Teach A Girl Foundation

There are many social issues affecting pretty much everyone in some kind of way. Many of us are born into a certain struggle and some of us grow to want to provide some kind of relief to those around us, in order to make their lives a little better. One of those social issues is keeping children, specifically the girl child, in school especially when the preteen years intertwine with poverty. Makoma Maponya is one of those young people who have found it within herself to be at the forefront of an organisation that aims to educate and keep young females in school through her mentorship and pad drives. I got a chance to learn a little more about her, and the Teach A girl Foundation – The incredible lady behind the foundation, what drives her and how we could all be a helping hand to communities that need it – and couldn’t help but share it all with my readers.

Q1. Who is Makhoma Maponya?

A: Makoma is a young communication strategist and humanitarian based in the small tropical town of Tzaneen in Limpopo. In her third year at the University of Johannesburg, she founded Teach a Girl Foundation. The work done through her foundation has earned her a New Generation social and digital media award in 2017 as well as a silver PRISA Prism award in the 2018 student category. She was also recently selected as a PRISA Prism award Young Judge at the 2019 awards.

Q2. What is The Teach A Girl Foundation about?

A: Teach a girl is a platform where content and campaigns are created to alleviate poverty in my community and raise awareness of the social issues which affect the education of young girls. This is mostly done through mentorship, menstrual health management classes and donations as millions of girls are unable to afford or access sanitary products.

Q3. What drove you to start this initiative?

A3: My late mom inspired me to start helping young girls in our community. As a rural school teacher, she saw the challenges that the students face every day and took me to work with her so that I could be exposed to a world that I had only read about but never really experienced for myself.

Q4. What has been the biggest challenge through it all?

A4: The biggest challenge has been getting parents involved, it seems that mothers and aunts do not want younger generations to go through the same challenges that they faced but they are not willing to join the conversation.

Q5. What has been the greatest reward?

A5: Seeing a large number of girls that I have mentored get through school and into higher education institutions.

Q6. Where do you see the initiative in the next 3 years?

A6. In the next 3 years, I hope to get more professionals onboard and expand the initiative into more communities around South Africa so that more women will actually understand their menstruation cycle and use their knowledge to empower others.

Q7. What has been the most interesting encounter you've had with the learners you've worked with?

A7: Teaching the girls about menstrual cups and other sustainable products is always interesting because you can tell that they are eager to learn but also hesitant because it’s a completely new concept.

Q8. What is the most important and least talked about fact/ myth surrounding the issues you cover?

A8: I always begin with highlighting that periods are normal. We need to stop associating them with dirt, disgust, shame, and fear.

Q9. Why do you think talking about periods is still so taboo and still seen as an awkward conversation?

A9: The stigma around menstruation are a result of social conditioning. No one is teaching us to have open conversation, instead we are led to believe that periods are a girl’s secret and that no one else should know about it.

Q10. In your opinion, how do open conversations break the myths?

A10: Open conversation pushes against the myths and stigma by creating a positive representation of periods. Periods are normal and that should be shown in mainstream culture.

Q11. What do you hope is the biggest lesson that your mentorship teaches?

A11: I hope that all my students learn that “What happens to you is not who you are” and that they use that mindset to change the narrative and create a new normal.

Q12. How can people connect or contact you to help or follow your journey?

A12: Teach a Girl is on Facebook:

Teach A Girl Foundation

and Instagram:

@teachagirlfoundation

You can also call or WhatsApp 0798981902.

There are people constantly inspiring people to make a difference by being the change, and Makhoma is one of those people. Constantly inspiring, constantly making a difference and constantly being genuine while doing it. You can also make a difference by contacting Makhoma on the above details if you’d like to contribute to her cause.