and technology that is infectious.
With this passion it is no wonder he was recently named South African Man of the Year in the Science and Technology category at the third annual South African Men of the Year Awards.
The awards are given to men who contribute positively to their communities and the country as a whole in various categories.
Mamabolo was one of 50 finalists in the awards.
“The award is given to men who play a leadership role in their community and who are also positive role models and inspire others to be or do better,” Mamabolo explained when he visited the GCN offices last Tuesday.
“A role model that young boys will aspire to be like.”
Mamabolo, a chemist, had no idea a friend had nominated him for the award until he was contacted and asked to put together a portfolio of his work in the community.
Some of his projects include his role as Gauteng provincial coordinator for the Eskom Expo for Young Scientists, his involvement in National Science Week, as well as several rural science outreach programmes and prison projects with a focus on juveniles.
“I also helped in a fundraising project that saw R1.4-million raised for maths, technology and science books for schools in rural areas that cannot afford them,” he said.
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All of the projects Mamabolo is involved in encourage the youth to discover their love of science and technology.
“These two subjects will play a vital role in building our future, and that really sparked my passion for them.
“I want to encourage the youth to become researchers and scientists and find solutions to problems that we face,” he said.
One of Mamabolo’s highlights while working with children was when a young boy from a rural community created a solar hat.
“The young man was often sent by his mother to charge the family cellphone at the school or local shops because they didn’t have electricity at home.
“Because of this he built a solar hat which allowed him to charge the phone even when at home.”
Mamabolo is proud that his contribution to the subjects he loves is being recognised, and is already hard at work on his next project.
“We would love to have a science and technology academy opened here in Ekurhuleni, we don’t have one,” he said.
“I feel that this academy would greatly benefit the youth and open many doors for them.”
Mamabolo hopes to inspire the youth to shape the world.
“We have to encourage the youth to shape the world, they are the future after all.”
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