Welcome to Womandla Foundation
Empowering Women.
Building Futures. Inspiring Change.
Our Why
About Us
Womandla Foundation was founded to empower women and create profitable pathways into leadership, entrepreneurship, and STEAM industries.
South Africa faces persistent gender gaps, particularly in economic participation, education, and leadership. Womandla equips women and youth with resources, networks, and opportunities through mentorship, STEAM advocacy, and entrepreneurship development—enabling them to lead and transform their communities.
businesses supported
donated nationwide
for 21st-century skills
businesses supported
donated nationwide
for 21st-century skills
Key Pillars
Mentorship
Mentorship is central to Womandla Foundation. Our programs help young girls realize their potential by providing consistent guidance, role models, and structured personal development.
LEARN MORE
How we do it:
- Identify secondary school girls from underserved communities
- Enroll them in tailored mentoring programs
- Provide role models and workshops that inspire ambition and confidence
Impact:
- Learners develop life skills and leadership capabilities
- Increased retention and engagement in school and extra curricular programs
Entrepreneurship & Development (E&D)
Our E&D pillar drives economic empowerment by positioning entrepreneurship as a viable career path and a tool for community transformation.
LEARN MORE
Activities include:
- Early entrepreneurial engagement for young women and girls
- Platforms to learn from female leaders and industry experts
- Support for women-led businesses to grow, generate income, and create jobs
Impact:
- 120 plus women-led businesses supported to thrive
- Enhanced capacity for sustainable income generation
- 25 bursaries awarded for MANCOSA 21st century skills certificates
STEAM
The STEAM Committee inspires young women to pursue careers in Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Mathematics, and Innovation, addressing the barriers and stigmas of male-dominated industries.
LEARN MORE
Approach:
- Hands on STEAM workshops for underprivileged learners
- Career exposure and mentorship programs
- Advocating for female centric investment and inclusion
Impact:
- Increased STEAM literacy among girls in adopted schools
- Enhanced confidence to pursue STEAM careers
- Long term pipeline of female talent entering innovative industries
STEAM AWARDS
Recognizing the Women Rewriting What's Possible in Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts & Mathematics.
The Women in STEAM Awards is Womandla Foundation’s flagship annual celebration, a space dedicated to honoring women and girls across Africa who are breaking barriers, building futures, and redefining what leadership looks like in Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics.
Now in its sixth year, the Awards shine a light on the innovators working quietly in labs, on stages, in classrooms, and behind screens. Women whose contributions are reshaping industries, driving social change, and inspiring the next generation to dream wider.
From researchers and engineers to designers, artists, and tech entrepreneurs, this is their moment.
27th August 2026 · Avianto – Wedding, Conference & Event Venue, Johannesburg.
Our Partner Initiatives
Learn Support Grow (LSG) Podcast
The LSG Podcast celebrates women in STEAM, shares real-world strategies for entrepreneurial and professional success, and provides guidance on wellness and mental health.
LEARN MORE
Details:
- Produced by Womandla Foundation, powered by Tactile Technologies
- Eight episode series launched May 2024 (one episode per month)
- Available on Apple Podcasts and Spotify
Impact:
- Knowledge and inspiration shared with thousands of listeners nationwide
- Showcases actionable strategies for professional and entrepreneurial growth
STEAMI Camp
The annual STEAMI Camp engages Grades 10–11 learners from adopted schools in hands-on workshops, team-building exercises, and leadership development.
LEARN MORE
Journey:
- Learners selected and enrolled
- Participate in immersive STEAMI experiences over a weekend
- Explore strengths, discover new interests, and develop leadership skills
- Continue mentorship and engagement after the camp
Impact:
- Learners gain confidence and clarity about STEAMI career paths
- Enhanced peer networks and collaborative skills
- Strengthened motivation for academic and personal growth
Career Expo
Our Career Expo empowers high school learners (Grades 9–12) from Johannesburg, Cape Town, and Durban by providing exposure to diverse careers and post-school pathways.
LEARN MORE
Journey:
- Learners identified from adopted schools
- Attend interactive sessions with professionals and tertiary institutions
- Gain hands on guidance on career planning and skill development
- Build confidence and networks for long term success
Impact:
- Hundreds of learners exposed to STEM, entrepreneurship, and creative careers
- Learners leave with actionable next steps and motivation to pursue their goals
Dignity Drive
The Dignity Drive provides free sanitary products to women and girls in need, ensuring they can attend school and work with confidence and dignity.
