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Our narrative as Africans is reshaped when we focus on our potential
Church in the Community - Media Release in the Herald: 14th April 2025
Source: TCN / Jackson Tshabalala
Date Added: 2025-04-14
Category: General News, TCN News, Issues - General,
Date Added: 2025-04-14
Category: General News, TCN News, Issues - General,
In 2019, my perspective on Africa changed fundamentally. My brother gave me the book Africa’s Business Revolution: How to Succeed in the World's Next Big Growth Market.
The phrase, "World's Next Big Growth Market," immediately captured me. I was intrigued - perhaps even shocked - to realise the world was now looking to Africa for opportunities and innovation.
This book presented stories of resilience, ingenuity, and entrepreneurial spirit thriving amidst the continent's familiar struggles. Until then, as an unemployed graduate operating a small business with limited prospects, my view of Africa was largely shaped by the narratives of poverty, unemployment, and corruption that dominate global discourse.
However, this book was filled with examples of African successes: the innovative digital payments system M-Pesa in Kenya, and the brewing giant SAB in South Africa, among many others.
It revealed a continent bursting with creativity and potential. More importantly, it shifted my mindset from seeing Africa through the lens of lack, to viewing it as a place rich with possibility and purpose.
Romans 12:2 states, "Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind."
To be transformed means to fundamentally change in character or condition.
For Africans, transformation involves renewing our minds, recognising and reclaiming our identity - not as perpetual recipients of aid, but as active contributors capable of offering meaningful solutions to global challenges.
As Christians with a renewed mind, we encourage others to walk by faith, not by sight.
Even in challenging circumstances, we recognise and highlight the hand of the Lord at work, bringing hope and purpose beyond visible difficulties.
Too often, the African identity is bound by narratives of dependency, crisis, and limitation.
Transformation occurs when we acknowledge our realities - poverty, corruption, unemployment - but choose to respond proactively, rather than accepting these conditions as permanent.
Across the continent, young Africans are rewriting their stories, responding to their communities' needs through innovative, impactful ventures.
They are no longer passive receivers of external help, but active initiators shaping their own destinies. These emerging leaders demonstrate that transformation begins at an individual level, influencing their immediate environment, inspiring their communities, and eventually altering broader societal perceptions.
In my role as the Global Engagement Manager at Leva Foundation, I've had the privilege of encountering inspiring young individuals driving social impact - ranging from professionals leading transformative initiatives within companies like Du Toit Agri, Capitec and AWS, to founders of impactful non-profit organisations dedicated to community development.
I've met people running organisations in the slums of Kenya, working tirelessly to nurture children’s education. These encounters reinforce the critical understanding that transforming Africa’s narrative begins fundamentally with transforming the lives of Africans themselves.
It is not merely about developing businesses, economies, or infrastructure.
True transformation begins at the personal level, one individual at a time. When we share these stories of personal transformation, we contribute powerfully towards a transformed Africa.
At Leva Foundation, our work revolves around empowering individuals to participate meaningfully in the economy. Beyond merely securing employment, our aim is to inspire a fundamental shift in mindset.
We believe true transformation involves recognising one's inherent value and potential to contribute positively to society. Ephesians 2:10 reinforces this idea: "For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do."
Through our flagship initiative, Tangible Africa, we offer unplugged gamified and accessible coding education to learners from diverse backgrounds. We have witnessed incredible transformations. Learners traditionally overlooked due to their non-academic profiles discover hidden talents, becoming confident problem-solvers.
This newfound confidence often transcends our programme, positively affecting their broader academic performance and self-image.
What began in Gqeberha has expanded globally, reaching Kenya, Uganda, Ireland, Germany, Sweden, South Korea, Indonesia, and the United States. Soon, we will launch in South America.
This international growth exemplifies Africa's evolving identity as an exporter of innovation and solutions, rather than merely a consumer.
The journey reminds me of the biblical story of the twelve spies in Numbers 13-14. While 10 spies saw insurmountable obstacles in the Promised Land, only Joshua and Caleb recognised its potential, believing God had already provided for them. Their transformed perspective empowered them to act boldly and with confidence.
Matthew 5:16 encourages us, "Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven."
Our narrative as Africans is reshaped when we focus on our potential rather than limitations, shining our light and revealing God's goodness through our actions.
The Church plays a vital role in this transformation, providing spiritual grounding, encouraging faith-driven action, and highlighting stories of hope and achievement.
Indeed, Jesus taught in Matthew 5:14-15, "You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead, they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house."
True wealth, as Proverbs 16:16 reminds us, is that it is "better to get wisdom than gold; to get insight rather than silver." Transformation is not simply about financial prosperity; it is about gaining wisdom, insight, and the capacity to positively impact our communities.
I challenge church leaders and congregations to actively seek and share stories of positive transformation happening in their own communities in Africa. Celebrate individuals and communities who are driving change, creating value, and inspiring hope. Let these stories permeate our communities, redefining how we see ourselves and our continent.
Let us pray for Africa - trusting God to heal divisions, remove doubts, and ignite hope. By doing so, we contribute collectively to transforming the African narrative into one defined by possibility, achievement, and global impact.
