- Foreword
- Chapter 1 – Jill Sachs Smith
- Chapter 2 – Khwezi Mkhathini
- Chapter 3 – Kumarie Mohan
- Chapter 4 – Carry Paterson
- Chapter 6 – Sue Bonney
- Chapter 7 – Phindile Khumalo
- Chapter 8 – Grace Khanyile
Jabu has a long history with Jill Sachs-Smith, and theirs has become a deeply engaged sisterhood since Jabu first met Jill in 1997, but her life began in very different circumstances to those she has today. Part of a family of 8 living in one room in in Clermont township, Jabu was privileged to have a strong mother, who, albeit herself only educated to grade 3, insisted that her children should all attend school and not be trapped in the endless ‘childminding’ allotted to other children in the area. While the schools were not ideal, and Jabu remembers there could be up to 100 children in a classroom, she believes her background motivates her and deepens her own understanding of life: “If I can do it coming from that background, so can others!”
Jabu is a woman of strong faith that supports her everyday life. She has two significant objects that underpin her outlook: a triangular stone and a snail’s shell. First, the triangular stone signifies support from two sides to each of the three points, with support from others keeping the individual grounded. On the other hand, the shell offers retreat and protection. As a snail leaves a translucent trail, so Jabu hopes to leave a mark on the lives of the people with whom she interacts while at the same time having a protective shell to retreat to when feeling vulnerable.
Currently, Jabu is an essential part of the CEI Central office team at Manna House, located on Durban’s Berea, where she has a deep understanding of the organisation’s goals in uplifting people by training them to be successful ECD teachers and businesspeople in their own right. To fully develop her understanding of the course offered to students by CEI, Jabu undertook to study for three years and complete the national diploma and acquired unique insight from a student’s perspective.
In 1997, Jabu had left her job at the bank to find new avenues in life, and a mutual friend connected her with Jill, who, at the time, was working at the Head Office for the Department of Education, setting up the structures and systems for phase-in Grade R and needed help typing the endless documents. This connection was to be serendipitous for both women. While Jabu knew nothing of ECD at the time, their working relationship and friendship evolved, and she became the technical support for the KZN provincial branch of the DoE where her love for working with people was cemented.
In 2004, Jabu left the DoE to join the Caversham Centre for Artists and Writers (CCAW) team, run by Malcolm and Ros Christian. These were special times for Jabu as she worked with women from rural areas who had little education but were passionate about their activities, especially those involving the outreach programmes in Mpophomeni and the Masabelaneni (let us share) Centre located at CCAW. Released from the structures of the DoE, Jabu was able to tap into her love of working with people. In 2013, Jabu once again joined Jill in the workplace, this time as part of the CEI team based at Fulham Bakery in Durban’s Glenwood. Her job description was a work in progress, evolving organically in the overall Caversham tradition.
Over the years, and embodying her significant objects, Jabu has been and continues to be both a rock and a refuge for others, “hoping and trusting I have influenced someone in a positive way.” In doing this, Jabu believes that both the Caversham family and her Christian family have been enormously impactful in her life.
Apart from the contribution Jabu has made to others, she participated in the development of the Hourglass Process while she was working at the CCAW. This process informs the work done by CEI where reflective conversations move on to become dialogic discussions that add value to individuals and groups by leading to creative action/CreActiontm.
Along the way, Jabu has interacted with many people who have inspired and encouraged her as she worked in different communities. She believes we should all be lifelong learners, benefiting from the diversity that surrounds us. Among those who have influenced and inspired her are Jill, Malcolm and Ros, and the late artist and programme administrator, Gabi Nkosi, with whom Jabu worked at the CCAW.
Jabu looks to the future which she believes is ‘blindingly bright’ for CEI and all involved with it, as it is based on Jill’s original God-given vision in 2003.
Jill: “I am so grateful to God for placing Jabu in my path and for her constant support and loyalty throughout this journey.”