Kinderfonds MAMAS hosted its biannual SHARE Conference, under the theme: SHARE For Impact, from 26 – 29 October, where 105 leaders from 33 grassroots organisations came together to share knowledge, challenge existing approaches and strengthen their collective impact on vulnerable children, youth and families across South Africa.
Across South Africa, grassroots organisations work every day to give vulnerable children a safer, healthier future where they can develop their full potential. The work is deeply rooted in the communities these organisations serve, but the challenges they face are multi dimensional and complex. No organisation can solve them alone.
Under the theme SHARE for Impact, the gathering created a space for meaningful collaboration, open dialogue and shared learning. It brought grassroots organisations together to strengthen relationships, challenge existing approaches, learn from evidence and explore new ways to deepen their impact on the lives of children and families.
The children behind the numbers
Powerful moments at the SHARE Conference came from the young beneficiaries of our partner NGO programmes.
Six teenagers from The Refugee Children’s Project (RCP), a young man from PUSH and a young professional from Kids Haven, for example, shared their personal stories with delegates. Their courage, determination and dreams brought our collective purpose of the gathering to life.
The power of belonging
Working at the heart of vulnerable communities requires extraordinary dedication. But it can also be lonely.
As Tarryn Lokotsch, one of the delegates and Director of GRIP, reflected:
“In our work we can feel so lonely. But in this room I feel so supported.”
Her words captured something essential about SHARE. Beyond the workshops and discussions, the gathering created a space where grassroots leaders could speak openly about their challenges, celebrate successes and discover that others face similar struggles.
The MAMAS Alliance network is a community built on trust, shared learning and mutual support.
As another delegate, Morongwa Magongoa, Chief Development Officer at Ndlovu expressed:
“Everyone in this room owns the MAMAS Alliance.”
Yumna Toefy, Country Director for Kinderfonds MAMAS South Africa, emphasised the importance of this collective approach:
“Every organisation in this Alliance brings its own experience, knowledge and understanding of the communities it serves. SHARE reminds us that none of us has all the answers. But by learning from one another, challenging ourselves and working together, we can achieve far more for the children and families who depend on us.”
The courage to learn and improve
A central theme throughout SHARE was the importance of understanding not only what organisations do, but what difference their work makes.
Sessions on research, monitoring and evaluation, including the use of Early Learning Outcomes Measure (ELOM) assessments, explored how evidence can help organisations better understand children’s development and better prepare them for grade school.
The message was clear: measuring impact is not simply about demonstrating success to funders. It is about learning.
It requires the courage to ask difficult questions, acknowledge when something is not working as expected and make changes based on what the evidence reveals.
By sharing both successes and setbacks, organisations can learn from one another and strengthen their approaches. Knowledge gained by one organisation can become valuable learning for many others.
Ultimately, the purpose of measuring impact is not to produce better reports, but to create better outcomes for children.
Stronger together, for every child
As the 105 participants returned to their communities, they took home more than new knowledge and practical ideas. They returned with renewed energy, stronger connections and the reassurance that they are not working alone.
SHARE for Impact reinforced a shared commitment across the MAMAS Alliance: to keep learning, to keep improving and to stand together for the children and young people who need them most.
Because when grassroots organisations become stronger, the opportunities for children become greater.
SHARE for Impact: Sharing knowledge. Strengthening organisations. Changing children’s futures.
