Khanyisa Mabhele (16) did not want to wait to change the world.
The Grade 11 learner at the International School of Cape Town and Junior town council member founded the Lulama Health Initiative earlier this year, a registered non-profit company focused on health, hygiene and mental wellness for homeless people in the Claremont-Wynberg area.
“The only way I can help people physically and save lives is through medicine,” says Mabhele, who hopes to study at the University of Cape Town (UCT) and become a surgeon. “But I did not want to wait.”
Restoration is the goal
Lulama — a Xhosa word meaning “restoration” — launched its first campaign in May and rolled out donations of sanitary pads and toiletries to those in need in June.
“I wanted restoration to be the focus of the initiative, restoring health and restoring hope,” Mabhele says.
Walking through her community, she noticed homelessness was a persistent issue in Claremont. Digging deeper, Mabhele found a crisis largely going unaddressed: the mental health of people living in homeless shelters.
Mental health in focus
July is Mental Health Awareness Month. This month the initiative is taking that work further, with Mabhele in talks with Haven Night Shelter in Wynberg.
Plans are in place to host conversations on Thursday 24 July and Friday 25 July. Volunteers will provide in-house counselling and talks centred on mental health challenges.
“We want to give talks that show how these issues are directly relevant to the individuals in these shelters and have social workers engage with them one-on-one,” she says.
In five years, Mabhele sees the initiative with its own mental health crew and social workers on staff.
“I want to inspire young people to start their own initiatives,” she says.
Help needed
For now, the organisation runs largely on her parents’ support. A shortage of volunteers forced the cancellation of a planned Mandela Day event.
“Right now, my parents are doing the sponsoring. We need social workers to come on board, sponsors and volunteers,” Mabhele says. She anchors the initiative in Proverbs 16:3: “Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and he will establish your plans.”
- Contact Mabhele at info@lulamahealth.org.za
