Theodore Learns About Magodonga Mahlangu

Theodore the turtle was always curious about the world. One sunny day, he decided to learn about a special person named Magodonga Mahlangu. Theodore found a cozy spot under a big tree and opened his book.

Magodonga Mahlangu was born on September 23, 1972, in a place called Bulawayo in Zimbabwe. She grew up in the South Matebeleland area and went to a private school where she learned about coaching and sports administration. Theodore thought it was cool that she loved sports!

Magodonga noticed that local athletes were not being treated fairly, and this made her upset. So, she decided to do something about it. She, along with her friends Jenni Williams and Sheba Dube, started a group called Women of Zimbabwe Arise, or WOZA for short. They wanted to make their country a better place.

Magodonga and her friends organized peaceful protests to speak out against the problems in their country. Theodore was amazed to learn that Magodonga was very brave. She had been arrested more than 30 times for standing up for what she believed in!

In 2009, something very special happened. Magodonga received the Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights Award from the President of the United States, Barack Obama. Theodore imagined how proud she must have felt. When she accepted the award, she said, "The future is not a gift: it is an achievement. Every generation helps make its own future."

Theodore learned that Magodonga's family now lives outside Zimbabwe, and she was not married and had no children in 2011. He thought about how much she had done to help others and how her courage inspired many people.

As Theodore closed his book, he felt inspired by Magodonga Mahlangu's story. He knew that even a small turtle like him could make a big difference in the world by being brave and standing up for what is right.