The Old Mutual Foundation’s Kate Miszewski has left an indelible mark on the communities she has served. Starting her career as a qualified primary school teacher, Miszewski has taught and lectured in a number of countries around Africa — including South Africa, Botswana and Namibia — before entering the world of social investment.
Miszewski began her new career in the social investment field when she joined the DG Murray Trust, a private charitable organisation trust in Cape Town, where she continued to apply her knowledge from teaching, while she managed the education portfolio for three years.
In 1998 Miszewski joined one of the largest financial services institutions in South Africa, Old Mutual, where she worked as the manager of the Old Mutual Foundation. With a passion for making a difference in people’s lives, MiszewÂski has played a vital role in setting up corporate social investment campaigns in corporate South Africa, such as Redi, the Rural Economic Development Initiative.
The foundation’s focus echoes Mizsewski’s beliefs as a teacher, preferring to teach people skills and to work with those who wish to change their circumstances, rather than those who ask: “What are you going to give us?”
The foundation focuses on challenging communities to take charge of their lives rather than offering handouts. Through the work of the foundation, many people from rural communities earn a living and the transference of skills continues in the most rural areas.
Always eager to learn more so she can continue helping marginalised communities in South Africa, Miszewski was accepted on the Synergos Senior Fellows programme in New York from 2003 to 2005. The programme offered educational opportunities in the field of social development in developing countries. Synergos is an international organisation based in New York.
Singled out for her passion for making a difference in the lives of rural people in South Africa, Miszewski has earned the respect of many by demonstrating sustained growth and showing commitment to bettering the lives of people in communities, consequently giving birth and meaning to the term “community champions”.