Musa Qudalele The Founder of Skanai Foundation ~Serving the Community

 A young man driven by passion to serve those in need.

Be the change you want to see

Musa is a young man (23) years of age who hails from a small village near Suncity called Ledig just outside of Rustenburg. He was born in Soweto in Meadowlands but grew up in Ledig. 

Musa had a very decent upbringing with its own ups and downs under the care of his parents, which he relates how well they both took care of him and his wellbeing throughout his childhood. He attended Thanya Primary School and later went to Meridian College where he completed his grade 12. It was not easy like most black families for his parents to afford for his high school fees at such a prestigious school as Meridian nonetheless he managed to complete his grade 12 on record time.

He furthered his studies at the University of Johannesburg (UJ) unfortunately he was there for just six months before he dropped out. He further relates his story that he felt out of place but more importantly he was not able to acquire any bursary to assist in his tuition fees, which his parents could not afford. 

Many young people in South Africa go through the hard struggles of dropping out due to lack of finances, we have seen many reports on the “fees must fall” protests where young people were and still fighting for a free and fair education. Musa began his journey of job hunting soon after he dropped out of University. 

During this season it is when Musa began, his foundation called SKANAI. 

He didn’t have a mentor but used other informative materials such as books to help him do his research and to build and grow his knowledge in terms of what he was currently doing. He followed many prominent people who were aligned with his vision on social media. 

This was a great tool for him to grow and to showcase his foundation and what it was about.  He has since used his social media platforms to assist others and show support which subsequently gained him the tremendous support he has now for his foundation.

One may ask what does Skanai mean? Skanai means “Bari” as strange as it may sound, the word has always been associated with a negative connotation but Musa thought, why not bring some positive energy to it. 

“Sometimes we call people di bari for being themselves and that word alone can lead someone to being something that they’re not. So as Skanai Foundation we are promoting people to being who they are regardless of what they might be called or labelled by society”

Skanai Foundation is a non-profit community-based service organisation, that assists schools in surrounding neighbourhoods with school shoes, for children and also donating reading books since there is no library in Ledig. In the past 4 years of the existence of Skanai Foundation Musa has indeed accomplished a lot. The Foundation has donated 300 reading books to primary schools in Ledig and one High School under their campaign called 67 Books. The foundation has also donated over 110 pairs of school shoes under their campaign called “Walk in comfort”. 

The foundation has partnered with different organizations and individuals who have the same passion of community building.  As we’re approaching the winter season Skanai Foundation is currently collecting winter clothes for their winter clothes drive. 

Musa further mentioned that their main goal for their future plans is to open a library in Ledig and to establish a sustainable model of studying for under privileged students and to offer them free Wi-Fi as the world moves into a more digital based way of living.

Musa strongly believes and aligns with social entrepreneurship, his bigger goal in life is to have people especially in his own community, to be able to have something that they fully own and that brings sustainable income.

 

“I believe that donations are only but a way of assisting the ones in need for that particular moment, so I want to empower those that are powerless”

Thomas Sankara once said; 

“He who feeds you, controls you” and “I must agree with him because it has proven to be true considering the system that governs us” Musa said, he wants to give people that sense of control over their own lives which is why he is working on bringing back the Tuck-Shop business in his own community. 

Musa was on national TV not long on the famous Morning Show on ETv. This was by far his greatest highlight in his life. He relates this moment and says, he was nervous and might have left out a few things due to the nerves but nonetheless he made his mark. The interview served its purpose by putting the Foundation on the national map, even in his own community there were still people who didn’t know about the organisation. The interview exposed the Foundation to more people who are in need of their services and to sponsors who pledged to assist the Foundation with funds.

Musa works with Samuel Mdarwin who assists in the day to day running of the Foundation. When it comes to funding the Foundation solely relies on individual donations, the Foundation doesn’t have a sponsor as yet of which this would be of great assistance. 

As part of the Foundation Musa also mentioned another division which is called The Skanai Brothers (TSB). The aim of this campaign is to create a brother hood bond with the boy child. 

The division is still at its beginning and Musa and his team are looking into bringing in professionals that will help them in building the boy child into being respectable and successful men in society.  

We are currently fighting GBV which is not something that started overnight but has gradually grown as another pandemic in our Country. 

Growing a boy child in the right teachings and instilling a good moral compass will have a positive impact on the kind of men we will have in the future, hence this initiative will really be beneficial in the greater society. 

“I know we can’t replace absent fathers but we can at least provide a brother hood and a sense of belonging for the boy child” 

Musa further stated the aim is to instil positive teachings at an early age and to assist them also in placing them in workspaces of their own choice with proper guidance.

“I believe what holds me down is my faith” Musa believes in God and his ancestors he believes that what he is currently doing and pursuing in his life is what he was called to do. 

This is what gives him more motivation and strength to keep going. He mentions that he listens to a lot of motivational speakers who assist him in building his own morale, the likes of Inky Johnson, Eric Thomas and Lisa Nicole to mention a few. He also reads books that are aligned with his passion from Mark Manson which also keeps him informed with the necessary knowledge.

Musa shared his last words of encouragement to our readers. 

“To the readers and fellow young people of our country, you are important you are a piece in the puzzle of Gods bigger picture. Play your part leave a mark with your God given talent, your skill or anything you are good at. Let the world know you were here long after your demise”

For more on what Musa is doing you can follow him on Facebook. If you have any means of assistance whether is donating clothes or nonperishable food or any kind of help you can also reach out to him on his Social media platforms. The Foundation needs all the help it can get in order to be able to reach out to those who are less fortunate.

Skanai Foundation Facebook page

Musa Facebook