Zisize's Journey
Zisize began life as a Teachers’ Resource Centre in mid 1999 in a tiny room in an out-of-town community centre. The previous year 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 small room at Buqothobesizwe Hall in May 1999.
The contents soon outgrew the building and in 2000 The Employment Bureau of Africa was persuaded to allow us to use a disused dormitory near the centre of Ingwavuma free of charge, for which we are eternally grateful and which allowed services to develop. Its location made it more visible to the wider community and even before opening in January 2000, children began to visit it, offering to help but staying to play with the toys & puzzles – a play centre evolved. Children used to sit and read books at the centre. Then some asked if they could borrow books. A community lending library developed.
This was a pragmatic response to the gross and in some cases total lack of resources at many of the primary schools at that time, which enabled teachers to borrow books and teaching materials. Niki Lee and Hlengiwe Mthimkhulu visited the local primary schools within 15km of the centre and invited schools to become members and use the facilities. They were greeted with responses ranging from great excitement from some principals and individual teachers to extreme apathy and disinterest from others. A decision was made soon afterwards to invest energy where people showed a level of self motivation, hence the name ‘ZISIZE’ – ‘help yourself’.
Parents desperate for a good education for their children asked us to run a bilingual preschool class - so we did. Teachers asked for help to purchase science kits, so we bought some with money from Old Mutual and liaised with the Solon Foundation which contributed 75% of the cost for each of the member schools of Ingwavuma Primary Science Interest Group. Teachers came from up to 60km away to attend workshops with Brian Gray.
High school students asked if they could use the centre to study - we agreed. That building was bought by the Department of Education, but they kindly allowed us to remain there, without charge while we built our own new centre on tribal land at KwaQatha. We moved into our new home in June 2006 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, Anglo-American, 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. Operation Jumpstart extended the facilities by funding a psycho-social office block and Jephcott Trust a toilet block on the site.
Simple beginnings have led, more than 20 years later, to several projects, all geared at improving children’s lives, giving them the opportunities to reach their potential in life. 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 61 people and delivering a range of help to benefit more than 5000 children in nine communities.
Timeline
1999
Teachers' Resource Centre at out of town community hall run by two volunteers.
2000
Teachers' Resource Centre at TEBA run by volunteers, which was also a play facility, community lending library and pre-school class. Assistance was provided to Mpontshini School to access Operation Jumpstart funds which then enabled the building of five classrooms and a toilet block. Ekukhanyeni Refuge was created in a school hut for one boy. Hall run by two volunteers.
2001
Change of focus from Teachers' Resource Centre to Children's Centre but retained resource facility. Volunteers were paid small stipends. Provision of subsidised science kits to primary schools. Now 4 boys at Ekukhanyeni. Discovered some children were not eating at weekends. Commencement of first weekend and school holiday feeding scheme at Mpontshini.
2002
Children's Centre at TEBA continued to attract many children for play, to borrow books, attend pre-school class or to study. Began building solid construction home (Ekukhanyeni), first international volunteers, Learning is Fun Competition, first holiday play scheme, supply of water to Mpontshini School, and classroom building.
2003
Children's Centre at TEBA. Completion of building first three rooms at Ekukhanyeni, ten international volunteers, three additional feeding schemes started, uniforms bought, more children admitted to Ekukhanyeni, additional two rooms began to be built along with a kitchen, shower, toilets and dining area. Commencement of 7 monthly food parcels, provision of uniform to every child in need at Mpontshini school.
2004
Children's Centre at TEBA and addition of Manyiseni Centre completed thanks to 14 DTC graduate trainees and Mike & Dave from PSA Training, who not only funded it but helped to build it. Manyiseni Centre opened as library and play centre. Commencement of fifth feeding scheme. More international volunteers, 200 uniforms bought, eight more children admitted to Ekukhanyeni, where two extra rooms were completed. Employment of first professional - a teacher trainer. Building of volunteers' houses commenced. First Battle of the Books Competition. Additional classrooms, admin block and hall built at Mpontshini (Jephcott Trust funds). First child headed home built. Provision of 12 monthly food parcels.
