Previous church job inspires Asanda Noruka to start NPO for struggling Mdantsane youth

Starting out as a church cleaner changed Asanda Noruka’s life when she was asked by a pastor from Abbotsford Christian Centre to teach children at an orphanage to sing praise and worship songs.

Her involvement at the orphanage fueled her dream to start an NPO, Ntinganathi, in 2007, which focuses on empowering vulnerable youth to help unlock their full potential.

The 40-year-old Mdantsane-born Noruka has always been passionate about development.

She holds a masters of social sciences in rural development, for which her dissertation was an appraisal of the role of national rural youth service corps in youth development in peri-urban Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality.

“While I was at the orphanage, I fostered four children; they stayed with me until they were adults.

“It was three boys and one girl. They are now adults and are working, one is a teacher and the other is a lecturer,” Noruka said.

She said her passion to help young people develop to their full potential had pushed her to start her NPO.

“The organisation focuses on children at NU1 Mdantsane.

“I started the organisation when there was an issue in the community of a girl who was accused of stabbing other children.

“I followed up on the story, because I felt there is more going on in that girl’s life that has made her become the person she was. 

“After talking to her, I later found out that she was sexually abused when she was young.”

Noruka said the girl became comfortable talking to her, and let her peers know about Noruka’s initiative, which led to the establishment of Ntinganathi.

“There are 36 children and youths ranging from the age of 12 to 22 years. 

“Though I have been doing this project in my community for more than a decade, I only registered it last year.

“Ntingathi is about reigniting the dreams of young people.

“I mentor them in choosing the right path in life.

“I have organised stationery, school uniforms and toiletries and there is local doctor who has offered her services for free for those who are in need of her services.”

She said some of the youth suffered from serious mental health problems.

“There are times I do not know how to deal with their mental health problems, as some of them inflict pain on themselves by slitting their wrists.

“I made it my commitment to myself by doing a course where it taught how to deal with these matters.”

Noruka said not all the youngsters came from disadvantaged backgrounds, but her aim was to make them realise there was life beyond the township.

One of the big challenges she faces is a lack of resources to properly take care of all the youngsters.

“I am unemployed, so I get resources from individuals who donate essentials that are needed by the children.

“I wish I could help them all because they all have different struggles in their lives, as some tell me they do not have food at their homes.

“I rely on donations from people in changing the lives of these children.”

The organisation accommodates the youth at the Mdanstane Christian Centre.

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