Deputy CEO Zuko Gqadavama Awarded Prestigious Rotary Peace Fellowship
Inkululeko is thrilled to announce that Zuko Gqadavama, our talented Deputy CEO, has been awarded a prestigious Rotary Peace Fellowship. The Rotary Peace Fellowship is designed for leaders with work experience in peace and development. Its fellows are committed to community and international service and the pursuit of peace. Each year, The Rotary Foundation awards up to 50 fellowships for master’s degrees and up to 80 for certificate studies at premier universities. This recognition underscores Zuko’s commitment to Inkululeko’s mission and his potential to make a significant global impact.
As a Rotary Peace Fellow, Zuko will have the opportunity to delve deeper into his passion for social change and sustainable development, all of which will strengthen Inkululeko’s impact in Makhanda and beyond.
Zuko’s Initiative: “Realizing Potential: Securing After-School Program Longevity”
Zuko’s initiative, titled “Realizing Potential: Securing After-School Program Longevity,” is dedicated to supporting after-school programs in Makhanda by helping them achieve long-term financial sustainability. This effort seeks to explore and introduce alternative revenue models and unrestricted funding sources to reduce dependence on traditional, often restrictive, grant-based funding. By incorporating social entrepreneurship principles, Zuko aims to empower these programs to create self-sustaining revenue streams, thereby ensuring their ongoing viability.
For Inkululeko, this project paves the way for more resilient and financially independent after-school programs, directly aligning with our mission of fostering education and community support. It not only strengthens the structure of educational support in underserved communities but also enables Inkululeko to drive social innovation and support other nonprofit organizations as they strive for financial autonomy and sustainability.
The Social Change Initiative
Zuko’s social change initiative centers on addressing the financial challenges that non-profit after-school programs often face. The initiative encompasses several key components:
Research and Development of Alternative Revenue Models: Identifying, designing, and testing revenue models aligned with social entrepreneurship principles that non-profit organisations can implement.
Capacity Building and Skill Development: Equipping after-school program leaders with skills in entrepreneurship, financial management, fundraising, impact measurement, and program evaluation to support long-term growth.
Stakeholder Engagement and Partnerships: Collaborating with key stakeholders like Rhodes University’s Community Engagement division, Inkululeko, and other strategic partners to provide training and mentorship.
The desired outcome is a network of after-school programs that are financially sustainable, independent, and better positioned to serve the Makhanda community. This initiative not only aims to resolve financial challenges for these organizations but also contributes to community development by securing the longevity and effectiveness of essential educational support systems.
Please join us in congratulating Zuko on this remarkable achievement! We look forward to supporting him on this exciting journey and seeing the positive impact he will make as a Rotary Peace Fellow.