Mamelani

The organization that I’m working for, Mamelani, was started five years ago by a then 23 year old woman named Carly (my boss) and has really turned in to something great. I had found a quote about a year or so ago that says “I am because we are.” It’s a Ubuntu philosophy that expresses how we are all connected to one another. When I was sorting out my internship possibilities after my original placement in Malawi fell through, I went to the Mamelani website to see what they were all about and found this quote on their website as a main philosophy that they try to always work under. Talk about a sign!

On my first day I sat in on a meeting (5 hours long) that was with the director Carly and two guys, Clinton and Gerald, who are in charge of the Project Lungisela, which works with formally homeless male youth. The project is really inspiring and it was amazing to hear about the close personal relationships they have with each person in the program. While I haven’t learned too much about the other programs that they’re involved in, I really have gotten the feeling that Mamelani supplies these workshops and programs for women and youth lacking strong support systems. Through Mamelani they are able to gain those support systems that are crucial to their lives.

My first jobs have been to compile a pamphlet/booklet about the women’s health collective workshop that they did in May, find contact information for soup kitchens in 2 different townships and find contacts for people doing updated training on the Child Care Act. Every Tuesday I am going to meet with Carly to go over what I’ve done any questions I have and figure out what other projects I can do.

The people I work with here are really great too. Our building is a big school building so my desk is just in an emptied out classroom with another woman named Monica, and four women who run the wellness program. Some days either the wellness group or Carly and Monica will make lunch for everyone in the office, which has been a major treat. There also is a mosque across the street from my building so everyday at around 1 o’clock you can hear the call to prayer, which is really beautiful and a nice little addition to the middle of a work day.

I have already learned so much about some of the thought that goes into development projects and some programs that can work well in getting communities involved and I know and am excited to see what else I am able to learn throughout my time here.

http://www.mamelani.org.za/