In the heart of the Breede Valley, a quiet revolution is unfolding, one that doesn’t begin with policies or funding, but with people. At MoreThanMeerAs (MTMA), we believe that healing is the foundation of leadership, and that resilient communities are built by resilient leaders. Over the past year, our work with Early Childhood Development (ECD) practitioners and NGO leaders has revealed a powerful truth: when caregivers and community leaders are seen, supported, and strengthened, entire systems begin to shift.
The Problem Beneath the Problem
South Africa’s social sector is under immense pressure. ECD centres and NGOs are often the first responders to poverty, trauma, and systemic neglect. Yet the very people holding these spaces, mostly women, are themselves navigating burnout, unresolved grief, fractured teams, and financial precarity. In our engagements, we heard stories of:
- House mothers overwhelmed by emotional labour, unable to draw boundaries between care and exhaustion.
- NGO staff disconnected from one another, struggling with jealousy, mistrust, and poor communication.
- ECD practitioners feeling invisible, burdened by compliance demands and unsupported by local government.
These are not just operational issues they are human issues. And they require a human response.
A Healing-Centred Approach to Leadership
In partnership with the Pool Family Trust, MTMA launched two parallel programmes in 2025:
- The Personal, Leadership and Change Readiness Programme for ECD Practitioners
- The NGO Leaders Personal, Leadership and Change Readiness Journey
Both programmes were rooted in the MTMA methodology: a trauma-informed, relational, and purpose-driven process that integrates emotional healing, leadership development, and systemic insight.
Key Outcomes
Personal Growth & Emotional Resilience
Participants reported:
- Increased self-worth and confidence
- Improved family and workplace relationships
- A shift from isolation to belonging
“I now know who I am. I can stand up for myself at home and work.”
— ECD Practitioner, Worcester
Relational Leadership & Team Dynamics
Through tools like the LEMON Leadership Assessment, IKIGAI, and Simon Sinek’s WHY, leaders began to:
- Reframe leadership as relational, not positional
- Build trust-based teams
- Resolve conflict with empathy and clarity
“We learned that woundedness brings gifts – empathy, resilience, and determination.”
— NGO Leader, Breede Valley
Organisational Clarity & Change Readiness
Participants aligned their personal purpose with their organisational mission.
They began to:
- Start funding proposals with their “WHY”
- Delegate more effectively
- Mentor peers across organisations
“I am not just an employer completing tasks, my past and experiences shape my leadership and impact.”
From Insight to Action: The 2026 Vision
The success of these programmes has laid the foundation for a 12-month leadership pipeline in 2026. This next phase will deepen and scale the work through:
Expanded Training Themes
- Emotional Intelligence & Team Dynamics
- Trust & Relationship Building
- Conflict Management & Communication
- Resource Mobilisation & Fundraising
- Monitoring & Evaluation
- Community Engagement & Government Dialogue
Change Readiness Assessment Tool
A structured tool will track personal, organisational, and systemic growth ensuring that transformation is measurable and adaptive.
Formal Mentorship & Peer Support
Support clusters will be established to sustain learning, foster collaboration, and reduce burnout.
NGO/Government Dialogue
Facilitated sessions with local municipalities will address infrastructure, compliance, and subsidy challenges bridging the gap between grassroots realities and policy frameworks.
Celebrating Impact
A 2026 Showcase Event will honour participants’ journeys, share stories of transformation, and inspire broader community engagement.
Why This Matters
This is not just a leadership programme. It is a movement of healing, connection, and courage. It is about restoring dignity to the caregivers, reigniting purpose in the changemakers, and rebuilding the social fabric of our communities.
At MoreThanMeerAs, we are not just training leaders, we are transforming the way leadership is understood and lived in the social sector.
Join this Impactful Journey
We invite funders, partners, and fellow changemakers to walk with us. Whether through financial support, strategic collaboration, or amplifying our message; your involvement can help scale this impact across the Western Cape and beyond.
