Itumeleng Moeti

Category
Civil Society

Age
34

Organisation / Company
1. The Credia Communication Firm 2. Mageza Heritage Foundation 3. WinRainbow Lions
Website

Profile

Itumeleng Moeti, 34, is a founding member of Winrainbow Lions NPO, a non-profit organisation dedicated to addressing the socio-economic challenges in Polokwane. This community faces numerous challenges, including poverty, substance abuse and lack of infrastructure. Itumeleng and other active young citizens established the Westernburg Community Hub to create economic value with societal benefits. The initiative encompasses various touchpoints, including food security, education, enterprise development, skills training and community engagement. Her passion for making an impact in her community and country has led her to serve on various NPO boards and pursue accreditation as a social entrepreneur through the GIBS Social Entrepreneurship Programme. With experience in PR, marketing, raising sponsorships/funds, dissemination of knowledge and innovative means of communication, including radio, print and social media, Itumeleng engages in local and national forums where members can exchange ideas, be informed about topical issues and create business opportunities. She plays an active role in publicising the barriers to success that may still exist as well as the opportunities available to women in South Africa. Through strategic partnerships with sponsors, other non-profit organisations, leading companies, and business schools, Itumeleng participates in ongoing events and opportunities to address the needs and challenges of people living in disadvantaged communities.

List your educational background - qualifications and institutions?

• In the process of completing marketing management qualification at IMM Graduate School of Marketing. 
• In the process of completing the Social Entrepreneurship Programme at GIBS (Gordon Institute of Business Science – University of Pretoria)

Any awards or achievements in your field?

• SRC treasurer at Tshwane North College. 
• 2016 Polokwane President of Junior Chamber International. 
• 2020 elected to serve as the youngest EXCO member of the Businesswomen’s Association of South Africa (Limpopo Branch)
• JCI Limpopo Branch coordinator
• The Businesswomen’s Association coordinator

One childhood memory that has spurred you to such levels of achievement?

My passion for community development was influenced by my aunt who brought me up. She is a philanthropist at heart and has a deep passion to make a positive impact in people’s lives. Being brought up by her and being exposed to how she was always helping indigent members in rural villages, had a subconscious impact on me to have a natural flair and deep desire to make a positive contribution to society in my own way.

Advice to your younger self?

To grow a thick skin and not be afraid to voice my opinion early on in life.

What would you like South Africa to look like in five years?

I would like to see a South Africa with a multidisciplinary change. To be technologically advanced, especially in sectors like higher education, retail, and public transport. To have more young people in business with access to the market and empowered to be financially liberated.

The stability and participation of the youth business community lead to the creation of jobs and the revitalisation of our local economy. It is therefore important to develop our local businesses run by young people and to assist them to build capacity to implement projects of varying scales through training  and enterprise development.