EXCLUSIVE: Why South African Rosalia Mashale AKA “Mama Rosie” Was Named Daily Trust African Personality of The Year
“No one has ever become poor by giving.”
BY MIKE De Cerutti Osagie
Editor-In-Chief, WORLD LEADERS
E:chiefcerrutti@gmail.com
SMS ONLY +234 7042631895
When the name Rosalia
Mashale AKA “Mama Rosie" was first declared last year as Named Daily Trust
African Personality of THE Year, many were amazed, asking who is she?
But at last, fresh
fact have emerged why she won the prestigious award and in process smiling with
a whopping $ 10.000 price tag
World Leaders magazine
online can reveal today why she won. Yes, in the words of the chairman of the
African of the Year Prize Committee and former Botswana President, Mr. Festus
Mogae, “Rosalia Mashale won the award owing to her love for children no one
wants.”
He said the South African, popularly called
Mama Rosie, inspired hope and courage for 5,305 orphans infected by HIV and
AIDS since she founded Baphumelele Children’s Home in Khayelitsha. He urged
Africans to emulate her in speaking against stigmatization of HIV and AIDS
victims, recollecting that he was the first African president to be tested for HIV.
Mogae, who was also the chairman
of the award dinner held in Abuja yesterday, said the committee was unanimous
in its decision to honor the recipient because of her commitment to providing
loving care to orphans infected with HIV and AIDS, mostly from Khayelitsha, a
community afflicted by severest AIDS epidemic in the world.
“What makes Mama Rosie different is not only her managing of an
orphanage home, but that she has been receiving abandoned children mostly
infected by HIV and AIDS who were considered by their parents and/or society a
serious burden,” he said. He said the home had become a beacon of hope for
communities as she had given care to about thousands children since she started
the orphanage.
“Some of the children are now professionals in different fields,” he
added. Mama Rosie is the third South African to receive the award. Media Trust
also launched another edition of Kilimanjaro magazine. At the award dinner was
the Ambassador of Botswana to Nigeria, Pule Mphothwe; the Ambassador of
Zimbabwe, Maxwell Ranga; the Acting British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Gill
When Rosalia Mashale moved to Khayelitsha, she woke each morning
to the sounds of children rummaging through rubbish for food. Unable to stand
by, Mashale brought the hungry into her home, and ended up forming a free
daycare centre. That was 29 years ago. It became known as Baphumelele, an
isiXhosa word meaning ‘we have succeeded’. Since then Mashale, who goes by
‘Mama Rosie’, has cared for over 5 000 children.
10 years into running the centre, Mashale made plans to retire.
But then, a young boy was abandoned on her doorstep. He was about two years
old, had no clothes, and didn’t know his own name. Mashale never turns a child
away, and knew that more had to be done. So she formed a permanent children’s
home for orphaned and abandoned kids, and Baphumelele expanded. It now occupies
a whole block in Khayelitsha, providing care to children who have lost their
parents to HIV/AIDS, have HIV themselves, or have been abused and neglected.
Her initiative provides food and assistance to child-headed households, runs
programmes to help young adults become independent, and offers health and
hospice care. Mashale also started Rosie’s Bakery, where older kids bake bread
for the rest of the children, and sell to the community to raise money.
As a former primary school teacher, Mashale has been serving
children her whole life. She let go of her own plans when she saw the need that
existed in Khayelitsha. “We are here on earth to serve others who need our
help,” Mashale says. She has dedicated her time, resources, and home to those
most vulnerable in society, all with the warmest of smiles.
In 2017, Mashale
was recognised by CNN as one of its Top 10 Heroes, an acknowledgment that came
at a time when Baphumelele was in desperate need of financial help. Regardless
of her circumstances, Mashale will never give up on a child in need. She plans
on backing her kids for as long as possible. “I can’t wait to attend their
graduation,” Mashale says. “I’m going to wear a bright dress and a big hat, so
that people can see that I’m still there supporting them.”
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