Boitumelo Monale’s Journey of Accomplishment

Nehemiah is one man in the Bible who has a story that most of us can relate to. He undertook a journey to rebuild the wall of Jerusalem and to remove impurities from the Jewish community.  His aim and vision was to reestablish, restore and bring people back to God. The people of Jerusalem didn’t want the Jews to build the city again but God helped them to. Every successful story has a journey that contains obstacles. It is how you overcome those obstacles that determine your leadership as a person. 

Boitumelo Monale compares her journey with Bosasa to Nehemiah’s story.  She started as a social worker and is now an Acting Programme Manager. There are several moments that took place in Bosasa that make Boitumelo the woman she is today. In spite of obstacles she contended with when helping children, she managed to overcome them. “Working with children requires passion and commitment,” she says.

Boitumelo completed her degree in Social Work and did a lot of voluntary work for various NGOs.  She got a part-time job in Bosasa and her contract came to an end. She then got an opportunity to work in America for three months at St Christopher’s Non Detention Centre. Boitumelo came back to South Africa and got a permanent job in Bosasa as a Social Worker.  Flourishing with Bosasa for ten years from a junior social worker to an Acting Programme Manager has made Boitumelo a leaving testimony of the company’s culture of successfully developing people.  

Nehemiah was influenced by God to transform Jerusalem.  God cannot be compared to anyone or anything. However, Gavin Watson is a big influence when it comes to her life. His teachings reach far but the message is well received. “If you don’t know Gavin Watson’s vision then you don’t know where Bosasa is going,” she says. She received a lot of training from the company. One of her highlights is when she was a top five student at Watson Institute of Business Leadership.

Boitumelo’s duty on her journey with Bosasa is to restore the kids who are in conflict with the law back to their communities.  They come to the youth centres as children who are very vulnerable with a lot of negative influences. She guides them to look at life in a positive way.  She says: “Making a difference in a child’s life is like changing the whole community."

Any woman who is motivated, motivates others to say, “I want to be like her”.  Boitumelo Monale believes in a quote that says: “Leaders must be close enough to relate to others, but far enough ahead to motivate them.” She has been mentored by Thandi Makoko, Jackie Leyds, Lydia Montjane and Yvonne Spandiel. She regards them as capable women who are always there to give a helping hand.