As Clover Mama Afrika celebrates 25 years of investing in women and strengthening communities in 2026, the project is exploring new opportunities to support the leadership development of the women, lovingly referred to as mamas, at the heart of its work.
Clover Mama Afrika has equipped the mamas with practical skills, enterprise support and mentorship to generate income, create employment and build stronger communities. Over time, the mamas have become trusted community leaders, managing initiatives, mentoring others and responding to local challenges.
As Clover Mama Afrika looks towards its next chapter, it’s collaborating with the Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS) to build on the mamas’ existing leadership experience and equip them with tools to lead their centres more effectively.
“As we celebrate 25 years of impact, we recognise that the strength of Clover Mama Afrika lies in the Mamas who uplift their communities and create opportunities for others. They are already leaders: they manage organisations, volunteers and community projects, mentor others, resolve conflict, make difficult decisions and support people through complex social challenges. Where GIBS develops leaders who shape organisations, the Clover Mamas shape and lead communities. This is why we have wanted to collaborate with GIBS; to invest in their leadership just as intentionally as we have invested in their skills and livelihoods. We hope the collaboration will build their confidence and offer practical insights to help them navigate the challenges of leading their centres,” says Rika Haasbroek, Manager Corporate Social Investment at Clover Mama Afrika.
The proposed engagement included an Indaba Leadership Masterclass themed Leading Yourself Before Leading Others, exploring authentic leadership, confidence, conflict management, personal boundaries and wellbeing. Further opportunities, including virtual learning sessions, mentoring and shared knowledge exchanges, are being explored in consultation with GIBS. The collaboration will bring together GIBS’ leadership-development expertise and the Mamas’ lived experience, creating opportunities for practical learning that reflects the realities of grassroots leadership. As Clover Mama Afrika looks towards the next 25 years, it remains focused on helping their mamas as well as future mamas, learn, grow and create opportunities that extend far beyond themselves, strengthening their families and communities for generations to come.
About Clover Mama Afrika
Clover Mama Afrika is a sustainable Corporate Social Investment program that has been in existence since 2001. The project has hosted 1,917 training sessions, transferring skills to more than 17,000 community members. More than 37,000 further skills were transferred, and 160 permanent employment opportunities were created. There are also 140 active income-generating projects.
Teaching and guiding strong females (lovingly called ‘Mamas’ due to their standing in their neighbourhoods) in communities all over the country, in order to build their skills and sustain and improve their own community projects. Only the most dedicated women are chosen to become part of Clover Mama Afrika. Women who care for orphans, children and young adults with disabilities, the elderly, and those affected by HIV/AIDS and other vulnerabilities in our society.
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