LEARN MORE
Supported by:
- Primer Foods, Pick n Pay, Jockey, and Unilever
Impact:
- 10,000 plus sanitary products donated nationwide
- Initiative recognized globally on China Global TV
Wellness Workshops:
- Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights (SRHR), empowering young women with essential knowledge
- Well being Education, promoting holistic health, including physical, emotional, and mental wellness
Masterclasses
Our Capacity Building Masterclasses under the E&D pillar empower young women business owners with the skills and knowledge to grow sustainable businesses.
LEARN MORE
Activities:
- Skills workshops and mentorship for marketing, differentiation, and business strategy
- Partnership with MANCOSA to award bursaries for 21st century skills certificates
Impact:
- 120 plus women led businesses strengthened
- 25 bursaries awarded
- Participants equipped for economic independence and market competitiveness
Partner Impact
Our programs thrive through partnerships with corporates, institutions, and community organizations. Partners benefit from:
- Tangible social impact outcomes
- Visibility in national and international initiatives
- Access to curated programs supporting youth and women empowerment
- Womandla is a BBBEE Level 1 organization with PBO status and a preferred implementation partner for socio-economic development.
Partner Impact
Our programs thrive through partnerships with corporates, institutions, and community organizations. Partners benefit from:
- Tangible social impact outcomes
- Visibility in national and international initiatives
- Access to curated programs supporting youth and women empowerment
- Womandla is a BBBEE Level 1 organization with PBO status and a preferred implementation partner for socio-economic development.
Reskilling Revolution Africa Program
Womandla Foundation, in partnership with IAVE and IBM SkillsBuild, is launching a one-year pilot to recruit and support 10,100 NEET youth, ensuring at least 60% female participation. It is intended that the 1-year pilot in 2026 will expand in subsequent years based on the learning in the field.
The program combines grassroots outreach with online learning via the IBM SkillsBuild platform, offering industry-relevant credentials across STEM, innovation, creative industries, vocational trades, and the gig economy.
Womandla complements these courses with mentoring, peer learning groups, and gamified incentives.
Leadership Team
Sam Gqomo is a multi-award-winning communications executive and social impact leader with over a decade of experience building high-impact communication strategies across global NGOs, private sector partners, donors, and socially responsible businesses.
Currently serving as Director at WGN Africa and Founder of the Womandla Foundation, I lead integrated communications, advocacy, brand positioning, stakeholder engagement, and media strategies that advance gender equity, sustainability, and economic inclusion.
Sam Gqomo
Founding Director
Zulaka Khan is the founder of the Verulam Dialysis Centre. She studied towards a B.Tech in Clinical Technology, specialising in Nephrology and graduated cum laude from the Durban University of Technology. Mrs Zulaka Khan began her journey, driven by a passion to really make a difference to the KwaZulu-Natal community of South Africa. The passion she possessed turned into her livelihood. She provides education about prevention and management of this deadly disease to young and old in her yearly plan, at schools, community centers, and at her clinic, at no cost. She believes in leading a healthy lifestyle and encourages all people to do the same. Her faith in her passion has transformed her practice (Verulam Dialysis Centre) into a caring facility driven by passion to make a remarkable difference. The centre is the first and leading dialysis clinic situated in Verulam on the North Coast of Kwazulu Natal. Zulaka Khan, who was awarded the Minara Chamber of Commerce Business Entrepreneur of the Year 2017 as well as the 2018 Business Women of the Year Award for the Business Women's Association of South Africa, was also awarded in 2018 the Business Woman of the Year finalist for the Minara Chamber of Commerce Awards. She brings years of experience, having worked at a number of Dialysis practices in Kwa-Zulu Natal.
Zulaka Khan
STEAM Lead – KZN & Mentor
A public health and social development professional with 28 years of experience across civil society and development programs. Her work is grounded in both theory and practice, enabling her to design and innovate programs that drive meaningful social change while upholding ethical mandates and accountability. Deeply committed to social justice, she recognizes inequality as structural and intersectional and intentionally centers the lived experiences of individuals and communities in her approach.
She is known for listening intently, reflecting thoughtfully, and working with rigor, guided by logic, integrity, attention to detail, and a strong ethic of achievement. These principles underpin her engagements with clients, colleagues, and peers.
Khadija Richards
Sam Gqomo is a multi-award-winning communications executive and social impact leader with over a decade of experience building high-impact communication strategies across global NGOs, private sector partners, donors, and socially responsible businesses.
Currently serving as Director at WGN Africa and Founder of the Womandla Foundation, I lead integrated communications, advocacy, brand positioning, stakeholder engagement, and media strategies that advance gender equity, sustainability, and economic inclusion.
