Steven Fannie Mollo

Steven Fannie Mollo, 35, makes parents, schools and communities collaborate to support learning. As network mobiliser for the Parent Power initiative at the DG Murray Trust (DGMT), he leads a national network of 294 parent champions across 75 schools in nine prov- inces — designing workshops, building engagement frameworks, and facilitating dialogues. Through Izwi Lakho Connect, a co-creation platform, parents, teachers and community leaders come together to solve real chal- lenges — fostering shared ownership of learner success. A 2023 DGMT Innovation Fellow and YALI alumnus, Steven holds qualifications in public administration, learning facilita- tion and project management. He developed the 12-month Parent Champions Programme and the School-Parents Partnership Guide, which have reached 2 000 families — laying the groundwork for sustained collaboration in education. Steven volunteers with the Tshikazi Foundation, championing STEAM-based early learning and environmental literacy in underserved communities. Guided by lived experience and the power of mentorship, Steven shows that edu- cation is strongest when it begins with listening, and is sustained by collective action.

• Occupational Certificate: Learning and Development Practitioner (May 2024), Cape Peninsula University of Technology
• Higher Certificate in Public Administration and Management (March 2023 – June 2024), iQ Academy
• Advanced Certificate in Project Management (August 2018 – April 2019) – Skills Academy
• Completed Certificates: Project Management (2016) and Financial Management (2014 – 2016) – Oxbridge Academy – Apprentice Facilitator (Issued August 2024), Ashoka – Innovation in the Public Sector, Atingi.org

• Completed the Public Management track (Cohort 20) at the Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI) Regional Leadership Centre Southern Africa in 2018
• Selected for the DGMT Innovation Fellowship (2023)
• Led the development of the School–Parents Partnership Guide, a practical framework to build stronger collaboration between schools and parents to improve learner outcomes
• Spearheaded the Parent Champions programme, a 12-month initiative equipping teachers and community organisers to deepen understanding of and engagement with parents
• Founded Izwi Lakho Connect

• Adam Bredlow — former manager at Equal Education, who provided mentorship during a volunteer facilitator role in 2014. 
• The parents I worked with in Thembisa through Equal Education. Despite lacking formal education, many consistently participated with passion, honesty and a deep desire to support their children’s learning. One mother, who could neither read nor write, attended every meeting and actively asked how she could help her child succeed — a powerful example of commitment and love that left a lasting impression.