Every child is specially gifted and capable of doing great things. In South Africa,Lesego is encouraging innovative education through STEMI for children in underprivileged communities. In this interview,Lesego shares deeply about her journey from journalism to social entrepreneurship.
Can we meet you?
My name is Lesego Shakira Masethe, a 34-year-old South African citizen. I love collecting books, painting and aqua life.
Tell us briefly your childhood experience.
A lot of experiences shaped my childhood. I remember in 2000 during my validation ceremony in grade 7, all my classmates came wearing new clothes accompanied by both parents; but I who was one of the smartest kids in class, wore my mother's clothes, from head to toe and I was embarrassed. And on top of that, my mother was not even around because she had to work.
As I grew older, I realized how privileged I was because my parents sacrificed everything to take us (I and my siblings) to a private school to get a better education. To them, it didn't matter what I wore, as long as my mind was fed with a good education. My mother would say, " Don't worry, they can carry the nicest lunchboxes or wear fancy clothes, ok'salayo(loosely translated as “at the end of the day, this is what it is, it is not going to change’’); you are in the same class as them, receiving the same knowledge as them and you are way smarter. Those words kept me got me through high school and Varsity.
The second childhood memory I would rarely forget was the time I spent with my father. He was a teacher and valued education. He bought me reading books every chance he got.I would search for books that Oprah was reading or had recommended, then asked my dad to buy them for me. My dad and I read books on philosophy, politics, spirituality, business, and relationships. The first stack of books he ever bought me was 'I write what I like' by Steve Bantu Biko, 'Stillness Speaks' and the 'Power of Now' by Arkhart Tolle. I was 14 at the time.
Growing up, I struggled with self-esteem issues. I was growing up a chubby, black Muslim girl who lived in the township and went to a private school. My parents couldn't afford to buy us new clothes so I spent a lot of my childhood wearing hand-me-downs from both my mother and father. My dad's clothes turned me into a bit of a tomboy, which did little for my confidence as a young adolescent girl trying to attract the attention of the opposite sex. Being Muslim, and a black Muslim at that, came with its share of hardships, the constant judgments, stereotypes, and having to explain my religion to the world drained me and made me angry. But through all that, I held on to the love and confidence that both my parents gave me.
What’s your educational background?
I attended Edendale Independent School for my primary and secondary school education before settling to pursue a degree in Journalism from Tshwane University of Technology.
What are your contributions towards making your country a better place?
Like it is common with most children, I wanted to be a lot of things. I loved traveling so I studied International travel and international relations, did that for a short period of time, then I went back to school to study journalism full time. My interest was in investigative journalism. After working on stories like Nyaope and human trafficking and being exposed to the horrors that existed in that trade, I knew that my soul could not handle it, so I started looking for other ways I could use my journalism qualification, and that's When I stumbled into science journalism. I say 'stumbled' because I didn't know what I was applying for when I was applying for the job, all I knew was that I was broke and needed a job. I worked at the South African Agency for Science and Technology Advancement (SAASTA) as an intern. We were trained to write science stories and communicate science to communities in a way that would make sense, around issues that were relevant to them and in a language that they could understand. My time at SAASTA changed the course of my life because it was through that, that my passion for science and the need to expose disadvantaged communities to STEMI grew.
In 2017, I founded Brain Waves Development, an educational initiative rendering educational services to disadvantaged African young learners in public schools at no cost. Our services afford them the opportunity to engage and interact with the field of Science physically and helps put the classroom curriculum in perspective relative to socio-economic challenges faced in their communities. In addition to that, we are establishing a STEMI school of excellence, that will target young people from under-resourced communities and have 70% of those students being female. I have also ventured into the world of entrepreneurship by becoming the co-founder and CEO of Lwandle Eco-networks, a newly formed company that is still in its infant stages. And now I also Act as the Marketing and Communications Coordinator for an NGO called Ranyaka Community Transformation.
What steps did you take to bring your vision to fruition?
Before setting up a not-for-profit organization, I took advantage of every opportunity that came along to participate in a lot of free youth development and leadership programs offered by different accredited organizations. I did a lot of research on social entrepreneurship and I volunteered at different NGOs and educational institutions in my city so that I can identify the gaps that existed and find ways to close them through my own programs.
What have been your achievements?
To meet our objectives as an organization, we have several science debates, reading and speech festivals, and essay competitions. Through our STEMI Camps, Simple Wonders of Science Road Shows and Loxion Science Fair and Expo,we have trained 3000 boys and girls at all school levels in STEMI empowering them to come up with innovative solutions to the problems they see in their communities.
Because of the impacts we are creating at Brain Waves, I have been voted the Mail and Guardian Top 200 Most Influential Young South Africa; Inspiring Top 50 Young Women in Science in South Africa by the Dutch Council. Today I also sit on the Community Advisory Board(CAB) for Synexus Clinical Research Centre in Mamelodi.
What motivated you to do what you are doing?
Because of low enrolment and poor marks in STEMI subjects in rural and township public schools, poor public understanding, and poor access to STEMI information in disadvantaged communities, illiteracy and lack of enthusiasm towards the fields is high. As such, very little innovation stems from these communities. It is for this reason that I wanted to employ unconventional STEMI communication skills to ensure that STEMI is communicated and taught in simple and understandable ways while ensuring that it maintains the scientific accuracy, relevance, and context of the content and engagement. I wanted to inject the use of indigenous African languages to ensure that everyone is afforded the opportunity to read, listen, watch, learn, enquire, and interact with comfort and understanding. This way, it will be used by all to solve socio-economic challenges in society. For me, it's about developing young minds that will not only function in society but thrive.
What has been your major challenge since you began your nonprofit?
I think, and I know it's the same for most women, I struggle to be heard. All my career choices are fields that are dominated by men. And we are taught that as a woman entering into such spaces I need to dress in a slightly masculine way, wear a pants suit, use fewer emotions, and never show a sign of weakness in order to be taken seriously in the boardroom. But what if I want to wear a nice slowly dress, speak with passion and evoke emotions to get my point across? I attend events and I'm praised by my male peers about the great work my organization does, then when they ask me who is in charge,and I tell them that I'm the CEO and I'm in charge, the mood in the room changes. That disturbs my soul.
Another thing is finances, like most nonprofit organizations, we struggle to sustain our programs due to a lack of solid funding.
How have you been able to raise money to implement your ideas?
Besides getting corporate sponsorship, which is not always consistent, we try to do a lot of fundraising events where we get communities involved. One of our most successful fundraising event is our Annual Climate Change Awareness Colour Run. It’s our way of not only raising funds through workshops and ticket sales, but we are able to make communities aware about the effects of climate change and global warming.
Could you share with us one or two experience(s) you have had in the course of your campaign that has impacted on you?
Every year we host the Loxion Science Fair and Expo, where we encourage young budding scientists and innovators from under resourced communities, to look for existing problems in their communities and through research find innovate solutions to some of those issues. Saying I've been impressed by their ideas and innovations would be an understatement. These kids have created some of the most effective science projects even with limited resources, that it gives me great hope for the future of our country. We just need to continue to pour into them the confidence and support they need to thrive.
What are your prospects in the next 5 or 10 years?
I would like to build a run a STEMI (Science Technology Engineering Mathematics and Innovation) school of excellence for kids in under resourced communities.
If you had an opportunity to speak to presidents in Africa, what would be your message.
Start listening to the youths, hear us instead of using us to further your political ambition. We are human beings with purpose and our wellbeing matters.
Thank you for sharing your story with us and we do pray that many will be inspired as they read.
It is my pleasure.
Follow Busaosowo Foundation:
Comments
Post a Comment