Who and Why

Bridget (right) is an exceptional young woman who came to Ingwavuma after graduating and worked at the local high school, then jointly set up an English medium primary school. She speaks Zulu fluently and has a passion for education. She is responsible for training library and creche staff, runs teacher training workshops and follow up mentoring. She also heads the Radio Project Team.

Zisize's Director is Hlengiwe Mthimkhulu (left). She took up this post in 2007, having been Principal of Mpontshini Primary School previously. Hlengiwe has the respect of the whole community and has superb motivational qualities.

She and Niki Lee (below) along with the late Zanele Dlamini (below left) were instrumental in creating Zisize in 1999.

Niki is now one of the seven trustees whose collective expertise covers education, social work, development, planning, management and computers.
 

 

Most employees pictured below began as volunteers and volunteering is central to the functioning and ethos of the charity. Below left, Zisize's management team: Bridget (education, library & Radio project); Thanduxolo (psychologist); Nombuso (finance & administration); Hlengiwe (Director + Care).

Below right - Cluster foster home carers with Supervisor Daniel

On the right are some of Zisize's KwaQatha Centre creche staff. We also have three members of staff at Manyiseni Centre.

 

Left are the Forum Theatre Group - they were all unemployed youth in the local community and have been trained in drama techniques by Jenny & Steve from Aiding Dramatic Change in Development - a Canadian NGO.

Above gardeners Bongani & Freeze & relief security guard Mkhaliphi.

Right are (back row) Thokozani, our social worker, who comes from Zimbabwe, Thanduxolo, our psychologist, Sylvia, our nurse who comes originally from Switzerland.

On the front row are Khululiwe, who does memory box work, and Phiwo, our auxiliary social worker.

On the left are the Radio Project team, - Xoli, Bridget & Andrew and below Bridget is with Mkhethi our librarian. Andrew is one of only three staff members who are not long standing residents of Ingwavuma. He hails from Malawi.

 
 
 

Bheki (left) supervises all the building work.

Senzo (above) is our careful driver.
 
Above - the majority of Zisize staff. Missing are staff from the Manyiseni Circuit
 
Nothing could have been achieved without the generous help of funders, individuals, families and groups from all over the world who have supported Zisize. Everyone who has given anything, financial, material, time and energy, has made a vital contribution to Zisize’s work and made it the vibrant organisation it is today.
 

Why start Zisize?

In 1998 Niki Lee had gone to Ingwavuma as a volunteer at the English medium school but worked one day a week at Zulu medium schools and saw an extreme level of deprivation first hand. Inspired by teachers such as Hlengiwe Mthimkhulu, Zodwa Kabini, Pretty Mahlangu and the late Zanele Dlamini, who were dedicated to their pupils, but operating in appalling conditions, she was motivated to do something to assist them. She began by begging the cast offs of more fortunate members of South African society - books, educational toys etc. She then approached Port of Natal Round Table and NBS, who jointly funded a photocopying machine, and the British Consulate which gave R25,000 worth of materials, equipment and books. This facilitated the creation of Zisize Teachers’ Resource Centre in a tiny room at Buqothobesizwe Hall in May 1999. Simple beginnings have led, nine years later, to several projects, all geared at improving children’s lives. In 2000 Zisize was given free use of a disused dormitory by TEBA, which allowed services to develop but in 2006 we moved into our very own building and this has dramatically affected our ability to reach out and touch more lives, more deeply. For this we are grateful to Starfish Greathearts Foundation, UNISON, Zisize - The Heaton Lee Memorial Trust and Victoria & Adam Freudenheim for the funds to build, and to the Mngomezulu Tribal Authority for the permission to use the land.

   

Below Zisize's home in 1999
a 3m x 2m outside room at a community centre.
Below - Zisize's KwaQatha Centre and gardens in 2008. Total centre area 640 sq metres

 

Zisize is built on firm foundations and has grown steadily from a tiny organisation dependent on volunteers and donations of second hand materials to a Professional organisation employing 43 people and delivering a range of help to benefit up to 5000 children in seven communities.

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