When a Summit Becomes a Spark: The Birth of the African Boy Child Organisation

The Africa Children’s Summit was intended to be a catalyst for change, a platform where the voices of Africa’s children would resonate with policymakers. But its impact extended far beyond the conference halls. For Sinethemba Thusile (14), Methembe Thusile (14), and Siyabonga Khumalo (15), the summit was a life-altering experience.   

Coming from impoverished communities, where poverty, hunger, and violence were grim realities, the boys’ attendance at the summit, facilitated by Dr Katlego Lekalakala’s WhatsApp community group and the support of the Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund, was transformative. “This is the first time I’ve ever laughed,” one of the boys expressed, highlighting the stark contrast between their daily struggles and the summit’s empowering environment.  

However, the summit also presented a challenge. During an interview with UNICEF, the boys’ lack of English proficiency became painfully apparent, hindering their ability to articulate their thoughts and experiences effectively.   

This realisation sparked a powerful response. Upon returning home, Sinethemba, Methembe, and Siyabonga initiated a book club. This humble effort soon blossomed into the African Boy Child Organisation, a testament to the boys’ determination to overcome their limitations and address the pressing needs of their community.   

Methembe, leveraging his position as a school prefect, engaged their teachers, securing their support for the book club. While the initiative received encouragement, resources remained scarce. Inspired by connections forged with Ugandan peers at the summit, the boys harboured ambitions to expand their impact across Africa.

Their vision encompasses a multifaceted approach: promoting literacy, fostering mental well-being, raising awareness about gender-based violence (GBV) and empowering boys to be part of the solution, advocating for climate awareness (a subject they encountered at the summit), and encouraging self-expression.   

The boys’ resilience is remarkable. They have chosen a path of leadership and growth, a stark contrast to the despair that has led many of their peers to drop out of school and succumb to the lure of drugs and gangs.

This story exemplifies the profound and rippling effect of empowering children and providing them with a platform to be heard. The Africa Children’s Summit, by bringing together young minds and fostering dialogue, ignited a spark that transformed three boys into agents of change, committed to building a better future for themselves and their community.