Help Ragini Buhle Pillay (14) Build a Satellite

Imagine being 14 years old and carrying the scientific pride of an entire nation of youth on your shoulders.

This is the reality for Midrand High School learner Ragini Buhle Pillay. Out of thousands of applicants worldwide, Ragini has achieved something extraordinary: she has been selected as the single, sole South African representative for the prestigious Mission ShakthiSAT international space initiative in India.

Her selection was not a matter of luck. Ragini earned her place on the global stage through pure grit and dedication, successfully navigating an intensive online space science course with 550 tasks. Her passion for aerospace engineering is matched only by her commitment to her community; working alongside the South African National Space Agency (SANSA), Ragini has already spearheaded local outreach programmes that have introduced the wonders of space science to more than 1,000 learners across Johannesburg.

Now, she has the chance to collaborate with young women from 108 nations to build a real lunar payload. But a massive financial hurdle stands b...