Sam Gqomo
Founding Director
Zulaka Khan is the founder of the Verulam Dialysis Centre. She studied towards a B.Tech in Clinical Technology, specialising in Nephrology and graduated cum laude from the Durban University of Technology. Mrs Zulaka Khan began her journey, driven by a passion to really make a difference to the KwaZulu-Natal community of South Africa. The passion she possessed turned into her livelihood. She provides education about prevention and management of this deadly disease to young and old in her yearly plan, at schools, community centers, and at her clinic, at no cost. She believes in leading a healthy lifestyle and encourages all people to do the same. Her faith in her passion has transformed her practice (Verulam Dialysis Centre) into a caring facility driven by passion to make a remarkable difference. The centre is the first and leading dialysis clinic situated in Verulam on the North Coast of Kwazulu Natal. Zulaka Khan, who was awarded the Minara Chamber of Commerce Business Entrepreneur of the Year 2017 as well as the 2018 Business Women of the Year Award for the Business Women's Association of South Africa, was also awarded in 2018 the Business Woman of the Year finalist for the Minara Chamber of Commerce Awards. She brings years of experience, having worked at a number of Dialysis practices in Kwa-Zulu Natal.
Zulaka Khan
STEAM Lead – KZN & Mentor
A public health and social development professional with 28 years of experience across civil society and development programs. Her work is grounded in both theory and practice, enabling her to design and innovate programs that drive meaningful social change while upholding ethical mandates and accountability. Deeply committed to social justice, she recognizes inequality as structural and intersectional and intentionally centers the lived experiences of individuals and communities in her approach.
She is known for listening intently, reflecting thoughtfully, and working with rigor, guided by logic, integrity, attention to detail, and a strong ethic of achievement. These principles underpin her engagements with clients, colleagues, and peers.
Khadija Richards
A versatile brand and marketing professional with over 13 years of experience crafting compelling narratives and delivering integrated communications strategies across diverse industries. Driven by a passion for creating memorable guest and brand experiences, I bring a keen eye for detail and a strategic approach to coordinating communications that resonate across both digital and traditional media landscapes.
Amandla Kwinana
Head of Strategy & Comms
Dr. Samukelisiwe Sindisiwe Nyamathe is a medical doctor and public health professional whose work spans clinical medicine, health systems strengthening, and multidisciplinary research. She completed her MBChB at the University of Cape Town, followed by postgraduate training and master’s degrees in Public Health (UCT) and Child Health (Wits). Her research and practice are unified by a commitment to advancing equitable healthcare for children, families, and communities affected by HIV, TB, trauma, and broader social determinants of health.
Dr. Samke Nyamathe
CPT Mentorship Lead
A seasoned business and transformation professional with over 15 years of experience driving strategic initiatives within the ICT and Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) space. She brings deep expertise in project management, business analytics, and strategic delivery. As Project Manager for the Cape Town Mentorship Programme at Womandla Foundation, Rorie plays a key role in driving impactful initiatives, strengthening systems, and equipping emerging leaders to create sustainable pathways for growth and social impact within communities.
Rori Sibisi
Head of Programmes
A versatile brand and marketing professional with over 13 years of experience crafting compelling narratives and delivering integrated communications strategies across diverse industries. Driven by a passion for creating memorable guest and brand experiences, I bring a keen eye for detail and a strategic approach to coordinating communications that resonate across both digital and traditional media landscapes.
Amandla Kwinana
Head of Strategy & Comms
Dr. Samukelisiwe Sindisiwe Nyamathe is a medical doctor and public health professional whose work spans clinical medicine, health systems strengthening, and multidisciplinary research. She completed her MBChB at the University of Cape Town, followed by postgraduate training and master’s degrees in Public Health (UCT) and Child Health (Wits). Her research and practice are unified by a commitment to advancing equitable healthcare for children, families, and communities affected by HIV, TB, trauma, and broader social determinants of health.
Dr. Samke Nyamathe
CPT Mentorship Lead
A seasoned business and transformation professional with over 15 years of experience driving strategic initiatives within the ICT and Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) space. She brings deep expertise in project management, business analytics, and strategic delivery. As Project Manager for the Cape Town Mentorship Programme at Womandla Foundation, Rorie plays a key role in driving impactful initiatives, strengthening systems, and equipping emerging leaders to create sustainable pathways for growth and social impact within communities.
Rori Sibisi
Head of Programmes
Get Involved
Join Womandla Foundation in transforming women’s lives in South Africa. Opportunities include:
Mentorship
Empowering young girls through
consistent guidance, role models, and
personal development.
Sponsorship & funding
Support our programs through financial contributions or corporate sponsorships.
Volunteer programs
Lend your time and skills to make
a difference.
Partnerships for program expansion
Collaborate with us to grow our reach and impact.
Contact Us
We’d love to hear from you!
Contact Us
We’d love to hear from you!
Partners & Sponsors
