Faculty: Arts
Program: English Literature
Year: 2017
Country: South Africa
At her high school at the American International School of Johannesburg (AISJ), Keitu emerged as a very strong leader and motivator, described as “intelligent, talented, passionate, outgoing and [a] delightful young woman”. As a prominent role-model and activist among the student population, she has been involved and thoroughly engaged in a number of humanitarian initiatives which demonstrate her mature qualities. These range from taking on the responsibility of the Co-Deputy Secretary General of the Johannesburg Model United Nations (JOMUN), hosting a Global Issues Service Summit (GISS) for the Association of International Schools in Africa (AISA), Co-President of the Human Rights Advocacy group, and taking on President of Sponsorship of the South African Service Summit for Youth (SASSY). She is also an accomplished singer and performer, acting in musicals and Open Mic, and taking the front of line of her cheer squad during sporting events.
As her middle name symbolizes, Keitu is the “hope” to her family, peers and teachers for a better South Africa. Through her studies at UBC in English, she hopes to utilize her skill in writing to become a Noble laureate writer on the pharmaceutical research she wants to do on medication used for cancer. Keitu is deeply passionate about social justice issues, and dreams to see the success of African women succeeding in the future.