Jackson Tshabalala
Global Engagement Manager at the Leva Foundation.
The phrase, "World's Next Big Growth Market," immediately captured me. I was intrigued - perhaps even shocked - to realise the world was now looking to Africa for opportunities and innovation.
This book presented stories of resilience, ingenuity, and entrepreneurial spirit thriving amidst the continent's familiar struggles. Until then, as an unemployed graduate operating a small business with limited prospects, my view of Africa was largely shaped by the narratives of poverty, unemployment, and corruption that dominate global discourse.
However, this book was filled with examples of African successes: the innovative digital payments system M-Pesa in Kenya, and the brewing giant SAB in South Africa, among many others.
It revealed a continent bursting with creativity and potential. More importantly, it shifted my mindset from seeing Africa through the lens of lack, to viewing it as a place rich with possibility and purpose.
Romans 12:2 states, "Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind."
To be transformed means to fundamentally change in character or condition.
For Africans, transformation involves renewing our minds, recognising and reclaiming our identity - not as perpetual recipients of aid, but as active contributors capable of offering meaningful solutions to global challenges.
As Christians with a renewed mind, we encourage others to walk by faith, not by sight.
Even in challenging circumstances, we recognise and highlight the hand of the Lord at work, bringing hope and purpose beyond visible difficulties.
Too often, the African identity is bound by narratives of dependency, crisis, and limitation.
Transformation occurs when we acknowledge our realities - poverty, corruption, unemployment - but choose to respond proactively, rather than accepting these conditions as permanent.
Across the continent, young Africans are rewriting their stories, responding to their communities' needs through innovative, impactful ventures.
They are no longer passive receivers of external help, but active initiators shaping their own destinies. These emerging leaders demonstrate that transformation begins at an individual level, influencing their immediate environment, inspiring their communities, and eventually altering broader societal perceptions.
In my role as the Global Engagement Manager at Leva Foundation, I've had the privilege of encountering inspiring young individuals driving social impact - ranging from professionals leading transformative initiatives within companies like Du Toit Agri, Capitec and AWS, to founders of impactful non-profit organisations dedicated to community development.
I've met people running organisations in the slums of Kenya, working tirelessly to nurture children’s education. These encounters reinforce the critical understanding that transforming Africa’s narrative begins fundamentally with transforming the lives of Africans themselves.
It is not merely about developing businesses, economies, or infrastructure.
True transformation begins at the personal level, one individual at a time. When we share these stories of personal transformation, we contribute powerfully towards a transformed Africa.
At Leva Foundation, our work revolves around empowering individuals to participate meaningfully in the economy. Beyond merely securing employment, our aim is to inspire a fundamental shift in mindset.
We believe true transformation involves recognising one's inherent value and potential to contribute positively to society. Ephesians 2:10 reinforces this idea: "For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do."
Through our flagship initiative, Tangible Africa, we offer unplugged gamified and accessible coding education to learners from diverse backgrounds. We have witnessed incredible transformations. Learners traditionally overlooked due to their non-academic profiles discover hidden talents, becoming confident problem-solvers.
This newfound confidence often transcends our programme, positively affecting their broader academic performance and self-image.
What began in Gqeberha has expanded globally, reaching Kenya, Uganda, Ireland, Germany, Sweden, South Korea, Indonesia, and the United States. Soon, we will launch in South America.
This international growth exemplifies Africa's evolving identity as an exporter of innovation and solutions, rather than merely a consumer.
The journey reminds me of the biblical story of the twelve spies in Numbers 13-14. While 10 spies saw insurmountable obstacles in the Promised Land, only Joshua and Caleb recognised its potential, believing God had already provided for them. Their transformed perspective empowered them to act boldly and with confidence.
Matthew 5:16 encourages us, "Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven."
Our narrative as Africans is reshaped when we focus on our potential rather than limitations, shining our light and revealing God's goodness through our actions.
The Church plays a vital role in this transformation, providing spiritual grounding, encouraging faith-driven action, and highlighting stories of hope and achievement.
Indeed, Jesus taught in Matthew 5:14-15, "You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead, they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house."
True wealth, as Proverbs 16:16 reminds us, is that it is "better to get wisdom than gold; to get insight rather than silver." Transformation is not simply about financial prosperity; it is about gaining wisdom, insight, and the capacity to positively impact our communities.
I challenge church leaders and congregations to actively seek and share stories of positive transformation happening in their own communities in Africa. Celebrate individuals and communities who are driving change, creating value, and inspiring hope. Let these stories permeate our communities, redefining how we see ourselves and our continent.
Let us pray for Africa - trusting God to heal divisions, remove doubts, and ignite hope. By doing so, we contribute collectively to transforming the African narrative into one defined by possibility, achievement, and global impact.
Jackson Tshabalala
Global Engagement Manager at the Leva Foundation.
Source: TCN / Jackson Tshabalala
Date Added: 2025-04-14
Category: General News, TCN News, Issues - General,
Back to News IndexDate Added: 2025-04-14
Category: General News, TCN News, Issues - General,
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