One Life Changing Chapter
At five years old, Popina Khumanda was captured by rebels in the Democratic Republic of Congo alongside her older sister. After five years in captivity, the two escaped and walked to South Africa, where Popina began her education at twelve, learning to read and write while mastering three new languages. Today she is building a career in cybersecurity and is the author of The Smallest Ones, shortlisted for the 2026 Sunday Times Literary Awards. She also founded Anchor Tech Academy, which helps disadvantaged learners gain English and computer skills and earn industry-recognised certifications from Google, Cisco and CompTIA. In this keynote, Popina shares how the hope her sister gave her on that long road became a mission. She challenges delegates to stop judging lives by their circumstances and start opening doors for others, because talent exists everywhere, but opportunity does not.
Speakers
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Popina KhumandaSurvivor, Author, Cybersecurity SpecialistPopina Khumanda
Survivor, Author, Cybersecurity Specialist
Popina Khumanda is the author of The Smallest Ones. Born in 1995 in the Democratic Republic of Congo, she was raised in circumstances that would soon be marked by unimaginable hardship and extraordinary resilience.
At just five years old, Popina’s world was shattered when rebels attacked her village. She was taken captive alongside her twenty-one-year-old sister, beginning a five-year journey of survival in the face of fear and uncertainty.
Against all odds, the two sisters escaped. With nothing but hope to guide them, they walked across borders in search of safety, eventually finding refuge in South Africa. It was the start of a new battle one against language barriers, limited education, and financial hardship.
But Popina refused to be defined by her circumstances.
Determined to rewrite her story, she completed her matric in 2013, went on to earn a degree in Information Technology from Nelson Mandela University, and later specialized in cybersecurity at the University of Cape Town.
Today, Popina stands not only as a survivor and author, but as a symbol of courage and transformation. Through her writing and journey, she continues to inspire others proving that no matter where you begin, your future is yours to create.