Onalenna Khalanyane (RWVL)
Organisation / Affiliation: Ambassadors4Change
Languages: English and Setswana
Advocacy Areas
- Gender based violence prevention and response
- Sexual and reproductive health and rights
- Climate justice
- Mental health
- Substance abuse awareness
- Youth empowerment
Onalenna Khalanyane is a dedicated South African activist and community advocate committed to advancing social justice and youth empowerment. As a member of Ambassadors4Change, she works at the intersection of gender equality, public health and community development. Her advocacy focuses on GBV, SRHR, climate justice, mental health and substance abuse awareness, with a strong belief in the power of young people to use their voices and drive change.
Background
Onalenna’s passion for community upliftment is shaped by her observations of inequality in education and the challenges faced by marginalised communities. She pursued studies in History, Political Science and International Relations, developing an interest in how policy implementation shapes societal outcomes in South Africa. Her experience includes volunteer tutoring, research and storytelling through an internship at South African History Online, community work through initiatives such as Knitted with Love, volunteer office administration, and leadership roles including the MenEngage Africa steering committee and programme coordination.
Areas of Expertise
- Facilitation
- Research
- Storytelling
- GBV prevention
- Youth empowerment
- Gender transformative approaches
Current Projects / Work
Onalenna facilitates workshops addressing toxic masculinity and promoting gender transformative approaches to build healthier and more equitable communities. Through Ambassadors4Change and related platforms, she contributes to work on gender equality, public health, community development, mental wellness, learner development and youth leadership. Her work encourages young people, especially those in schools, to use their voices, critically engage with their environments and take an active role in driving change.
Affiliations
- Ambassadors4Change
- Mental Wellness Initiative
- Masifunde Learner Development
- MenEngage South Africa
- MenEngage Africa steering committee
Social Media / Website