%what we do% %community development% %Mamelani Projects%

” When people are recognized for who they are and what they bring, it
contributes to a sense of purpose, power, and control over their life situations. “

Community Health and Well-being

Your health is your wealth

Building resilience is a key factor in protecting and promoting health and well-being at both the individual and community levels. Mamelani’s Health and Well-being initiative nurtures resilience and contributes towards community health through a range of activities.

voices of participants:

In my community I don’t get to talk about the health challenges we face. I enjoy the Mamelani spaces because we feel safe and we get to talk about our problems without feeling judged. It a place where we feel listened to and supported to make healthy decisions”

Bongi Simela

“I see all these conditions in my community, but I don’t know what to do about them. Now I understand what I can do. Lack of knowledge destroys people’s lives. The more you know, the more you can take action”

"To me Qhama Club is very important, I get my treatment without having to wait in long queues. It’s helped me find hope and to believe in myself again. I now have brothers and sisters in the club, and Noncedo will remind me if we miss our dates because she tells us she wants heathy bodies. If we miss, we are going to be sick, so really to be in the club is very helpful. "

Youth Resilience Initiative

The resilience of one impacts the resilience of another

The Youth Resilience Initiative is an integrated systems-wide approach to supporting youth in their transitions from alternative care.The initiative works at three levels.

The initiative works at three levels. Firstly, we collaborate with youth in their transitions from alternative care. Secondly, we provide training, consultation, and supportive environments to strengthen them in ways organizations build resilience with young people. And thirdly, we influence policy and legislation to ensure that transitional support and after-care services are strengthened in the child protection and youth sectors.

voices of participants:

“Mamelani has succeeded in creating a model that enhances agency and resilience in the young people directly, and also, at the same time, grows the organisation providing care for those young people”

Giulia Treves

The individual support and group sessions helped me to see the world differently, and to not only see the negative stuff but also the positive things around me and inside myself

Abigail Williams

The sessions are so helpful, when I hear other people struggling with the same challenges I have and overcoming them, it gives me hope. It is a safe space where you can just be yourself, build relationships and get support.

Simon Assaka

I’ve learnt that life can be hard but we can find strength and hope when we create spaces where we can listen to each other. So for me being a changemaker is about building hope and helping others see that they can do the same.

Rimichu Vitu

A highlight of our partnership has been Mamelani’s emphasis on reflective practice. Given the reality of a shortage of resources, NGOs typically forfeit time for reflection in order to address more of the urgent daily issues. In this, Mamelani has richly influenced Home from Home with its reflective practice that grows our wisdom and resilience in our work.

"My hope is that transitional support and after-care will be a MUST for all children in South Africa moving out of children's homes. It's not lekker for young people to be alone; they need support."

Bronwyn Solomans

Home from Home and Mamelani have worked together for some years, it has developed to what is becoming a partnership in growing the resilience of our children and families. Although the Covid-19 lockdown has hindered some of our partnering plans, we are very excited by the growth that Mamelani is bringing to our young people as well as our staff team. It is good to see youth transitioning from care getting world-wide attention but it’s an indictment on our care system that it hasn’t always been. Mamelani has been a leader in championing this important area of our work.

Peter Marx – Home from Home Director.

Community Development

Developing communities by developing people

Mamelani believes in developing communities by developing people. Our community development initiatives are aimed at growing a nation of grassroot leaders and building networks of support in communities.

We strengthen the leadership capacity of grassroot leaders and support them in developing interventions that can have a positive impact on those around them.

The community building initiative creates opportunities for people who have come through our processes to remain connected to a network of support and the Mamelani community

voices of participants:

“Mamelani has helped me see more of my strengths, and the strengths of my community. I believe that I can make my community a better place to live in"

Linda Makhubalo

"I enjoy the community gatherings because you find hope when you spend time with people who have similar challenges. I also enjoy it because I get support with the things I’m doing to improve my community."

“I am a very strong woman: I have been through abuse in my life, but I survived and it made me strong. Now I use my strength to help other women. I am glad that I came to the workshops, to tell the story of my community. Being a Community Champion has helped me to stay strong about the work I do in my community”

Mam’Nomntu

"I thank you very much for food voucher, you might be thinking that it's a small piece of paper, but I must say it has been everything to my household. It didn't stop by putting food on our table, but it has put power back in my hands that has been taken away by the Covid 19 pandemic, as I am a sole bread winner in my family. I got my power back and I was able to purchase essential foods. It has also reminded me about the purpose of the community-based organisations."

Community Health and Well-being

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Youth Resilience Initiative

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Community Development

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