Yandiswa Mazwana, the founder of the Masiphumelele Creative
Yandiswa Mazwana, the founder of the Masiphumelele Creative Hub (MCH), is the epitome of strength and a loving parental figure to the youth of Masiphumelele. She founded the organization in 2017 with the main objective of ensuring that a nourished child exists in Masiphumelele. Her vision is that all children and youth of the Masiphumelele community shall have access to healthy and good food, acquire skills to better their future, and take full responsibility for developing their community accordingly.
Masisports+ and MCH worked together during the COVID-19 pandemic to assist in the massive need to provide nutrition to those in need in Masiphumelele. Yandiswa’s passion for the township shone through. Michael Tyhali, principal of Ukhanyo Primary, gave her access to the school’s kitchen and from that base, she supplied six strategically placed Masi feeding centers. MasiSports raised over R400 ,000 to support food supplies during this pandemic. So many other organisations, too, ensured that Masi was nutritionally provided for during the pandemic.
The Masisports+ partnership with Creative Hub remains.
Yandiswa’s work in art and food gardens has been remarkable.
The MCH, with the support of Ben Getz of Urban Harvest and funded by Absa, has successfully established a thriving food garden in the heart of Masiphumelele High School, where the youth don’t just learn about nutrition but experience it firsthand. The initiative is not just about growing vegetables, but growing knowledge, health, and culture of sustainably and a society with easy access to healthy and good food.
Masi High students in the school’s food garden
“These food gardens can empower our students with hands-on agricultural skills, provide fresh produce for nutritious meals, support food security, encourage responsibility and teamwork through caring for plants. This can bridge the gap between classroom learning and real life through life nutrition literacy,” Yandiswa passionately expressed.
MasiSports+ is proud to partner with MCH and deeply regard her commitment to the welfare of Masiphumelele. MasiSports+, with the assistance of Yandiswa and Ben Getz, will fund a similar food garden at Ukhanyo Primary in the next few months. The children are super excited.
All our partners enable generational change. Thank you, Yandiswa.