Making a Difference: Leanne Keet

Leanne Keet

It was my friend, Leanne Keet who got me thinking about the people who are out there getting on with making a difference. When she heard about my team-building day with the Delft Big Band she commented: "...there is no lack of opportunity in this country to make a difference. You just need to find the one that feeds your soul!" 

She should know, she is the founding director of Masikhule Childcare, an organisation which aims to provide practical and accessible training to unemployed women in aspects of early childhood development, with a view to finding employment.

So, what does she  do?

Concern for conditions in the creches and preschools in the townships and the lack of trained staff, led Leanne to start Masikhule Childcare. Its goal is to help ensure that underprivileged children living in the Helderberg and surrounding winelands regions of the Western Cape attend Early Childhood Development (ECD) facilities that provide a holistic child development and stimulation programme. ECD centres in the poorest communities are upgraded and mentored. Masikhule Childcare trains staff, volunteers and young mothers in the importance of early childhood development and stimulation. At the same time Masikhule Childcare is making a positive contribution to the eradication of poverty through its job creation and job placement programmes. 

The name Masikhule means ‘Let us Grow’ in isiXhosa. The first group of women who were trained pointed out that it was not only the children who would be growing and developing, but the women too. Recently, In honour of Women's Day on 9 August, Leanne was chosen as the winner of the PPS/Personal Finance Professional Woman of the Year (PWOTY) award, with the theme of the award being ‘Phakamisa’ meaning “to uplift” in Zulu. 

And, why does she do what she does?

"Because I can...I have the expertise and knowledge; there is a community who can benefit from this knowledge and as a South African I have an obligation to make a positive contribution. Everyone deserves the best start in life – and Masikhule Childcare is committed to providing just that to the most vulnerable of children."

Leanne's favourite quote, by Winston Churchill,  aptly sums up her approach:

"We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give."