Sabelo founded Beyond the Walls, a nonprofit organisation providing STEM and digital skills training to incarcerated women and refugees.
Beyond the Walls began in 2019 when Sabelo, a high school teacher, discovered that many incarcerated women return to prison shortly after release due to limited access to vocational skills and a lack of opportunities to earn income and to build livelihoods. To address this gap, Sabelo launched mobile computer training programmes in partnership with Southern African Nazarene University. These programmes run in correctional facilities during the week and in refugee camps on weekends, providing participants with accredited certification. By empowering women and displaced people with the skills needed to access education, employment, and entrepreneurial opportunities, the project breaks cycles of poverty.
The nonprofit has served over 250 incarcerated women through accredited computer skills training programmes. Among these participants, 35 individuals have gone on to pursue further education, including enrolling in bachelor’s degree programmes at Southern African Nazarene University and launching entrepreneurial ventures that utilise their newly acquired digital skills. In addition, 28 refugees have received certifications, with three individuals furthering their education in the United States.
Sabelo attended the 2021 Summit in Munich, and through his involvement in the One Young World Community, he hopes to strengthen collaborations with fellow Ambassadors, grow strategic partnerships, and scale the impact of Beyond the Walls to reach even more communities in need. In 2025, Sabelo was featured in the One Young World Ambassador Spotlight, recognising his efforts to address inequality and expand access to skills and education for underserved communities.
“My idea is to help women who have been incarcerated go back into society with confidence knowing they’ve gained a skill, a sense of purpose, and a way to support themselves, so they break the cycle of reentering prison.”
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