By Louise | Managing Director
It is with heavy hearts, paired with immense gratitude for a life extraordinarily lived, that we share news from the heart of Keep The Dream 196. Recently, our KTD196 family lost one of our brightest lights, strongest leaders, and most devoted advocates:Nkulu.
Nkulu’s journey with KTD196 is intertwined with the very history of our organization. Back in 2003, as a young girl alongside her sister, her mother Akela Zabe and her friends, Nkulu helped spark the scouting movement in Shiluvane. That small gathering grew exponentially, laying the groundwork for the official formation of Keep The Dream 196 in August 2007. In 2013, Nkulu returned to us as a qualified Social Worker, Project Manager, and champion of our Cubs division. Over the years, she spearheaded landmark initiatives, including our Child Protection efforts, the voice of the child within Scouts South Africa, and our transformative Self-Help Group Approach (SHGA).
Nkulu loved deeply, mentored deliberately, and carried wisdom far beyond her years. Her passion touched thousands of children, youth, and mothers across Limpopo.
Realizing a 6-Year Dream: The Launch of the Federation
On the very day Nkulu passed, her vision reached its ultimate culmination—a testament to her six years of unwavering dedication to structural community empowerment.
We are proud to formally announce the establishment of our Regional Federation, a People’s Institute owned and led by the women from the local communities we support. This milestone marks the highest level of the Self-Help Group Approach framework in our region:
Over 3,000 Women Impacted: Active participants across 160 Self-Help Groups in and around Greater Tzaneen.
7,000+ Children Supported: Strengthening household stability, education, and nutrition through mothers' micro-savings and small enterprise creation.
10 Cluster Level Associations (CLAs): Providing grassroots governance, mutual aid, and civic representation across rural villages.
The Regional Federation: Serving as an independent, self-governing institute devoted to driving long-term socio-economic development across Greater Tzaneen and expanding further into the Mopani District.
Carrying the Torch Forward
Nkulu witnessed her life’s dream become reality before taking her rest. The establishment of this Federation ensures that the community institutions she helped build are sustainable, resilient, and capable of lifting generations to come out of poverty.
As we look across our programs—from our youth standing proudly in their Scout uniforms to the thousands of women gathering weekly in their groups—we see Nkulu’s living legacy everywhere. What she planted in our team, our leaders, and our communities, we now run with.
Thank you to our GlobalGiving community for standing alongside us through seasons of growth, heartache, and triumph. Your continued support makes it possible for us to honor Nkulu’s vision, strengthen the new Federation, and keep dreaming big for the children and families of Limpopo.
With sincere gratitude,
Louise
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