Victim of bullying starts foundation for the sisterhood

Nthila Sello Kalaba, who was a victim of bullying in high school, used the pain and the effect it had on her to start an NGO called ‘Sisterhood Foundation’.

“The Sisterhood Foundation is a youth-led organisation aimed at empowering and upskilling African youth through leadership, social entrepreneurship, and advocacy,” Kalaba said. According to her, Sisterhood was registered on 9 November 2021 as a non-profit organisation with the department of social development and is also currently registered as a society with the Student Campus Council (SCC) on the Potchefstroom campus of the North-West University (NWU).

Nthila Sello Kalaba, the founder of Sisterhood, speaks to learners at Keotshepile Primary School in Ikageng. Image provided.

Kalaba said the idea for the foundation started with an event that focused on mental health awareness. After speaking to women about the economic and social issues they faced, such as participation in decision-making and leadership, education, and economic empowerment, she realised she had to do more.

Another thing that motivated her to take action, was the events surrounding the death of Lufuno Mavhunga, a teenage girl who was bullied by her peers at school and who later took her own life. Lufuno’s story touched Kalaba deeply because she could relate to it. This then made her realise that as women ‘we can do better’, which motivated her to stand up and take action.

She said the lockdown period during the Covid-19 pandemic took its toll on people’s mental health. Many lost their jobs, they could not engage in activities such as sport, and faced financial constraints. She too experienced a lot of frustrations during that period, which motivated her even more to host an event that, in turn, gave rise to the foundation.

The event was hosted on 27 April 2021. The issues that were raised included stigma around menstrual cycles, awareness of diseases associated with women, the importance of quality education, and women empowerment. The event pushed her to stand up for all, strive to tackle these issues and start the Sisterhood Foundation.

Kalaba is also an entrepreneur and student at the NWU. She came to Potchefstroom in 2019, registered for a two-year diploma in coaching sciences and completed the qualification in 2022. She then pursued a degree in sports coaching and human movement sciences and is now in her final year.

Sisterhood’s motto is ‘we rise by lifting others’. The interpretation of the motto is that the focus is not always on sprinting and competing to get to the finish line, but on helping each other along the way so that everyone can reach the finish line.

Although Sisterhood is about the socio-economic issues that women face, it is not limiting its objectives and initiatives to women. The foundation also helps men whenever they need assistance because most of them are not vocal about their issues.

Sisterhood raises funds for its activities. Most of the foundation’s assistance comes from donations, which it gets from people in different communities who share the same sentiments when it comes to lending a helping hand. The contributions they get are donated to their targeted vulnerable groups.

The Sisterhood branch on campus is operated by students. Every year the foundation recruits 50 volunteers during orientation week. The volunteers focus on student affairs by assisting students and providing for them when they are in need.

Sisterhood provides at least 20 packets of sanitary towels a month to women on the Potchefstroom campus and they also help with food parcels to students who are in dire need.

Their student community engagements include hosting mental health and physical awareness programmes, and they held their 4th annual mental health awareness event on 16 March 2024. On 9 March, new recruits gathered for a meet and greet event.

Sisterhood also extend assistance to local schools. In 2022, the foundation donated 250 packets of sanitary towels to Keotshepile Primary School in Ikageng and held a motivational talk with grade 6s and 7s. In 2023, they also donated around 400 packets of sanitary towels to Ramarula Primary School in Bochum in Limpopo, as well as an orphanage in Ikageng called Ikhaya La Bantwana where they also donated food parcels and clothes.

To help Kalaba manage her tasks effectively, she has a strong team behind her who helps her with logistics such as funding, marketing, and administrative work. She said what frustrates her is that she does not have enough time. She has to focus on her academics and also her business. She sells clothing to help with living expenses. She also wants to grow her organisation and not having enough funding sometimes ruins their plans.

“My dream is to make sure that I do not leave anyone behind. By this I mean that I want my organisation to pave the way for every woman to rise to independence and to see more women embrace womanhood by growing a community,” she said.

Kalaba’s advice to anyone who aspires to own an organisation is: “It is not easy, but it is doable and it is all about being compassionate and loving what you do.”