In 1999, Nelson Mandela founded the Nelson Mandela Foundation. He wanted to create an instrument which would outlive him. One of the key gifts he gave to the world was Mandela day – a global challenge which encourages people to take time out – 67 minutes – on his birthday to help others. This has become an important day through which individuals, corporates, and civil society look within and commit to make a difference in the world.
Whilst some people will wait for Mandela Day, there a number of people across the world who have dedicated a part of their lives to always give back to vulnerable sectors of the society. We present and celebrate Nonhlanhla Masina a young South African woman who is going the extra mile to give back and shape the next generation. Below is her story.
Nonhlanhla Masina is a driven young woman. She holds two Bachelor of Science degrees and a Masters in Pharmaceutical Science. Five years ago, she launched a non-profit organisation which aims at revolutionizing education in South Africa by creating a network of affordable world-class private high schools.
“Community it very important to me. My upbringing grounds me and keeps my mind sober as I navigate the real world where millions of people live in poverty and not by choice. So although I straddle two worlds – my academic life and my life at home – I keep reminding myself that’s where most of the country is. I cannot get comfortable in my bubble because if the majority is not able to access the type of learning and education they need to meet their potential, then my bubble will burst.”
The first of three children, she grew up in Tsakane township, near Johannesburg where she attended a public school. She excelled in Maths and Science and graduated top of her class then attended the University of Witwatersrand in South Africa. The first week of class she had a rude awakening – the quality of education she had been exposed to set her at least two years behind and she had to work thrice as hard as everyone else in order to catch up.
“Failure was never an option…When I left home, the entire community was in my house… People were contributing financially or with prayers or advice. One neighbour even gave me a toothbrush and cup when I left for university. It’s a poor community, but everyone wanted to give something to symbolize their support. It would have been a massive blow to them and my personal identify if I had given up, it was never just for me!”
She had been exposed to an education system that taught her to memorize formulas and yet problem solving was one of the key tools she needed to succeed in life. This situation did not break Noni. After her first year she visited her high school and started a supplementary program which helped equip children in their matric year with skills in Maths, Science, and English. This program expanded and by the time she was in her third year, she had mobilized other students at the university and they were supporting five high schools all year in the region she grew up.
In 2013, Noni and Jay Cloppenburg partnered to establish the first independent and private school, African School of Excellence (ASE) in Tsakane and a second high school in Maboneng. ASE is a non-profit network of highly affordable private schools with the goal of enabling township scholars to compete globally. School fees are low but still an investment for most families, regardless of government subsidies. Plans are underway to launch a social enterprise to be able to operate in different price points and scale more rapidly, creating a network of 200 schools throughout the country and providing high quality education to half a million disadvantaged scholars in ten years.
“Our first class is graduating in two years and in a recent assessment targeted at native English speakers was ranked in the top quintile of the nation’s schools. Our 10th grade kids are being pulled into 12th grade classes to facilitate and they are simply amazing” Noni said with pride. Noni wants to prove that it does not matter how much a person spends on an education but how the money is spent. This is evident through her schools.
“I don’t want to give the child from Tsakane or Soweto an education that’s a little bit better. I want them to get an education that empowers them to be globally competitive.” Noni and Jay are showing us that with the right support, anyone can shine.
What change do you want to see happening in your community? You hold the power to ensure that this transformation happens. Take a stand like Nelson Mandela and other young people like Nonhlanhla have done and get those wheels of change moving. To learn more about the Graca Machel Trust’s Women’s Economic and Social Advancement Programmes click here.
The Trust supports and mobilises civil society networks on issues of ending child marriage, ending violence against children, ending female genital mutilation and promoting children’s rights, to carry out advocacy and action across Africa. Special focus is placed on Malawi, Mozambique, Tanzania and Zambia where child marriage continues to be a problem largely driven by poverty, gender inequality, harmful traditional practices, conflict, low levels of literacy, limited opportunities for girls and weak or non-existent protective and preventive legal frameworks.
Education is a fundamental right for all children, which is also a vehicle for social, economic and political transformation in communities, countries and the African continent at large. Recent studies indicate a lack of progress in some of the critical commitments aimed at improving education quality, access, retention and achievement, particularly for girls. In most African countries, girls may face barriers to learning, especially when they reach post-primary levels of education. By implementing multi-dimensional approaches to education which includes core education, personal development, life skills and economic competencies, the Trust partners with funding partners, governments, civil societies and the private sector to improve education access.
The Nutrition and Reproductive, Maternal, New-born, Child and Adolescent Health and Nutrition, (RMNCAH+N) of the Children’s Rights and Development Programme aims at promoting the Global Strategy for women, children and adolescents’ health within the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) agenda. The strategy emphasises on the importance of effective country leadership as a common factor across countries making progress in improving the health of women, children and adolescents.
Through its Early Childhood Development (ECD) plan, The Trust will seek to put into action the new science and evidence Report that was presented by Lancet Series on Good and early development – the right of every child. This will be achieved by mobilising like-minded partners to contribute in the new science and evidence to reach all young children with ECD. The Trust’s goal is to be a catalyst for doing things differently, in particular, to rid fragmentation and lack of coordination across ECD sectors. In response to evidence showing the importance of political will in turning the tide against the current poor access and quality of ECD. Even before conception, starting with a mother’s health and social economic conditions, the early years of a child’s life form a fundamental foundation that determines whether a child will survive and thrive optimally.