Inspirational Woman: We Talk To Totsie Memela-Khambule

This August we have been focusing on Women’s Month, and this week we speak to Totsie Memela-Khambule, the CEO of Eduloan. Totsie is involved with several other projects including being the chairperson of Memela Pratt and Associates, director of Cadiz, the leading merger and acquisitions firm in South Africa and director to International Partnerships for Microbiocides (IPM) – a research non-governmental organisation that specialises in HIV/AIDS prevention for women.

In her private capacity, Totsie mentors young leaders through the International Women’s Forum’s fellowship program and participates in forums that give disadvantaged communities opportunities.

Here is a snapshot of the five minutes we spent with Totsie:

Q: How did your education shape your future?

A: I grew up in a working class family, my mother was a domestic worker and my father was a gardener. My parents taught me that an education can change one’s life, that it will get me out of poverty and make me independent.

Q: Who is your inspiration?

A: My mother has always been a great inspiration to me. Although she never had a formal education, she always had an inquisitive mind, asking a lot of questions to find out how things work and what they are. My other inspiration is Osceola Macarthy, who saved a few pennies to give underprivileged people the opportunity to achieve more by establishing a scholarship fund for students of colour.

Q: What are some of the difficulties that you had to overcome to get to where you are?

A: Some of the difficulties includes thinking you are not good enough, doubting yourself and allowing yourself to think that your past defines your future. I had to learn that only you can define your future and not to overlook the present.

Q: You are involved with several projects – how do you find the inspiration to continue contributing to and influencing such a diverse range of projects and people?

A: Understanding the role of a leader is important, you have to realise that you have a bigger responsibility. Serving others is important, whether it is intellectual, physical or financial amongst others. You have to treat everyone in the same manner.

Q: What advice would you give South African youth?

A: Realise that you are not entitled to anything and that you have to think differently and independently. Have an inquiring mind. Give meaning to your life by having gratitude and giving of yourself and serving others.

“Maya Angelou said that although people might forget what you said, they will never forget how it made you feel.” Totsie Memela-Khambule, CEO of Eduloan.

Janine Hills: Inspirational Woman

This month is women’s month and Eduloan would like to share the inspiring story of Janine Hills, the CEO and Founder of Vuma Reputation Management, a company that specialises in reputation management, crisis communication, media liaison and media training.

Janine has extensive business knowledge, skill and an intricate understanding of reputation management, backed by over 25 years of experience across various industries. She has done work for some large companies such as Southern Sun, Sun International, Vodacom, Kaizer Chiefs, Ster-Kinekor Home Entertainment, Ster-Kinekor Licensing and Primovie (a division of Primedia). Janine has also worked for FNB and was a founding member of ebucks.com, the eCommerce initiative.

We managed to get some time with this influential woman to talk to her about her approach to life:

Q: How did your education shape your future?
A: I didn’t have any formal tertiary education after matric. Everything I’ve learnt I learnt through experience gained at various organisations, by observing, doing extensive research and reading anything I could get my hands on.

Q: Who is your inspiration?
A: I do not have one single inspiration, because I choose to draw inspiration from daily interactions with peers, colleagues and clients, some of which includes Paul Harris (FirstRand Bank owner and former CEO), Alan Knott-Craig (Cell C CEO) and of course my spiritual leader, Shri Mamuadevi. Everyone teaches me bits and I enjoy continually learning from everyone.

Q: What are some of the difficulties that you had to overcome to get to where you are?
A: The biggest challenge for me has been to believe in myself and my personal capabilities. It included realising that you are your own biggest hurdle and that it all comes down to believing in yourself.

Q: You are involved with several projects – how do you find the inspiration to continue contributing to and influencing such a diverse range of projects and people?
A: I believe that one should always treat every single person the same, whether they are a car guard or an executive, everyone deserves to be treated similarly. It is always important to approach everything with a serving mentality. It you are willing to serve, you can touch people’s lives in even the smallest ways.

Q: What advice would you give South African youth?
A: You need to realise that there are no shortcuts. If you want to achieve something, you have to invest the time. Always think about the legacy that you would like to leave behind and how you impact those around you – there is no better time to start than now, even if you are still at school.

“Everything is possible if you do it with honesty, integrity and perseverance. Keep trying and believe in yourself” Janine Hills, CEO of Vuma Reputation Management

Fighting abuse in the home and at schools

The World Health Organisation says children who grow up in families in which there is intimate-partner violence may suffer a range of behavioural and emotional disturbances that can be linked to the perpetration or experience of violence later in life.

The 16 Days of Activism for No Violence Against Women and Children is an international campaign. It takes place every year from 25 November (International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women) to 10 December (International Human Rights Day). The period includes Universal Children’s Day and World AIDS Day.

During this time, the South African Government runs a 16 Days of Activism campaign and every year, government, civil-society organisations and the business sector work together to broaden its impact. By supporting this campaign, thousands of South Africans have also helped to increase awareness of abuse and build support for victims and survivors of abuse.

Is 16 days enough?

To be a child in South Africa is to walk a fragile path to adulthood. Our country is home to nearly 19 million children, many of whom are vulnerable. Two-thirds of all children live in poverty – many in homes with unemployed, single, chronically sick or elderly parents and caregivers. Poverty collides with South Africa’s severe AIDS epidemic, high unemployment and poor service delivery to create great hardship for thousands of families.

