Sixteen-year-old Amahle Qomfo has made it her life’s mission to make a difference in the lives of young children from marginalised communities in East London and Mdantsane.
Her foundation was established in 2016 and since then, Qomfo, who is a grade 11 pupil at St Christopher’s Private School, has found a balance between her philanthropy work and her academics, ensuring that she can focus and succeed equally on both.
“The work that I do motivates me to want to be more focused on my studies so that I can grow up and take the organization to greater heights.
“I make time to study, and do my extracurricular activities because of the support that I get from home. I am encouraged to focus on my academic life, and I am always given the space to do so,” Qomfo said.
In 2021, Qomfo was crowned International Junior Miss South Africa Eastern Cape, and she was the overall winner for the R10,000 scholarship award for academic excellence in the junior teens’ category, proving that she has beauty, brains, and a good heart too.
The organisation hosts two main events every year, namely Qomfo’s birthday celebration in July and a Christmas party in December.
These events double as celebrations and handovers of stationery, clothing items, and sanitary towels.
At her young age, Qomfo has proven that it is never too early to give back. She maintains that even the smallest act of kindness can make a difference in someone’s life.
She was able to partner with Clarendon High School for Girls to donate school shoes from their class of 2023.
The recipients of the donation are the children of the Isibindi project in Ncera Village 3, a safe space in the community for vulnerable children.
“The motivation comes from knowing and understanding that people who lack exist and with the capacity that we have, we must assist where we can later change someone’s traumatic childhood into a pleasant one.
“We cannot cater (to each child) holistically, but knowing that we managed to make a small difference is what drives us,” Qomfo said.
Joyce Maswanganye Yedwa, of the Isibindi Project, said the work done by Qomfo and her team was tremendous and was making a difference in the lives of the youth.
“Working with them was a great experience and the impact that they make in the lives of the children, youth, and families in the community, especially the Isibindi beneficiaries.
“The foundation is doing excellent work. They are changing the lives of people, and giving them hope, encouragement, and guidance.
“They motivate the young ones to be independent and empower them to understand the importance of education. A lot can be learned from the foundation, especially for our young people,” Yedwa said.