2005
Two children's centres, 2 play facilities, 2 community lending libraries, 2 creches, 1 pre-school class (all of which are ongoing). Roofed in passageway of Ekukhanyeni and built lounge - numbers rose to 23 children. Employment of clerical assistant, book keeper, assistant social worker and intern psychologist. Food garden training and provision of resources including water at 5 schools (Mpontshini, Mgedula, Ekuhlehleni, Manyiseni, Okhayeni). 790 uniforms provided. Termly Battle of the Books Competitions. Commencement of Hero Books, Soul Buddyz and Radio projects. Provision of monthly food parcels (18). Building of KwaQatha Centre and completion of first volunteer house. 22 international volunteers. Birth of drama project.
2006
Moved into KwaQatha Centre - for the first time we have phones and offices! Employment of finance/admin manager and librarian. Numbers rose to 27 children at Ekukhanyeni - improved decor, bought more beds. Employment of former intern psychologist, now qualified, who conducts IQ tests, counselling and therapy. Termly Battle of the Books. Development of Hero Books, Soul Buddyz, Radio and Drama projects. Provision of monthly food parcels (18). Creation of assault course and creche play area at KwaQatha. Large scale holiday programme. Visit by American celebrities. National and international volunteers. Library & Grade R Training. Creation of HIV Project.
2007
First (and second) vehicles! Staff numbers increase to a total of 30. Additional school (Entabayengwe) added to Zisize's partner schools (total 6) and feeding scheme started there and at Kwa Qatha Centre. Employment of Director of Zisize, enlargement of Board of Trustees from three to seven members. Employment of study supervisor to help children with difficulties. Renovation of Ekukhanyeni, provision of new furniture, water, and building of single room homes for oldest boys and a two roomed home for three sisters and their 2 babies. Moved 6 girls from Ekukhanyeni into temporary accommodation vacated by Niki, to reduce numbers at Ekukhanyeni - plan to build cluster foster homes. Extension of radio and drama projects. Creation of Fostering project and Building project which will repair or re-build the homes of child headed households. Increased teacher training. Development of food gardens at kwaQatha to provide vegetables to all feeding schemes and families in need. Manyiseni centre extended to give quiet room for study. Toilet block built at KwaQatha. Monthly food parcels at 29.
2008
Third vehicle. Staff numbers increase to 43. Feeding programme started for Vulnerable children in Grade 12 at Ingwavuma High School, Monday to Friday. Two child headed homes were built. Hall constructed at Mgedula and toilet block at KwaQatha (Jephcott Trust funds). Molteno Literacy Project commenced. Mentor Programme commenced. Lifeskills Clubs at each of the six partner schools.Social worker employed. First OVC Camp.Uniform for 575 children. Confidential HIV counselling and testing offered by our volunteer nurse. Training for foster carers by Lyn Lloyd social worker from Wales and Zisize's social worker.
2009
Sports programme commenced training teachers in new sports and setting up matches and tournaments. Chess was also introduced. Career guidance counsellor employed.12000 students attended a career expo organised by Zisize and UKZN. Zisize's garden trainers and mentors helped 36 families set up their own vegetable gardens. School vegetable gardens also set up and tended by life skills club members who also provided a number of services to sick and elderly members of their communities.Three homes built for vulnerable households. Toilet blocks built at Ingwavuma High and Entabayengwe Primary schools.
2010
New office block for psycho-social team (Operation Jumpstart).Bursary support started in earnest for OVC studying at university. 3 boreholes provided. 2 more houses for child headed families. Seventh partner primary school added (Mbalekelwa). Peer educators employed via Dept of Labour scheme at 3 high schools.
2011
Employment of full time nurse. Commencement in earnest of HIV awareness campaigns and community dialogues using Forum theatre techniques to encourage participation in debate and dialogue. All staff take 10% pay cut to ensure all projects kept alive during funding crisis. 32 children at Ekukhanyeni. Numeracy training for teachers commenced.
2012
Two additional primary schools (Mayaluka and Our Lady of Ingwavuma) included in education programme and mentor activities. Garden training increased - now 100 families have organic garden, some with fencing. Second social worker employed.