LONDIWE MADONDO

Londiwe Madondo joined Imbeleko Foundation in Grade 9 through our Boarding School Scholarship Programme. She not only excelled academically — graduating with 6 As in Matric — but also became the first in her family to attend university.

With a scholarship from one of Imbeleko’s corporate partners, Londiwe enrolled at the University of Cape Town to pursue a BCom in IT. Alongside her studies, she flourished in our Mentorship Programme, where two dedicated mentors continue to open doors of opportunity for her.

Today, Londiwe works at Transnet as a Cybersecurity Specialist and plays a pivotal role in developing Imbeleko’s Tech Hub. Staying true to our vision of multiplying impact, she now mentors the next generation of Imbeleko learners — proving that rural talent, given the chance, can thrive globally and give back locally.

fikile mbambo

Fikile Mbambo first joined Imbeleko as a learner in the Blended Learning Afterschool STEM Programme (BLAP). After completing Matric, instead of moving on immediately, she chose to volunteer as a facilitator in the very same programme that had shaped her, wanting to test her calling to become a social worker.

Encouraged by her experience, Fikile pursued and completed her degree in Social Work.Through a graduate internship funded by the Yes4Youth programme, she returned to Imbeleko—this time as a young professional. Her dedication, leadership, and deep understanding of both learners and the community saw her rise steadily through the organisation.

Today, Fikile serves as Head of Programme Support at Imbeleko Foundation, a role where she bridges the organisation with schools, parents, community stakeholders, and key partners. Her journey reflects the very essence of Imbeleko’s vision: empowering rural youth not just to succeed for themselves, but to return and lead the transformation of their own communities.

sthandiwe msomi

When Sthandiwe (Stha) Msomi first joined Imbeleko as a high school learner in KwaNyuswa, she had raw talent but limited access to resources. Today, she is rewriting the narrative of what rural youth can achieve.

Stha holds a BSc in Mathematics and Physics and is currently enrolled for her Master’s in Physics. She is also a qualified Swift App Developer and made history as the first Apple Certified Trainer for App Development with Swift in South Africa.

Now leading Imbeleko Tech Valley which houses Africa’s first rural Apple Authorised Training Centre for Education (AATCE). Stha is training unemployed graduates and rural youth to enter the global digital workforce. She represents the full cycle of Imbeleko’s model: from learner, to graduate, to global-standard trainer, to leader driving transformation in her community.

This is not just one success story. It is a proof of concept. Imbeleko’s approach produces talent like Stha who are globally competitive and reinvest their skills locally. With the right investment, we can replicate this pipeline at scale — developing hundreds of rural “Sthas” who will drive South Africa’s participation in the digital economy.