Many things to many people, but helping women is her passion

ELIZABETH Saba Ngcobo is dedicated to making a difference in the lives of girls.

She has taken the veil, and is known (and loved) as Sister Saba.

Those who admire her said her daily schedule is hectic, with people turning to her for assistance, from dealing with snakebites to counselling those in distress.

Sister Saba is the deputy principal at Eqinisweni Primary School, in Amatikwe, Inanda, where she helps mould the lives of her learners. But it is perhaps her work with the Mentoring and Empowerment Programme for Young Women (Memprow) which defines her.

That said, Sister Saba does not confine her love and talents just to girls. “I love working with the youth, boys and girls, more especially at this age and time, due to their vulnerability,” she said.

Memprow International was founded in 2008 by Ugandan gender and social development specialist Dr Hilda Tadria, who felt it was crucial to address the pervasive devaluation of girls and young women. Sister Saba is dedicated to helping girls and young women. Some of the mentors participate in an exercise and write their thoughts on how they can make a difference.

The organisation has since found root in Botswana, Zambia, Zimbabwe and South Africa – as a result of Naledi Makasi’s meeting with Tadria in Zambia, which led to her desire to set up a South African chapter.

This happened in October 2014. Shortly thereafter the local organisation received a start-up grant from UN Women (a global champion for gender equality) for a year.

Telling us about her own background, Sister Saba said she was born and grew up in Kwaswayimane, Mbava, where she matriculated at Masijabule High School.

“I joined the Daughters of Charity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus (a congregation started in France in 1823), making my first vows in December 1989.”

She worked with young people and also did hospital ministry at Edendale Hospital.

In 2000 she qualified with a bachelor degree and honours in education. Rather than join a “fancy school” as a teacher, she chose to teach at a farm school – Sibongumbovu Combined School, at Cedara in the Midlands of KZN.

In 2005 she moved to Eqinisweni, where she is still based.

“I am finishing my master’s in philosophy of education at St Augustine College of South Africa (Catholic University of South Africa),” she said. “My topic is Exploring Sexuality Education in Primary Schools in South Africa: A Gender Perspective.”

It was through her co-supervisor at St Augustine College, Dr Terry Sacco, that Sister Saba first learnt of Memprow South Africa.

As she shared with Sacco her passion to empower girls and to challenge gender emphasis that often sees them oppressed, she was steered in the direction of this outreach.

Sister Saba said Memprow had trained 10 mentors, who in turn would be helping to run a workshop from April 3-6 for 70 girls between the ages of 12 and 17.

“These girls are from various schools around Inanda,” she said.

Eqinisweni Primary School will be used as a centre for meetings during school holidays, with the focus on training and uplifting girls.

At the heart of all meetings will be the issue of genderbased violence, gender inequality and other forms of abuse “that oppress and discriminate against girls and young women”, said Sister Saba.

“We want to encourage them to pursue their right to education, knowledge, personal and social power, and economic stability, and to live in a violence-free society.”

Being a facilitator for Memprow SA is fascinating for this nun, who has an enormous heart.

“I do my level best to be of assistance to all who come to me seeking help and advice, or just to listen to their stories and give moral support, or suggest professional help,” said Sister Saba.