Written by Mlungisi Nkosi
What defines a township as truly great? It’s when its residents selflessly plant trees under shade they may never sit. The Millennial Mindset Foundation has a unique philosophy, and with it, they have made tremendous strides in impacting the lives of many Leachville community members. There has been a ripple effect from the kindness shared at their soup kitchen every Thursday. The urban bites they serve are appreciated by both the young and the old. The atmosphere is electric, and the compassion is heartfelt.
The Foundation has a mission to empower young individuals, with a particular focus on women. Their goal is to inspire women to reach for their dreams, and this objective unequivocally drives the organization. The Founder, Marcia Monareng, an award-winning entrepreneur and philanthropist, has found her purpose. She has discovered what keeps her going, even confessing that she’s often too busy and sometimes puts off going to bed to stay up and work. Her office is situated on Blyde Avenue next to the makeshift park, making Millennial Mindset Foundation an agreeable site to see.
Challenges faced by people on the ground:
When I first heard of Millennial Mindset Foundation, I wondered: why start a foundation in a place where the people are considered well off? I had no clue that there were people living in our streets who were truly struggling to make ends meet. To drive this point home further, I heard on the news that the South African consumer is getting poorer as they continue to face tough economic times. The Founder of Millennial Mindset Foundation is in tune with the reality on the ground. With limited resources, they can feed hungry stomachs, especially older women and people from underprivileged households. Providing sustenance is not the only thing they do; there are also sports activity sessions and an assortment of clothes to choose from. The primary focus, of course, is the food drive. If the African Development Bank has stated that it would take 5 years to bring an end to food insecurity, we need more stakeholders to take part.
She’s confident in her vision and won’t let any pessimists stop her from doing what she must, which is to help the community. I understand now that the Millennial Mindset Foundation is about bringing forth a better life. The struggles our people face are real. When companies are all about profit and not about people, we are doomed. As a millennial, you have to know that you cannot think big if you cannot act small. Be humble.
How is more important than Where:
She has a unique enthusiasm for philanthropy. Wherever she is, she wants to enrich the quality of life of the people she meets. The wonderful thing about her ability is that people have reciprocated her aspiration to give by being open to the idea that Leachville, a place where residents pay mortgages, can have a thriving NPO. The goal is now to have more and more people come and share the gift of giving and the pleasure of receiving. Imagine this: the grandmas and grandpas who come to the soup kitchen every Thursday are the guardians of future Doctors, Engineers, Teachers, and Captains of industry.
I’ve learned that our founder has seen that to survive as an NPO, we need to have the spirit of leadership. To have older people come to you to give you advice and part with a smile is one of life’s greatest treasures. Marcia understands the importance of not just pushing time but impacting lives. She knows that for every older person who dies, it’s like a Library has burned down. Only a true leader will not let that get to their head. For Marcia, it gets to her heart. It kindles a sense of purpose in her. She has a gratitude attitude, and a heart so generous it cannot be stopped.
I believe that there’s something special about a life of servitude that makes one a better person. Buddha sat under a tree and let the whole world come to him. That is the type of restless drive that’s within our founder. She’s a leader, a mentor, and a cheerful smile on someone’s gloomy day.
Making an impact:
Should you need a place to recharge? Perhaps you want to grab a book and immerse yourself in the thoughts of the author. Finally, we have a foundation whose team doesn’t box itself into one kind of outlook. They’re not like, “We’re corporate, we’ll do only corporate.” Their CSI initiatives and corporate identity are philosophical. The idea is to have a greater effect on people. We even have a mentorship program on the cards. Soon, there’ll be millennial spaces to converse on mental health issues, just as there was for empowering the next generation of women leaders. Be there or be square. Africa has never seen something of such immense shock value. The secret is that leadership is about serving everyone else. To be a top brand and market leader, you have to realize that the shortest distance to achieve that is through service.
An organization led by someone who doesn’t chase material success but personal fulfillment from satisfaction. The Millennial Mindset Foundation is about tapping into the intrinsic value that South Africans have. They do this without fear or favor because they are convicted. Miles Munroe, in the book “The Spirit of Leadership,” says, “Again, servant leadership is an ultimate form of true leadership and protects the individual from traps that entangle the power-hungry, insecure, unqualified ‘shadows’ who parade as leaders.” Our founder is one in a million. She invites you to occupy your space and situate yourself where you can expand your capacity and increase the value of others.
Conclusion:
Let us give our founder her flowers. Join her on her quest to make a better life. Give, and it shall be given unto you. Wherever you are, you can make a difference. Donate what you can, be it time, money, or non-perishables. We’re always ready to receive a helping hand. Take it as a call to action that Millennial Mindset has embarked on this journey so that you may be inspired to get involved. Be the change you want to see in the world. It starts with you.
