No: 1085470
Write to:
Zisize Trust
c/o David Cooper
The Garden House
Trellech
Monmouthshire
NP25 4PA
Why start Zisize and subsequently the Heaton Lee Memorial Trust?
In 1998 most primary schools in Ingwavuma were operating in appalling conditions with no books, insufficient classrooms, no water or toilets.
Children at Mpontshini Primary School, where Hlengiwe was Principal, were taught in one classroom (below right), built by parents from donated materials and one stick and stone building, (below left). Grades 3 & 4 were in the stick and stone building or under the trees when it was too hot.
92 children in Grades 1 and 2 were taught in the classroom (grade 2 facing us while grade 1 were facing the opposite direction.)
Government had given enough desks for the number of pupils but no classroom to put them in. The only equipment was a blackboard and chalk.
Parents, unable to pay R50 a year school fees (£2.20 at the current exchange rate) were to be seen digging deep holes through layers of stone in order to prepare for long drop toilets, promised by the local hospital. They also planted donated trees, which would in time create shade for the children.
The hard work of teachers and parents at Mpontshini, inspired Niki to want to help and she contributed towards the 10% required by Operation Jumpstart, an NGO, to build 3 classrooms at that school.
A survey conducted by her in 1999 revealed a range of problems experienced by pupils in their homes:- hunger was widespread; orphans being ill-treated by ‘care-givers’, often treated as servants in exchange for a roof over their heads; shame at not having money for uniform or school fees or shoes; children and/or their parents suffering ill-health, often HIV/AIDS, but the stigma of this made them not seek medical attention; lack of water or electricity at home requiring them to start their days by walking to collect wood and water before walking, often several miles, to school.
Many parents were keen for their young children to have an English medium education, but the only school offering that had high fees and a limited number of pre school places.
Home conditions made doing homework or studying for high school pupils extremely challenging – no light, no table, no chair. Poverty was such that one candle was marked into 7 sections and had to last a week.
But, ‘It is better to light a candle than to complain about the dark’ as an old Chinese proverb suggests.
By 2000 Zisize had moved from its first base in a tiny room at a Community Centre, to a large former dormitory owned by the Employment Bureau of Africa. It had gathered educational resources for teachers; books and educational toys for children; had an English medium preschool class; a lending library; an after-school club, and offered facilities for high school students to come and study.
Problems in South Africa are immense and widespread and were even more so in 2000. The competition for funds from within South Africa was, and still is, therefore very keen. Businesses like to support projects near their area of operation, so rural areas, where there is no industry, lose out both in terms of job opportunities and grant aid. It was therefore vital to find other means of funding Zisize’s projects.
So, in 2000, while still planning to return to work in Wales after her career break, Niki, along with friends, who agreed to be Trustees, set up the UK Charity, to gather funds to support the Ingwavuma projects when she was no longer there. It was registered in February 2001.Later that year, however, committed to the work in Ingwavuma, she decided to sell her home in Wales, buy a smaller one, resign from her permanent posts, and became a casual employee with both her former employers when in UK. She spent up to half of each year working full time voluntarily in South Africa until 2015. She now acts only in a supportive role to both charities, but is always willing to talk to groups and encourage others to support Zisize’s children.
UK donations in 2001 enabled stipends to be paid to volunteers and weekend and school holiday feeding schemes to be started, one school at a time.
Small beginnings have led to a wide circle of supporters from all over the UK, Europe and Australia.
Strong foundations and committed people have enabled Zisize in Ingwavuma to grow into a truly holistic organisation addressing all of Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs and improving the lives of thousands of children and their families. (see www.zisize.org.za for detailed information)