Fourteen-year-old Ragini Buhle Pillay, a Grade 9 pupil from Midrand High School, has been chosen as South Africa's sole participant in the Mission ShakthiSAT space mission in Uttar Pradesh, India.

This initiative, led by Space Kidz India's founder Dr Srimathy Kesan, aims to inspire young women in STEM fields through hands-on space science exposure.Ragini's selection follows completing 550 online tasks, showcasing her dedication despite financial challenges.Her passion for astronomy began in childhood, influenced by family stargazing traditions and her mother's engineering background.She has already organized outreach by the South African National Space Agency (Sansa) to promote STEM careers.Ragini, who aspires to become a space or military engineer, emphasizes the importance of perseverance and learning from peers.She plans to build a satellite and believes space travel will become routine.Her family, a single-parent household, encourages independence, with Ragini contributing to household tasks since childhood.While Mission ShakthiSAT covers Indian components, her family must fund her international travel, which she views as an investment in her future.Ragini's journey highlights the potential of youth in STEM and the need for support systems to overcome barriers.