Sibongile Nkosi

After her father died, her mother struggled to pay her secondary school fees since she had six siblings. On several occasions she was chased out of school for non-payment. She had to help her mum make a living by selling mandasi. With a lot of sacrifice from her mum and siblings she rose above this to become a Programme Officer for Mitundu Youth Organisation. At 24, she is helping youths and women going through similar experience to become self-reliant. She talks to Albert Sharra.

Briefly tell us who you are?

My name is Sibongile Nkosi. I was born on 29th June 1988 at Chitedze Health Centre. I am the third born out of seven children. My mom is Matrida Longwe Nkosi. My dad died when I was still in secondary school.

 

What memories do you have of growing up?

I grew up with a single parent and it was a challenge for her to find school fees for four secondary school going children at once. Of course she was working as an Agriculture Extensional Worker, but the money she was getting was too little. On several occasions I had been chased from school and stayed home for weeks because of school fees. But my mum tried hard for us to go back to school. I was selling mandasi for my mom so that we could supplement her meagre salary so that she paid our fees. Through that I managed to survive with the moral support I got from my siblings, friends and relations.

 

 

Did you have big dreams as a child?

I wanted to be a doctor. My mother paid my school fees and helped me to go study Community Development at Skyway Business College, now SIMARD. I am now studying towards an advanced Diploma. If you have never been in my shoes and sold mandasi to get an education, it’s hard to understand this. Though I am not a doctor I am happy with what I do now. I am working with young people. I am able to understand them better having been there myself. I am helping them realise their potential, sensitise them on gender issues, and helping them create a safe space for young women and girls. I still want to pursue a Master’s degree in women and gender studies. I want to broaden my knowledge.

 

How did your parents and people around you mould you into what you are today?

My dad was our pillar. It’s unfortunate that he died when we were so young and needed him most. But I thank my mom for the strength and the spirit of sharing that she imbedded in me.  She is always telling me to go on with what I do to transform fellow women in my community. She still reminds me act as a role model. Although she already has a lot of children to look after, she has taken some of our relations in. She treats them the same way she treats us.

 

What principles do you think have helped you succeed in life?

My mum’s reminder that I always need to be a role model. I also think of the words ask not what your government can do for you but ask what you can do for your government. I make sure that the skills and knowledge that I have is being shared with fellow young people. 

 

How did you find yourself in this job?

I joined Mitundu Youth Organisation while I was still at Mitundu Secondary School. I liked it there. So soon after secondary school I joined the organisation on a full time basis though as a volunteer. I really have the passion for working with young women and girls on issues that matter to them.

 

What exactly does your organisation do?

We have a youth centre where young people come and access the services they want: for example, library, sexual and reproductive services, recreational materials just to mention a few. We help pay school fees to students who do not have fees for them to have education because it a fundamental key to development. We provide counseling to them.

 

Are you satisfied with what you have contributed so far?

Not at all: I will be, only until I see we have a safe space for girls and young women.

 

I am told you formed youths and women clubs. Was this idea the result of what you experienced in your life?

Yes it was. I have formed girls and women groups with the aim of researching and looking into the environment in which young women and girls live in Malawi. The goal of these groups is to create a unique environment in which young women can speak for themselves and their everyday experience. We need to understand what keeps young women voiceless; susceptible to HIV and Aids, sexual abuse, rape, human trafficking, and early marriages among others. We need to be able to keep those who provide protection and services to them accountable. I also believe that education is the vehicle in which we depend on to deal with various crisis facing young women and girls. We want to understand these women’s barriers to full participation in empowerment and development  activities despite the initiative that have been made by government both past and present.

 

Has working with youths brought any change in your life?

Absolutely: working with the youth sector really built my capacity knowledge. I have undergone training in different areas both locally and internationally. I am equipped with the knowledge that I need. Before that I was unable to speak in public. I was very afraid and shy. But now I am exposed and I can eloquently speak out for the voiceless people. 

 

What positive things would you want to happen to the youths of country?

I will be very happy if young people in this country are economically empowered; if they are recognised in all sectors; and if their concerns are addressed accordingly.

 

Apart from working with the youth, how do you financially sustain yourself?

I raise pigs and sell them. The business is really generating money. Since I am single, I am able to support myself and my young siblings.

 

What do you think makes you stand out?

The passion I have to change my community. Whenever I have a vision for something, I make sure that I fulfill it no matter how hard it can be. I don’t like focusing much on something negative.

 

What is your vision?

I would like to have a vocational skills centre for the community so that young people can be trained in vocational skills and start their own business for them to earn a living.

 

What do you think keeps women from taking on challenges?

I feel that everyone has the potential in changing things. I think low self-esteem drags them back. But what is needed is to build self-esteem in them. Culturally, most women haven’t been given opportunities to take part in social issues. When young women socialise they are able to meet and share experiences in the society. This can bring confidence in women to take up challenges.

 

Have you received any recognition for your work so far?

Yes, several times. For instance, I was selected to represent Malawi at a Unesco General Youth Forum in Paris, France, in October last year. I am also a board member of Tevet here in Malawi. This October, I will be travelling to South Africa and Swaziland to attend the Southern African Young Women’s Festival.

 

In your free time, what can we find you doing?

I like playing netball.