Many children experience a broken journey through school, interrupted by irregular attendance, absent teachers, teenage pregnancy and abuse and violence in and around schools. South Africa’s high levels of poverty continue to deny thousands of children access to quality education. Around 27% of public schools do not have running water, 78% are without libraries and 78 per cent do not have computers.

The country’s high prevalence of HIV and AIDS has resulted in high rates of orphaned children. Around 3.7 million children have lost one or both parents, many to HIV-related illnesses. Most orphans live in extended families, already under stress due to the impact of the pandemic. Childhoods are stolen as children take on adult roles, drop out of school and go without healthcare and good nutrition.

Joining hands against abuse

The United Nations defines violence against women as "any act of gender-based violence that results in, or is likely to result in, physical, sexual or mental harm or suffering to women, including threats of such acts, coercion or arbitrary deprivation of liberty, whether occurring in public or in private life."

Eduloan advocates people to change their lives by acting today. If you or someone you know is a victim of abuse, now is the time to speak out and end the violence. Don’t wait until tomorrow to act against abuse, take action today – because tomorrow might be too late.

For advice on how to report woman or child abuse, visit the SAPS website or contact Lifeline on 0800 150 150.

Statistics taken from UNICEF: http://www.unicef.org/southafrica/children.html

UJ stampede victim leaves a legacy of education and dedication

Last year in January, Gloria Sekwena was trying to register her son Kabelo for his first year in university. A nurse who lived in London, she had made the journey home to ensure that her son’s education would be taken care of. But in a tragic turn of events, a stampede that occurred outside the Bunting Road campus of the University of Johannesburg tragically took her life and left Kabelo without a mother.

In a swift response to the tragedy, the University of Johannesburg gave Kabelo a bursary for his tuition, and Eduloan assisted with his accommodation, textbook and food costs.

Eduloan caught up with Kabelo recently to see how he is getting along, and also to commemorate the positive contribution his mother made to his life.

As part of our Women’s Month blog posts, we couldn’t think of a more fitting woman to place in the spotlight than this selfless mother.

Eduloan: It’s been less than a year since you lost your mum – so the most important thing we want to ask you is how you are coping with her loss?

Kabelo: It hasn’t been easy, but I’m trying my best to cope. My father came back from overseas and is staying nearby so I see him every day, and my brother is in Pretoria, so I do have my family here to support me.

Eduloan: The fact that your mother travelled all the way back home just to make sure that you were enrolled in university shows what a high importance she placed on your education – as a role model, what other important values did she teach you?

Kabelo: Honesty was a big part of her life and what she tried to teach us. Her faith, determination and a good work ethic were also the values that she taught me. She did believe very much in education; she said education was important to open doors and find opportunities in life. She was a strong believer that studying would broaden our horizons.

Eduloan: We believe that you are studying Biomedical Technology – why did you choose this field of study and what are your plans for your career after you have finished studying?

Kabelo: Yes, I’ve always been interested in the medical sciences. My studies form part of a broad spectrum of medical sciences, such as genetics and haematology, which are the aspects of the course that I most enjoy partaking of. Ultimately, my dream is to work for an organisation like the CDC (Centre for Disease Control) in Atlanta, USA.

Eduloan: How are the studies going? How did you find your first year at UJ?

Kabelo: It’s been difficult, but I hope I’m doing ok! My finals are coming up soon and I think that I will get good results.

Eduloan: What do you believe could be done better in future to prevent problems arising from the large numbers of people trying to register for university?

Kabelo: I heard that next year they are planning to have a centralised application process, which I think will be better.

Eduloan: Do you have any words of wisdom for how the youth could appreciate their elders, and especially their mothers, more?

Kabelo: I’ve learnt that when you lose someone, you don’t notice how much of an impact they have on your life and how important they are until they are gone, and it becomes too late. So I would say respect your elders and appreciate them while you have the chance.

Fortunate Tshabalala – well on her way with Eduloan

Fortunate Tshabalala received a bursary from Eduloan in 2011 and 2012. A second-year student studying a BA in Geography at the University of Johannesburg, we wanted to catch up with Fortunate and find out how she’s doing with her studies.

We hear that you got excellent Matric results in 2010 – how would you compare school life to university? How are the studies going?

Yes, I got good results in Matric. I’m in second year now and the workload is quite a lot more than it was in High School. The work is challenging, it’s hard but not impossible to do. It’s definitely a lot more challenging! The standard of work that you have to deliver is also of a higher quality. I enjoy my studies and I also enjoy the challenge.

Why did you decide to study Geography & what do you hope to do with it in your career?

I’ve always had a love for Geography; since I was small I loved it. When I was in High School I decided that I wouldn’t be studying anything other than Geography. When I’m done with my degree I actually want to pursue a PHD. I aim to become a GI Specialist (Geographic Information Systems/Science).

How did you end up getting a bursary from Eduloan?

I got the bursary from Eduloan because I was the top performer in Matric. The headmaster of my high school contacted Eduloan and they came to meet me. The rest is history… Eduloan takes care of everything I need, from books, accommodation and all the fees involved with studying. It’s great not having to worry about it.

What advice would you give to the learners who are matriculating this year and hoping to study further next year?

Well my advice to all students is to work hard and stop procrastinating. That’s a really important point, stop procrastinating! If you start preparing for your exams now, then you won’t be at a loss for time. Time will be on your side and you can adequately prepare yourself for the challenges that lie ahead. Choosing a career path should be based on doing something that you love.