The Value in Collective Action, with Matseliso Mokitimi
Value creation within non-profits is seldom ever a top down affair!
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If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.
This oft-quoted statement is true of Value creation, for all types of enterprises but especially true for non-profits. After all, it hardly makes sense to leave behind the very people you’re creating Value for in your Value creation efforts!
Collective and participatory action is a greatly lauded concept within the non-profit space, but have you ever considered it from a Value point of view? Well you’re in luck!
This week, we’re getting insights from an enterprise leader who’s leveraging collective Value to do amazing work, and as always she’s sharing those insights with you!
Read on to learn more, and click her name if you’d like to see more of her work on LinkedIn!
Matseliso Mokitimi - Human Rights Advocate, and Youth Advocate
Matseliso Mokitimi is a passionate social worker, advocating for the rights of adolescents and youth, with a focus on sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR), mental health, and leadership development.
Her expertise includes leading impactful initiatives that amplify the voices of young people, particularly adolescent girls and young women.
She also serves as the Head of Academics and Mentorship at The Young Social Workers Network in Lesotho, represents young professionals in the National AIDS Commission Youth Consortium, and is a YALI RLC SA alumnus under the Civic Leadership track.
She aspires to see youth leading and actively involved in the planning and design of programs that impact them, following the principle "Nothing for me without me."
How have you come to understand Value within the work that you do?
In the non-profit space, I’ve come to understand Value as the measurable impact we create in the lives of the individuals and communities we serve, especially adolescents and youth. It’s not just about delivering services or programs, but about empowering and uplifting young people to transform their realities.
Value is fully realized when youth are actively involved, equipped to assert their rights, take leadership roles, and influence decisions that affect their futures. The principle "Nothing for me without me" guides this understanding, ensuring that true Value is created when young people are given ownership of their futures and the space to lead.
What has been your favourite or most successful way of creating Value for your non-profit’s stakeholders and beneficiaries?
Definitely through leadership development and capacity building for young people, particularly adolescent girls and young women.
By creating platforms where they can actively engage in decision-making processes, we not only foster leadership but also contribute to breaking the cycle of inequality. This approach empowers them, resulting in sustainable community-driven change.
I’ve seen first-hand how enabling youth voices to be heard creates ripples of positive change within families, communities, and even at the policy level. Ensuring full participation not only builds their capacity but also ensures sustainable, community-led solutions to the challenges they face.
If you had one suggestion (or two!) to give to non-profit leaders on their approach to impactful creating and leveraging value, what would it be?
First, it’s essential to truly listen to the communities you serve. Often, the most valuable solutions come from understanding the unique challenges and strengths within those communities.
Second, invest in building long-term relationships and trust. Value creation in the non-profit sector is not always immediate—it is about laying the groundwork for lasting impact, which requires consistency and collaboration.
Remember: together, we create Value!
How did you find this week’s insights?
Tell me more about what you think, and if any of the pointers Maurice uses to leverage Value sound like things you’ve been doing for your enterprise, in the comments below!
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