Keamogetswe Masike is uplifting communities through the Keamogetswe M Foundation. Picture: Supplied
Pretoria - Student leader Keamogetswe Masike, through Keamogetswe M Foundation, wants to contribute towards sustainable growth in marginalised communities by providing skills and training support.
The foundation, which works closely with communities, was established in 2019 in Ekurhuleni.
“We have adopted 15 early childhood development centres that we support with monthly food packages. In total we have adopted over 327 toddlers who are dependent on our monthly food relief programmes.
“These children come from the poorest of poor families and poverty-stricken sub-areas in the community of KwaThema and Tsakane.
“We have also adopted Kenneth Masikela as well as Phulong secondary schools, where we assist Grade 8 and Grade 9 pupils,” Masike said.
Masike said the foundation intended to advance the social conditions of the community, especially for the poor, elderly and persons with disabilities, by providing counselling, education, health care, food security and facilitation of skills and community-building programmes.
“Our main objective must be to create more effective citizens, particularly young people, and build strong communities through leadership skills and development.
“The aim is to make sure that every child who matures under the umbrella of marginalisation is granted fair opportunities to public spheres crossing from education to health care.”
The foundation has been involved in projects that include helping those in need with food and basic necessities for survival. “People have always been asking what sustains these projects and what informs the work we do.
“The community is flooded with high rates of unemployed civilians, the poor, and those that depend of government social relief programmes,” Masike said.
Surviving under such conditions was extremely difficult, and children travel to school on empty stomachs.
The schooling systems also cannot carry the weight or burden caused by socio-economic conditions of communities, Masike said.
He said the foundation’s goal was to feed more than 50 000 families annually across all affected regions and provinces in South Africa, serving a minimum of 1 500 families monthly.
The inspiration to help his community is close to his heart.
Masike, a member of the SRC at the Tshwane University of Technology, is doing his advanced Diploma in Sports Science. He has also enrolled for law studies with Unisa.
“I am a graduate who comes from nothing, raised by a single parent who also strives to make ends meet for our family.
“I am currently appointed as head of corporate social initiatives at Makovha Development Association, which is working towards the transformation of the people of Venda in Limpopo by providing clean water, clinic and jobs.”
Recently, the foundation partnered with the Tshwane University of Technology Sport Pretoria Campus on a community outreach programme.
Pretoria News