Who

UK Reg. Charity
No: 1085470

Write to:

Zisize Trust
c/o David Cooper
The Garden House
Trellech
Monmouthshire
NP25 4PA

In 1998, aged 48, Niki Lee took a one-year career break from her two part time jobs as Family Court Welfare Officer and Emergency Team Social Worker in Wales and embarked on a journey that would change her life.

Her one-year career break began with her working as a volunteer in the private English medium school in Ingwavuma four days a week, but it was her days spent helping at isiZulu medium Government schools on the fifth day, that led in 1999, to setting up the South African entity with her friend Hlengiwe Mthimkhulu, who is now Director of Zisize in Ingwavuma, and extending her career break to the maximum three years.

Niki was instrumental in the creation of both the UK charity, named in memory of her father, and the South African NGO, Zisize (Ingwavuma) Educational Trust. She is the liaison person between the UK and RSA charities.

Niki’s father, Heaton Lee, (left) was an enormous influence on her. The charity is named in his memory. Heaton was born in South Africa and worked as a surveyor in a goldmine there as a young man, where he witnessed the racial inequalities at close quarters. This incensed him and led to many years of political activism. From the age of 21 he lived in self-imposed exile from his homeland, refusing to return, even to visit family, because of the Apartheid regime and its treatment of the black population. He sadly died in Merthyr Tydfil, Wales in 1978 without having seen the demise of Apartheid. He loved his country of birth and was always moved to tears when he heard African music, which has a similar effect on his daughter.

TRUSTEES

The first trustees were Dr. Jeffrey Davies, an accountant, who sadly died in 2022, Karyl Mann, a social worker, now retired and Dave Watkins, a Probation Officer. Two more trustees joined the initial three after volunteering in Ingwavuma. David Cooper, Director of Lumus 360 and Menna Jenkins, a teacher.

Since Jeff’s death David Cooper has taken over his responsibilities as treasurer and his home is the Zisize ‘office’.

Zisize in Ingwavuma’s first employees began as volunteers and volunteering is central to the functioning and ethos of Zisize, which means self-help in isiZulu.

In its early years, Zisize in Ingwavuma relied heavily on donations from Zisize – The Heaton Lee Memorial Trust to enable it to sustain existing projects and expand a little. We extend our gratitude to the generous financial help of individuals, families, trusts and groups, who donate to the UK charity. (See gratitude page) This enabled firm foundations to be established and built on in Ingwavuma.

Everyone who has given anything, every volunteer who has given their time and their energy, has made a vital contribution to Zisize’s work and made it the vibrant organisation it is today. (See volunteer page)