Tabisa Ngubo

What does your company do?

The Msimbithi Foundation is an Eastern Cape based NGO, dedicated to Empowering Futures and Transforming Communities. Our mission is to uplift marginalized communities, particularly rural youth, women, and children. What began with a school uniform drive has evolved into comprehensive initiatives focused on education, skills development, and women’s empowerment. Our goal is simple to create sustainable change that empowers individuals, enabling them to shape their futures and positively impact their communities. We aim to support our beneficiaries through every stage of their lives, from early care development to access to the economy, fostering a complete and empowering lifecycle of opportunity.

What is your biggest success?

On my 33rd birthday, I made a bold decision to give away school shoes instead of gifts. I aimed for 33 pairs — and collected over 70 .That act of giving planted the seed for something bigger: a movement to restore dignity and unlock potential through education. That was the beginning of the story of The Msimbithi Foundation. The NGO stems from the success of that birthday wish becoming true leading to an annual uniform drive .Each day of activity is still an achievement as I still cannot phantom the fact that so many people are assisted by the work we do as an organization. In 2024 as part the annual uniform drive , the NGO donated a playground to Hamberg Primary School. As a disadvantaged school a mere playground for the children was a dream come true. The NGO also collaborated with local Artside Space to introduce children to arts and crafts, This programme is able to assist children who are gifted with hand work which may be the starting point as future visual artists, graphic designers, painters etc.

What has been your biggest hurdle?

Covid-19 had substantial and largely negative consequences on the NGOs’ financial situation, staffing, and activities. We had to change our regular activities and almost remain dormant during the pandemic. Even after covid, the impact is still felt, as small rural based NGOs such as The Msimbithi Foundation find it very difficult to secure the neccessary funding to remain operational to a point that our executives dive into their pockets for day to day operational costs.Lack of resources for our ECD Programmes, reading materials, furniture such as table and chairs for children, book stands, stationery and daily meals for the children etc.