ABOUT
Zulaikha Patel is a South African human rights activist, international speaker, and best-selling author. She began her activism at the age of 13 when she founded the #StopRacismAtPretoriaGirlsHigh movement in 2016, successfully challenging racist hair policies at her school with a petition that gained over 34,000 signatures globally. Her efforts not only changed local policies but also sparked international discourse on hair discrimination and institutionalized racism.
Zulaikha is the author of two best-selling children’s books in South Africa, My Coily Crowny Hair and Brave Like Me. In 2022, she founded Dare To Change, a non-profit organization focused on eradicating childhood illiteracy by establishing libraries in rural, underserved communities, positively impacting over 8,000 children.
Her work spans anti-racism, decolonization, youth empowerment, climate change, economics, and the fight against gender-based violence, solidifying her reputation as a leading voice for social justice on the global stage.
Zulaikha has received numerous awards for her activism, including recognition as a BBC 100 Women honoree (2016), Young Activists Summit Laureate (2022), Kofi Annan Changemaker, one of the 100 Most Influential Africans (2019), and the BRICS SCO Young Leader Award.