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Why does ā€˜the Beastā€™ think education is key?

ā€œDream big! You can achieve your wildest dreams." Tendai Mtawarira was a fearsome opponent on the rugby pitch ā€“ but now works to help children reach their potential.

ā€œDream big! You can achieve your wildest dreams as long as you work hard and get yourself in school.ā€

Nicknamed ā€˜the Beastā€™, Tendai Mtawarira is the most-capped prop to have played for the Springboks.

Born in Zimbabwe, his talent at rugby was quickly spotted and he was offered a bursary as a teenager to train with the Sharks in South Africa. In 2008 he was called up to play for the national squad as heā€™d lived in the country for enough time.

But in 2010 he was barred from playing because of a controversy over his nationality. It took the intervention of Archbishop Desmond Tutu before he was able to play for the team again.

He also struggled sometimes as a big, aggressive child. And so - now heā€™s retired from rugby - his new passion is helping children and young adults reach their potential, through his ā€˜Beast Academyā€™ and also as an Unicef ambassador.

Alan Kasujja speaks to the Beast ā€“ just back from a trip with Unicef to South Sudan ā€“ but also with a young South Sudanese woman whose journey has taken her from cattle camp, to street child, to finally becoming an ā€˜inspiratorā€™ who helps other young people to realise their goals.

NOTE: Correction made at 0645 GMT changing UNHCR to Unicef.

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22 minutes

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