Samkele Xaba Gives Back to the Foundation That Shaped Her
Good Things Guy | 03.03.2026 13:30
From volunteering after graduation to leading programmes, Samkele now ensures young learners have the same opportunities she once received.
South Africa (03 March 2026) – As the world marked World NGO Day on 27 February, attention turned to the organisations and people working behind the scenes to make a real difference. Among them is Samkele Xaba, whose journey from scholarship recipient to Head of Development at the Imbeleko, Dr Seni Myeni Foundation, is nothing short of inspiring.
Growing up, Samkele lived with her grandmother while her mother worked far from home, and she and her twin sister helped care for their younger brothers.
“The life that I knew was just being home and taking care of my siblings. And school was my only escape from my reality.”
Everything changed towards the end of Grade 9 when Imbeleko visited her school to award boarding school scholarships to top-performing learners. Both Samkele and her twin sister, in separate classes, were selected and opened the door to a world she had never imagined.
“I got exposed to live with different people who came from different backgrounds and environments.”
That exposure fuelled her curiosity and ambition, leading her to a BCom in Finance and Economics at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, followed by an Honours degree in Finance. But after graduation, she faced the familiar struggle of finding employment and carving out her professional path.
She returned to Imbeleko as a volunteer, initially planning to stay only a few months.
“At first, it was supposed to be a very short-lived experience because I saw myself being employed at one of the banks. However, it was really fulfilling to be back at the community that has once helped me. Being on the other end now, serving the learners and the community.”
From volunteering, Samkele joined the organisation formally through a year-long internship under the Youth Employment Service (YES) programme. She then became programme coordinator, overseeing after-school programmes as Imbeleko expanded across KwaZulu-Natal. Three years later, she was promoted to Head of Development.
Today, she works alongside the foundation’s CEO to design community programmes, craft funding proposals, engage potential funders, manage reporting processes, and run the organisation’s social media to share stories of impact.
She is also candid about her professional growth along the way.
“If I were to do this interview in 2021, I wouldn’t have been able to even speak the way it is. Being in the professional space, having meetings with funders. I really think it’s one step at a time. You get to learn yourself along the way.”
