Ragini Buhle Pillay with her mom, Radeshini Pillay.
Fourteen-year-old Midrand High School pupil Ragini Buhle Pillay has been selected as the sole South African participant to represent the country at the historic Mission ShakthiSAT international space mission in Uttar Pradesh, India.
This places her among an elite group of young women from across the world who are shaping the future of science, technology and space exploration.
The global initiative, spearheaded by Dr Srimathy Kesan, the Founder and CEO of Space Kidz India, aims to inspire the next generation of girl scientists, engineers, innovators and global leaders through hands-on exposure to space science, satellite technology, leadership, innovation and international collaboration.
For Ragini, a Grade 9 pupil aspiring to become either a space engineer or military engineer, the selection represents the culmination of years of curiosity about the night sky, months of intensive preparation, and a determination to pursue a career in STEM despite financial challenges.
