Photo: From left to right: Leila Akahloun (Mrs Machel’s Senior Advisor) Theo Sowa GMT’s Interim CEO, HE Graça Machel (GMT’s Founder) and Vimla Naidoo (Mrs Machel’s Personal Assistant.
Reflection – Move with courage, humility and a learning mindset
This year the Office of the Founder was tasked by the Board to take on a massive and important mandate: to lead legacy preservation efforts for Mrs Machel. This did not only represent an added portfolio of work (with the same number of staff), but a hefty mandate with significant implications for Mrs Machel and GMT (as well as a broader universe of communities we hope to impact and inspire with this body of work). A key lesson from this daunting task has been to move with courage, humility and a learning mindset when faced with new areas of responsibility and challenging tasks.
Photo: Legacy planning with Mrs Machel – with joy and laughter amid the hard work – with Wokedje Homawoo – Programme Officer in the Office of the Founder.
True to GMT’s approach, we are working collaboratively and surrounding ourselves with experts who are knowledgeable and gracious in sharing their wisdom. We have learned to become even more flexible in our work planning open to feedback and constructive criticism, and novel ways of doing something. When entering unfamiliar and unchartered territory, and when feeling unprepared or underequipped to take on a new challenge, remember to lean on the strength of the collectives and the values of GMT – they are your safety net!
Lesson – moral courage at all times
This year lessons in moral courage have been bountiful. The Office of the Founder’s global advocacy work is multifaceted— amongst many causes, we work to advance issues of climate justice, conflict resolution, global health equity, access to education, etc, but perhaps nothing has impacted me professionally and personally as strongly as has the polarizing conflict and genocide in Gaza. I’ve learned a lot from Mrs Machel this year witnessing her stand up and speak out on issues of justice and peace and truly amplifying voices of the world’s marginalized and ignored. See Mrs Machel’s recent statement on the issue here.
Photo: Mrs Machel at the Vatican strategising with Nobel Peace Prize Laurates and human rights activists, and calling for novel peacebuilding and conflict resolution approaches in Gaza, Sudan and DRC.
Photo: Leila and Mrs Machel having a moment at the Vatican.
I’ve learned to become much more unapologetic in speaking my truths and taking a stand for my convictions and values— however unpopular or controversial they might be. GMT, the organisations and partners the OOF is closely affiliated with, encourage me to use my life to benefit communities and issues I care about. “One life to live, notice you get no sequel.” – Jay Z
Celebration
The emphasis on the wellbeing of the collective is something I appreciate and celebrate within an afro-centric organization. The recent WCW Summit showcased to me what I know to be true: solidarity is our superpower. Our strength has been our collective action. I witness this daily in Mrs Machel’s leadership of organizations that she is affiliated with — when tackling issues of global importance, she introduces the African notion of Ubuntu to the discussions and brings the values of GMT to global spaces
Mrs Machel giving the closing address at the WCW Summit, Johannesburg, South Africa, November 2024.
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.