Our stories

Fathers Connect NPO: Stronger Families through Book-Sharing In South Africa, fatherhood is a complex and evolving journey. Many men face significant barriers to being actively involved in their children's lives, whether due to societal expectations, economic challenges, or strained relationships. Fathers Connect, established by Themba Baleni, was born out of a deeply personal journey—one of loss, resilience, and a determination to rewrite the fatherhood narrative for future generations. Through its partnership with Mikhulu Trust, Fathers Connect has incorporated book-sharing as a powerful tool to strengthen father-child relationships, fostering connection, communication, and emotional engagement. The Birth of Fathers [...]

Meet illustrator, Moloko Mabotja, the personality behind Reap What You Sow, one of the latest additions to Mikhulu’s wordless picture book series. This beautifully illustrated book encourages counting, sparks curiosity about fruit and vegetables, and fosters meaningful discussions about emotions, making it a powerful tool for book-sharing with young children. A Childhood Shaped by Art and Challenge Growing up in Germiston, South Africa, Moloko’s path to becoming an illustrator was shaped by personal struggles, resilience, and a deep understanding of the power of visual storytelling. Starting his early years with his grandmother, Moloko was later raised by both [...]

Illustration has the power to transport us into different worlds, and for Princess Kabeya, a talented motion graphic designer and illustrator, it’s an opportunity to create meaningful connections. Princess was recently commissioned to illustrate one of Mikhulu Trust’s newest wordless picture books, A Walk in the Park. Spotted through her work with Book Dash, she brings a dynamic and adaptable artistic style that perfectly captures the expressive storytelling needed for a book without words. A Journey into Art and Illustration Princess’s love for art began at an early age. “I’ve been drawing since I was a child,” she [...]

State of South African Fathers Report 2024 The "SOSAF" report, officially titled "The State of South Africa's Fathers," is a data-driven exploration of fatherhood in South Africa, released annually by Sonke Gender Justice, Equimundo, and other partners, examining the evolving realities of fatherhood and the challenges faced by fathers. The State of South Africa’s Fathers 2024 report provides a comprehensive look at the evolving role of fatherhood in South Africa, challenging traditional narratives, such as the “absent father”, and advocating for a broader, more inclusive understanding of father involvement. Mikhulu's Contribution Mikhulu Trust is thrilled to announce [...]

In June 2023, the Mikhulu Trust partnered with the Centre for Universal Education (CUE) at the Brookings Institution, a prestigious think tank based in Washington, D.C., to embark on groundbreaking research. This collaboration seeks to tackle global education challenges and drive innovative approaches to improving quality education and skills development. Understanding Parent and Teacher Perspectives Globally, surveys have been conducted in high schools and primary schools using "Conversation Starter Tools", which explore parent and teacher beliefs about education. These tools help families and schools align on a shared understanding of quality education by addressing [...]

At GCU, an organisation with literacy and sports departments, the power of book-sharing is set to make a meaningful impact in their literacy work. Having completed book-sharing training in October, the team is eager to begin implementing the programme in January 2025 and expand its horizons with book-sharing. While waiting for final logistics—such as the payment for books to be processed—the team reflects on their training experience and the exciting road ahead. A Unique Addition to Literacy Efforts Within GCU’s literacy division, the team already runs programs like Wordworks, which focuses on helping learners construct sentences, understand prefixes and suffixes, [...]

“My 3-year-old daughter is so clever! Just the other day, while we were looking at pictures in a book, she pointed to a dress and said, “This dress is like my mother’s dress.” I was so proud—she was making connections, linking things together. It amazed me to see her thinking that way.” Building Bonds Siya tells us, “Our connection is strong, and I think that bond is partly because I make an effort to understand and support her,” He goes on to say: “Growing up in the Eastern Cape was different from life now. Back then, discipline meant [...]

Nasiphi first learned about Mikhulu Trust from her Bishop at Lake Tiberias Church in Harare, Khayelitsha, who informed her about the book-sharing programme and invited her to join. Eager to explore this new way of connecting with children through stories, she began attending sessions on Saturdays. Initially, Nasiphi viewed a book-sharing journey simply as “sharing a book with a child,” but she quickly realised that it encompassed much more than she had anticipated. Learning Through a Book-Sharing Journey with Yamihle She started her book-sharing journey with her cousin’s daughter, Yamihle, who is three years old. Although they do [...]

Illiteracy in adults is more than just an inability to read or write; it’s a barrier that limits opportunities, diminishes self-esteem, and isolates individuals from the world around them. In South Africa, nearly 4 million adults still cannot read—a staggering number that highlights the deep-seated challenges many face. For parents, illiteracy can be particularly devastating, as it affects their ability to fully engage in their children's education and development. Simple tasks like reading a bedtime story, helping with homework, or understanding school communications become daunting obstacles. This lack of involvement can hinder a child’s early learning experiences and contribute to [...]