Mamkhulu

Mamkhulu.org Youth Workers

In order to provide safe housing and care for orphans and vulnerable children and youth, a core team of youth workers has been identified who live at the Litsemba Centre and are the “house parents”.  They range in age from 26 to 35 years and take care of the centre, as well as providing counseling for children and youth in the community.  They have a particular influence on boys who come to stay and who visit the centre who need help with their personal problems. 

Presently there are 6 youth who are working for Mamkhulu.org to organize and coordinate the work at the Litsemba Centre.  

Read more about the Youth Workers below:

Sam Nkambule
(Full time Litsemba Centre & Camp Manager)

Sam Nkambule is the Litsemba Centre and Camp Manager.  He grew up in the townships around the centre and is a much respected role model in the community. 

Sam coordinates the programmes that run in the centre and organizes the psychosocial support and soccer camps run by Mamkhulu.org.  He just got married December 10th so we look forward to having Phelisiwe as part of our extended family team and we welcome her into our Mamkhulu.org family.

Enock Mbatsane (Full time Community Development Officer)

Enock is a youth head of household and the sole provider for 4 younger brothers.  He leads the counseling team at the Litsemba Centre by visiting local schools, accepting referrrals of children who require counseling and refers those to the Department of Social Services who require further assistance. 

Enock also records histories by telling children's stories, taking their photos and posting their needs on the Mamkhulu.org website.  This is all done confidentially and anonymously to protect their identities but assists us to raise funds to support the children in greatest need.  He also does resiliency testing on the children who attend camp, and does follow up visits of children in their homes.  

Read More       

Duncan Dludlu  (Dance & Drama Coordinator)

Duncan is a former gangster from Msogwaba township whose life has changed dramatically for the good.  Now he is known as "the little chief" who has a heart for helping children in need.  He  has formed a group of dancers who perform for various functions around Mpumalanga Province.   All 52 of the children (aged 8 - 13 years) are orphans and vulnerable children from the township around the centre.   

Duncan will be starting a children's praise and worship choir at the Litsemba Centre in January 2012.  This group of children will be from Sibuyile Primary School behind the Litsemba Centre and will travel to churches, events and functions whenever possible.  The group is made up of 20 10 - 12 year old orphans who have been involved in the centre for the past year in the Saturday "Out of the Box Programme".

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Sipho Nkosi  (Mamkhulu.org Administrative & Financial Assistant)

Sipho is now training to be the financial manager of Mamkhulu.org.  He attends Damelin College twice a week doing a basic financial accounting course, as well as training in computers.   He is a former street kid whose life has changed as a result of being involved in Mamkhulu.org. 

Sipho also does consulting work as a sports facilitator at various schools in the province.  His passions are soccer and helping children in need. 

Read More

Ntombifuthi Mnisi

Ntombifuthi is a young woman who is from a youth head of household.  She lives with her 5 other sisters in Dantjie, Pienaar.  Ntombifuthi's dream is to become an English teacher, so in order to achieve her dreams she is working part time for Mamkhulu.org.  She runs a Hope Club and also assists with school visits, counseling and activities at the Litsemba Centre. 

Xolane Makamu (Space)

Xolane is a very capable young man who joined the Mamkhulu.org team after returning from a year volunteering in an IVEP (International Volunteers Exchange Programme) in Canada.  He has brought his experience in Canada to the Litsemba Centre and is running programmes for out of school youth and orphans in the afternoons.  In addition to his "afternoons at the movies", he is also running an afterschool homework programme at Siyakhula Primary School for children who don't have parents to support them. 

Space is from the community around the Litsemba Centre and has his finger on the pulse of youth who are on drugs and into crime.  His work involves leading these youth into a new life style and a hope for their future.