See Changemakers In Action

Let’s Spark Change

masifunde's Changemaker Network currently capacitates learners from more than 250 high schools nationwide with practical knowledge on relevant social topics such as school safety, violence prevention, anti-bullying and environmental awareness. Through activation workshops for Grade 9 learners and intensive changemaker trainings for selected changemakers they spark positive change in their schools and communities.

Mandela Bay →changemakers National →changemakers

Objective

The network's objective is to encourage young people to take responsible positive actions, to find constructive solutions and to understand that they have the power to impact and influence their peers and consequently their communities – and advocate for vulnerable groups.

“Change starts with you”

Linathi Mangether sparking change at Soqhayisa Secondary School in Gqeberha

Our Story

masifunde is an NGO founded in 2004, which runs holistic, learner-centred community development programmes for children and youth in Walmer Township, Gqeberha. masifunde's vision is to empower its beneficiaries to participate pro-actively and confidently in societal issues and thereby initiating positive change in their own lives and the lives of other - and thereby acting as changemakers.

Since 2013 masifunde has implemented a variety of city-wide programmes with the focus on learner activation mainly on the topics of school safety and gender-based violence (GBV). The model is based on the believe that positive change is everybody's responsibility and that everybody has some form of capacity to make a contribution towards such change. The programmes therefore aim to activate all learners in participating schools to take positive and constructive action as part of the school community.

In 2021, masifunde officially launched its Changemaker Network in the Nelson Mandela Bay. Since 2023, the programme gets replicated with 20 partner organisations in the Eastern Cape, Limpopo, North-West and Gauteng. Since 2024, masifunde reaches 200 schools, with 40 partner organisations in all provinces of South Africa, and 52 high schools in the Mandela Bay. In total, more than 1 000 learners have been capacitated and activated as changemakers nationwide.

Find out more about masifunde www.masifunde.org

2009

Masifunde registers as NPC

2013

Masifunde implements “Youth for Safer Communities” city wide

2017

Opening of the Changemaker Academy in Walmer Township

2021

Masifunde Changemaker Network launched

2022

MCN reaches 39 schools in Mandela Bay

2023

MCN starts replication in North West, Limpopo, Eastern Cape and Gauteng. With 20 partner CSO’s MCN reaches 700 changemakers and over 100 000 learners nationwide. MCN trains first international partner CSO's in Mozambique and Congo.

2024

With 40 partner CSO's MCN implements at 200 schools in all nine provinces of South Africa, reaching 1 000 changemaker and 245 000 learners nationwide. In the Mandela Bay, MCN is at 52 high schools, working with 270 changemakers. Four German CSO's join in the first international exchange, highlighting in a changemaker conference in Berlin, Germany.

2025

MCN runs environmental awareness campaigns and community action projects in 250 schools nationwide. The first national Changemaker summit will be held in the nelson Mandela Bay.