Creative Expressions 2025: Winners, Gratitude, and the Fire Within
- GSGC
- Oct 28, 2025
- 2 min read
Updated: Jul 16
564 votes. $10,781.37 raised. But more than numbers, Creative Expressions 2025 again reminded us why this annual tradition matters: it’s a window into the hopes, fears, talents, and grit of young people across Southern Africa.
As Mentor and artist Kangwa Yombwe said, “Creativity is a language young people already speak—we just need to listen.” This year, we listened—and were moved.
Thank you to every donor and supporter who voted, gave, and shared the entries with friends and family. Thank you to our 30+ volunteer judges—from London to Portland to Toronto to Cape Town—who helped us work through the tough task of selecting finalists. And thank you to our mentors who continue to use Creative Expressions as more than a fundraiser: it’s a powerful mentorship tool that invites self-discovery, builds confidence, and deepens the bond between mentors and their club members.
To see all the finalists again, and review the winners announced below, visit: https://creative.gsgivingcircle.org/2025-home/2025-finalists/
2025 Overall Winners
Junior (tie):
Maxine Mvula — Girls Time Bloomers — Spoken Speech (22 votes)
Daniel D. Muyambo — Sisonke Boys Club — Performing Arts (22 votes)
Senior:
Zoe B. Tshuma — Sisonke Girls Club — Spoken Speech (25 votes)
Alumni:
Nqobile Mabhena — iTHUBA Alumni Club — Spoken Speech (27 votes)
Category Winners
Drawing & Painting — Junior Novice: Nkisu Ilunga, Friends of Change Boys Club (15 votes)
Drawing & Painting — Senior Novice: Edith Maingaila, Believe Foundation (15 votes)
Drawing & Painting — Senior Advanced: Albert Malambo, Friends of Change Boys Club (22 votes)
Crafts — Junior: Tinotenda Shepard Mthembo, Trailblazers Boys Club (19 votes)
Crafts — Senior: Belita Mween, Believe Foundation (18 votes)
Spoken Poetry — Junior: Shalom Nyangani , Sisonke Junior Clubs (18 votes)
Spoken Poetry — Senior: Precious Habasume, Believe Foundation (21 votes)
Performing Arts — Senior: Princess Nyaude & Anabetta Mudimba, Girls Time Club (21 votes)
Innovation & Invention — Senior: Victor Nyika-ino Muyambo, Sisonke Boys Club (21 votes)
Alumni Theme — “If I Were a Leader” (2nd place): Musa Unathi Nkomo, iTHUBA (21 votes)
This year’s theme, “The Fire Within Me,” shone through in every entry. For young people, Creative Expressions is more than a stage; it’s practice for life—setting goals, taking risks, finding a voice, and being witnessed. For mentors, it’s a chance to know their youth more deeply and to nurture that spark, one poem, painting, prototype, or performance at a time.
With gratitude to everyone who made Creative Expressions 2025 possible—mentors, club members, judges, donors, staff, and friends of GSGC around the world. The fire within these young people is burning bright—and because of you, it has more places to shine.
