Shamila Mpinga

From Dambuza township to Oxford University in the UK – Shamila Mpinga, 23, the daughter of a domestic worker was awarded a Rhodes Scholarship to study at the prestigious university.

"I voluntarily started working at the age of 12, mostly as a cashier at local shops, and have not stopped since," said Mpinga, who completed high school with five distinctions in 2012.

Shamila earned a scholarship to study law at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, and after her first year of study, she was awarded the Vice Chancellor's Scholarship for being one of the top 25 first-year students. She earned her law degree summa cum laude four years later.

Shamila then studied for a Masters in Mineral Law at the University of Cape Town, where she was awarded the Mandela Rhodes Scholarship in 2017.

Shamila told the Daily News that, even though her family was never wealthy, she didn't struggle because of the support of those around her.

"Ten years ago, if someone had predicted that I would have a law degree and preparing to study at Oxford, I would have laughed at them. But, I find myself here."