The Daily TLDR

Refilwe Ledwaba begins by emphasizing the importance of recognizing the people who contribute to success, not just focusing on challenges. She shares her background as a pilot, educator, and founder of Girls Fly Africa, an organization dedicated to teaching the next generation, especially women, how to fly. Ledwaba transitioned from being an air hostess to becoming a helicopter pilot, an airline airplane pilot, and then a flight instructor, notably becoming the first Black woman in South Africa to fly helicopters.

The Turning Point and the Power of Mentorship

Her career shift was sparked by encouraging pilots who recognized her potential. However, her training was difficult; she struggled severely with 'hovering,' a coordinated maneuver, and was nearly dropped from the program. The turning point came with a new instructor who took the time to understand her context (she lacked a driver's license or bike experience, meaning less developed motor skills than typical students). He redesigned the training specifically for her, allowing her to quickly overcome the obstacle and finish ahead of her peers. This experience inspired her to become an instructor and pay that customized support forward.

Girls Fly Africa: A Five-Phase Empowerment Model

Girls Fly Africa works primarily with young people from rural areas who have never been exposed to the aviation industry. The program addresses five key challenges:

1. Lack of Information and Role Models: Many students, like Ledwaba once, only know of distant figures (e.g., Tom Cruise). They address this by landing aircraft in rural communities so young people and their communities can see women pilots who look like them. This visibility shifts preconceived ideas about what women should do.
2. Building Skills and Capabilities: They expose students to hands-on learning, including simulators, working on real engines, and 3D modeling of rockets and airplanes, giving them a clear idea of the mechanics before formal training.
3. Affordability (Scholarships): Aviation is prohibitively expensive. Through scholarship programs, Girls Fly Africa has trained over 100 individuals, including pilots, drone pilots, and flight instructors.
4. Networks and Job Placement: After training, jobs aren't guaranteed. Ledwaba's organization advocates for their graduates, connecting them with job prospects to help them build the necessary flight hours for airline careers.
5. Continuous Support and Growth: True empowerment means reaching the top. They foster continuous growth networks to ensure graduates can progress to high-level positions like training captains or even astronauts.

To date, Girls Fly Africa has interacted with over half a million boys and girls, with about 200,000 having gone through workshops and camps, and over 100 girls receiving full training support. Ledwaba concludes by encouraging young people to acknowledge the community of support behind them, noting that over 90% of people want them to succeed. She credits her success to those who 'nudged' her, inspired her, and made it 'normal' to help others.