MIDDELBURG – Beauty queen Zandile Mpholo also known as “Indlovukazi” has a vision to reduce educational disparities in the community by ensuring every child has an equal opportunity to learn.
The 2014 Mrs Mpumalanga finalist shared her plans to execute the Indlovukazi Back to School Campaign, which was established in 2018.
According to Mpholo, the campaign is aimed at tackling the educational challenges faced by disadvantaged children.
Inspired by the hardships many young learners encounter at the start of each school year, the campaign strives to ensure every child has access to essential educational resources. “The Indlovukazi Back to School Campaign was inspired by the observation of the challenges many children face in accessing basic educational resources especially in the beginning of their school year,” said Mpholo. “Recognising the importance of education in breaking the cycle of poverty, our vision is to increase access of quality school gear and provide emotional support to children from disadvantaged backgrounds.”
The campaign focuses on collecting and distributing a variety of school necessities including school supplies, uniforms, toiletries, and other educational materials.
This effort aims to empower children, enabling them to start the school year confidently and to enhance their learning throughout the academic calendar. “Our mission is clear,” said Mpholo. “To provide essential school supplies and uniforms to underprivileged students. To provide emotional support to children, helping them feel valued and confident in their educational journey. To engage the community to practice the spirit of UBUNTU this collective effort brings us to support education and create a culture of giving and support back within our community.” Looking ahead, Mpholo further stated that the Indlovukazi Back to School Campaign plans to expand its reach and sustainability through partnerships with local businesses, organizations and stakeholders. Future efforts will include programs focused on Early Childhood Development, ensuring young learners receive a strong foundation for their education. “In previous years, the Indlovukazi Back to School Campaign has also hosted fun day camps, women inspired events, and men inspired events,” said Mpholo. “These activities have brought the community together, inspired people, and helped with personal growth. These positive outcomes show how our campaign can make a lasting difference in the community,” Mpholo concluded.