Young good Samaritan leading by example

Nomalungelo Matsele might soon add a prestigious title to her name after being nominated for a Fabulous Woman Award.

She believes that this nomination came because of the organisation she started and the impact she is making in the community.

The 23-year-old explained the awards are an initiative of the Fabulous Girls Foundation launched in 2013. They honour African women and girls who make a difference in their communities and the world around them.

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It is no easy feat to be nominated for these awards and nominees have to go through a stringent three-phase judging process where only the most deserving women become finalists for their various categories. The winners will be announced on August 5 at a gala event in Johannesburg North.

When asked who nominated her, she said, “I am not certain who nominated me, but I believe it’s someone from my organisation or someone who sees the impact and work I do in the community. I really appreciate it. Recognition is the greatest motivator.”

She added that her work in the community comes with many struggles, including a lack of motivation and support.

At the moment, she is running a feeding scheme for the people living on the streets. This happens every second Saturday. She is also focusing on women empowerment programmes and they take around 20 women aged between 18 and 35 and present them with entrepreneurial training. They are currently focusing on teaching them about the beauty industry.

At the end of the training, some students do open their own businesses. So far this year, we had three new businesses open and some of our students have been placed in beauty studios as interns.”

Their offices are also open to job seekers and students to make use of their resources to apply for jobs and do assignments free of charge.

She also runs a school toiletry drive where they hand out the toiletries that are donated. When it is matric dance season, she also helps the learners with dresses and will also be helping with makeup, nails, and transport this year.

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Nomalungelo said one of their biggest issues is that they as the youth, who are trying to make a difference, are not supported.

“We are literally on our own. They [the elders in charge of the community] blacklist us, they give out false warnings, and they downplay us as emergers, but we treat them well. This topic triggers me a lot, and the saddest thing is that our elders are not even ready to have these conversations. Instead, they think we are being disrespectful when we try to talk to them. But I pray and hope one day they will realise their mistakes and stop being gatekeepers. There’s a shift that needs to happen and no matter how we as young people try to build our communities, we will never reach the end goal without our elders, a kingdom divided cannot stand.”

She said until their elders realise the youth are not trying to replace the, the community can not grow. She did, however, say thank you to those who do support them.

To all young lions, keep on running, roaring and building. God called you and He will always be with you.”