Why is there a need for volunteers in South Africa and around the globe? Volunteers are the lifeblood of non-profit organisations like Masicorp. In fact – avid subscribers and fans of our blog may be surprised to learn that Masicorp initially started out with just a handful of volunteers. As we expanded, we realised that education in South Africa would be the surest route out of poverty for people living in disadvantaged communities like Masi. Read more on the origins of Masiphumelele here.

“Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, what are you doing for others?”

– Martin Luther King, Jr.

Volunteering opens your world – allowing you to tap into your inner consciousness and therefore reaching beyond your traditional senses. It is at its core, your reflected desire of the change you believe capable in the world. When looking for places to volunteer in Cape Town, one needs to contemplate your own ethos and do of a bit of systematic internal searching for your core values – only then can you align yourself with a cause that will be the change you want to see in the world.

The Meds & Zoleka Story

If you follow us on Facebook or any other of our social channels, you would have seen the uplifting story of Zoleka – how she went from a domestic worker to a teacher at Chasmay ECD centre. Stories like this don’t just happen – answering the question: why is there a need for volunteers in South Africa?

Meds Martin is a Masicorp volunteer with a background in teaching. She holds a BSC in Zoology and Geography. When Meds was asked if she would work with Zoleka and help her with her coursework on route to becoming a qualified ECD teacher – she jumped at the opportunity. Meds and Zoleka met once a week at Chasmay Campus and they worked on understanding concepts and vocabulary as well as basic rules in the English language. Meds quickly noticed that Zoleka’s issue was the visual link to key concepts that she already knew in her mother tongue but couldn’t associate to in the English language.

“I recommend this type of volunteering to anyone. Making a difference in someone else’s life is highly rewarding. My advice: be committed, show up and be present in the moment – the rest will follow.” – Meds Martin Masicorp volunteer.

Zoleka a local from Masiphumelele, was facing the same challenges that people living in this community must overcome daily. Poor infrastructure, little to no resources in household’s and even no food to put on the table due to an unstable income. She was determined to write her own #SuccessStory and with the help of Meds – she transformed her life not just for herself but for her family too. It wasn’t easy – the first time Zoleka attempted her course she failed. However, her resolve and ambition outweighed her obstacles.

When Meds worked with Zoleka and showed her basic concepts with aids like Pinterest – she quickly started grasping the core concepts and her ability to learn in English started improving rapidly.

Zoleka now has an N6 and is in the process of obtaining her EBM: (Entrepreneurship Business and Management Diploma in the ECD sector).

Masicorp helps a lot – if I didn’t meet Masicorp, I wouldn’t have been able to realise my dreams. I was a domestic worker and now I am a teacher. – Zoleka Chasmay ECD teacher.

Learning is a Lifelong Journey

We can all learn something from Zoleka’s journey. The fact that Zoleka knew what the concepts were and understood them very well in her mother tongue language but not in English, hindered her ability to study. This is especially true for children living in Masiphumelele.

Masicorp’s Learning Labs at Ukhanyo Primary School work with children from Grades. 3 -7 in the English Hub and Math’s Lab. We are trying to bridge the gap early on in life by giving people in Masiphumelele the tools to succeed and access to equal and present opportunities.

If you have done some soul-searching while reading this blog and you find your heart swelling up with joy for people like Zoleka then donate to our work here. Alternatively contact us to find out how you can get involved and give of your time to volunteer for a cause that will change the future of South Africa.