Former educator, businesswoman and philanthropist Sandi Teke has always been inspired to uplift her community, and she shows no signs of slowing down.
She is the co-founder of Masimong Foundation.
Where were you born and raised?
I was born and raised in KZN. I am the firstborn of five and the only girl. My parents passed away when my siblings were still young and that resulted in me taking responsibility for my siblings and having to learn to be responsible at an early age.
Being brought up in a Christian family helped me to face and overcome a lot of challenges I had growing up. I did my tertiary education in Gauteng and got married in Kwa-Thema.
What does Masimong Foundation mean to you and what is its purpose?
We are all part of society and the universe, and we are part of a massive ecosystem. I see Masimong Foundation as a catalyst for upliftment and the betterment of humanity.
Its purpose is to identify areas of society where upliftment, support and inspiration are needed. It plants seeds of hope and assists the young generation to have hope, empower themselves and in turn they may uplift their families and society.
The purpose of Masimong Foundation is to uplift, empower and inspire different communities through education, development programmes and community initiatives.
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We aim to uplift our communities and extend a helping hand to those who are vulnerable and need our assistance according to our mission statement and the core areas the foundation focuses on.
We also aim to empower the youth to ensure that they are fully equipped to be the leaders of tomorrow and provide them with the necessary tools to grow and become empowered individuals.
What does community work mean to you?
To me community work is an act of selflessness and is important because it provides an opportunity to give back to one’s local and national communities in meaningful ways, touching and changing people’s lives.
Community work also allows people to support the needs of others in any way that they can be assisted no matter how big or small the need is. This makes a tangible difference in people’s lives.
Overall, community work is important because it allows individuals to make a difference, build connections and grow as people. The benefits extend not just to the recipients, but also to the volunteers themselves.
I am part of a community with aspirations and these aspirations come with challenges and I wish to remain that light of hope in my own small way to make a difference. In making a difference in your community, you spread hope.
This is one of the reasons Mike Teke and I founded Masimong Foundation and even before it was established, the Teke family has been paying for study fees for several students throughout the years.
Why do you think building unity in the community is important?
Unity makes a community confident; to love themselves and their neighbours and it is through unity that the power and need to assist one another prevails.
Unity also encourages people to work together to solve problems. When people are unified, they can share ideas, experiences and knowledge that can help to solve problems. This also helps to promote better communication and understanding, which can lead to better decision-making.
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Unity is also important for creating a sense of solidarity and togetherness. Unified people feel a sense of belonging, and this can help to motivate them to work harder and to push themselves further towards success.
What is some of your notable work in the community? Please also mention any current projects.
As a former high school educator, my first notable work in the community is in education. To watch learners completing their high school education, advancing to tertiary institutions, and then becoming independent, leaves a tear in my eye.
Our core focus area at Masimong Foundation is education. We provide assistance and support to scholars and schools.
What we do annually, is in the form of school uniforms and shoes donations, pay stipends and bursaries for university students. We have several selected learners from several high schools in Kwa-Thema on our accounting, mathematics and physical science tutoring programme and the foundation pays for their annual tutoring fees.
The project close to our hearts is the reading programme we run in the selected primary schools in Kwa-Thema. This project was started because there is a lack of basic literacy in South Africa. There is an urgent need to enhance the comprehension skills of learners who do not have access to libraries and reading material to help educate them.
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This programme is a fun way to get children involved and excited about reading and to also read with comprehension and understanding. It aims to develop the literary knowledge and comprehension skills of learners through reading to put their literary knowledge to the test.
While we focus on learners, we have also assisted in providing facilities in different parts of the country which included building boreholes, solar panels, providing school/classroom furniture and many more. The areas that require attention include not only schools but orphanages and disability therapy centers as well.
The foundation also has a food parcel distribution initiative where we donate food and blankets to the elderly and child-headed homes, not only in Gauteng but in other provinces as well.
Women are still experiencing challenges such as inequality in the workplace. What do you believe should be done to put an end to these issues?
Gender inequality is an issue that has been going on for a long time. Similarly, achieving the goal of equality is also not going to be an easy one. We must start by breaking it down and allow it time to go away. Firstly, we must focus on eradicating this problem through education. In other words, we must teach our young ones to counter gender stereotypes from their childhood.
At the centre of advancing women and the girl child, we must aggressively drive education. Secondly, we must continue to develop programmes that communicate advancement, knowledge, and inspiration. We are not special, but we bring warmth, brightness, and hope to every home.
What does Women’s Month mean to you?
Women issues cannot only be remembered during August, but it is a reminder to us as women that we are indeed central to our society’s advancement, and we cannot relegate ourselves to being spectators. We are better placed to hear and respond to the cries from everyone. This month should remain as a strong reminder that we are the pillar of society.
Women’s Month is a motivation and reminder for women to continue to follow in the footsteps of brave women who fearlessly raised their voices and fought for everyone’s liberation. It reminds us that women should work together and be brave so that we can protect and build a better and brighter future for our children and families.
