#WomenandGirlsofInkululeko: How Inkululeko’s Social Enterprise Lead and Classroom Assistant, Leandra Fobe Builds Meaningful Connections with our Community of Learners Each and Everyday
By Anny Lin
For as long as she could remember, Leandra Fobe has always loved working with young people. In her early years, Fobe taught students in grades 8 to 12 at the local high school in the township community of Makhanda, South Africa. Since then, she has joined a dedicated team of Inkululeko educators who serve as an integral support system for many learners in the Makhanda community. Through her role as classroom assistant, Fobe supports Inkululeko learners with their assignments and projects. Beyond the classroom, she also works with the parents of her learners. As Inkululeko’s social enterprise lead, Fobe recently collaborated with colleagues from Inkululeko and DAY Africa to initiate a Norec funded training that provides parents with entrepreneurial skills.
There is no doubt that Fobe has made numerous meaningful connections with learners throughout her time at Inkululeko. When Fobe interacts with each and every one of her learners, she always takes a moment to understand their perspectives: “I try to see from their shoes and understand what it’s like to be their age,” she explained. Through developing relationships that are built on trust and understanding, Fobe has been able to effectively support her learners as they navigate through their educational journey.
As an educator and a mentor, Fobe believes that every moment with her learners is a valuable one. Often, her proudest moments occur when she reunites with former learners and hears about their most recent achievements: “Some of our learners will see us in town and say ‘I have been looking for you. I want to tell you that I am enrolled in university now. It is my first year. I got in! Thank you very much’...It brings a smile to our face and makes us really proud,” Fobe said.
Along with these rewarding moments, Fobe has also faced numerous challenges in her roles as classroom assistant and social enterprise lead. For Fobe and her learners, this past year has been particularly difficult. At the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, learners were unable to continue their studies, as schools in the township did not have adequate resources to provide virtual instruction. Learners then returned to school two to three times per week on a rotating basis. However, South Africa has recently implemented a strict COVID-19 lockdown, which means that all schools are now closed again. On top of all these disruptions to learning, Inkululeko learners are also adapting to online learning through the tutoring program. For Fobe, it has been challenging to work from home while simultaneously working to ensure that the needs of her learners are met.
Nevertheless, Fobe and her Inkululeko colleagues have persevered to create an online system that provides academic and emotional support for learners. Sometimes Fobe’s support comes in the form of technical assistance on digital platforms, and other times, support simply means listening to the worries and struggles of her learners: “We want our learners to know that they have a support system that they can count on at any time…They know that if they come to us with a problem, we are here for them, even if it's just a check-in or a shoulder to cry on,” Fobe said.
In spite of the difficult year, Fobe is excited for the future. Earlier this year, she worked with her colleagues to open Inkululeko's latest branch, which includes two classrooms, in the lower township. So far, the Nathaniel Nyaluza Branch has been a great success, as student attendance has remained high. For Fobe, it has been rewarding to work with a new cohort of motivated learners as they adapt to online learning.
“We have about 34 learners who are consistent. They sometimes even call in the middle of the night to ask for help on homework or assignments,” Fobe explained as she beamed with pride.
Moving forward, Fobe remains hopeful: hopeful for the educational opportunities that Inkululeko provides and most importantly, hopeful for her learners’ futures.