Gugulethu mkandla _ Founder of Lesego Memorial Trust
Without any donor support, with a staff of 4 people Lesego Memorial Trust is standing in the gap to cushion the lives of needy children.
Eullah Ncube
Gwanda: Gugulethu Mkandla speaks with satisfaction on the impact of her work as she addresses the audience at her organisation’s fundraising dinner. She is overjoyed by the numbers and pleads with the delegates to support children in poverty. This has been her dream as a young girl growing in Matabeleland South. With many years in the humanitarian work, she saw her dream coming true through Lusego Memorial Trust.
Lesego Memorial Trust holds fundraising events twice a year, the last Saturday of April and the first Sunday of December. The April’s event saw an increase in the usual number of delegates attending the fundraiser.
With a growing number of children in poverty due to the economic freefall, and El Nino induced drought Mkandla is set to fight poverty and help under privileged children through her organisation.
Speaking on the turnout and the support from the community and other stakeholders, Mkandla said Lesego Memorial Trust story is a testament of ‘one step at a time’ and the value of children.
“We tend to think a dollar is nothing but it makes a huge difference is someone’s life.”
Growing up, Mkandla lost his brother, an incident which she describes an avoidable death if funds for medicals were available. Lack of funds resulted in her loosing his close sibling. Mkandla registered Lesego Memorial Trust in 2020 to close the aid gap by providing humanitarian assistance to children and families in distress. The organisation was named after her brother Lesego who succumbed to a brain tumour at the age of 9.
“I thought I was privileged until we failed to raise enough money for my brother to undergo the brain tumour surgery and we lost him,” said Mkandla.
Mkandla also said another eye opener was the devastating state of children in the village of Swazi, in Matabeleland South. Prior to her humanitarian work, she worked as a relief teacher at Swazi Primary School where she took the Grade One class. Most of the children attended school bare foot.
“This was worse in winter as more than 90% of the children had no winter uniform. I realised that there are people in dire situations who needs support,” added Mkandla, “This pushed my desire for my humanitarian work journey.”
According to UNICEF, despite overall decreases in poverty by nearly 8% across 40 countries between 2014 and 2021, there were still over 69 million children living in households earning below poverty datum level.
The UNICEF report said the consequences of poverty can last a lifetime. Children who experience poverty have less chance of completing school and earn lower wages as adults. The adds that the person raised in poverty is likely to live 9 years less than someone coming from a wealthy environment.
In the last 4 years Lesego Memorial Trust has managed to pay school fees for 20 children in different schools every term. They have been working with the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education to select children that needs the support. The organisation is providing food, clothes, stationery, medical funds and uniforms to children who register with the Department of Social Development.
Speaking to The Besana Mail Mkandla said she is advocating for a better future for children and said communities must improve and nurture a culture of innovation and confidence in children.
“We now get calls from different schools and churches to educate children on their rights and sexual reproductive health. We have been doing menstrual health campaigns to improve hygiene and stop period bullying. We want communities to continue supporting our efforts,” said Mkandla.
