POLOKWANE – Mapitso ‘The BlackDiamond’ Masha from Polokwane is changing lives through education after founding the Bana Ba Thari Autism Foundation last year, an initiative inspired by her young nephew, who was diagnosed with autism at the age of two.

“That’s when I started doing some research and learning more about autism,” Masha told BONUS. Her foundation was born from a deep desire to support autistic children and their families by offering education, resources, and promoting research aimed at understanding the condition and improving quality of life for those affected. “I work with families, experts, and professionals to provide current, reliable information about autism, the various approaches, and the available services,” Masha said.

Since its inception, the foundation has already hosted two successful community projects and has ambitious plans to roll out future events, particularly focused on engaging the fathers of autistic children.

“It’s often the mothers who bear the burden of raising autistic children alone. We want to involve fathers more and provide them with the tools and understanding they need,” she said.

Masha runs the foundation with a small, dedicated team of four, but hopes to expand the team and reach more communities.

“The name Bana Ba Thari, meaning ‘wrapping a warm blanket (thari) over a child,’ was a natural choice. A blanket brings warmth and protection. That’s what we aim to offer – to show our children they are loved, accepted, and safe.”

Though the foundation does not yet have a physical office, Masha and her team operate on a mobile basis.

“Starting a foundation is not easy. You need to have a heart for it and be willing to give back. My advice is: know what you’re doing, don’t give up when it gets hard, and seek help when needed.”

A core focus of the foundation is reaching rural communities where misinformation and stigma about autism still persist.

“Some people still believe that a child with autism is cursed, and that’s just not true,” she concluded. “In some cases, children are even hidden away from the world. That stigma must be broken. These children deserve love, dignity, and the same treatment as any other child.”