Nonprofit organisation iButho Le Africa (iLA) founder Mpumi Masinga was awarded the Humanitarian Award at the tenth Steel and Engineering Industries Federation of Southern Africa (Seifsa) Awards for Excellence, on November 20, in Kempton Park.

Seifsa VP Elias Monage presented the award to Masinga, saying her work highlighted the importance of service and demonstrated that service is a more powerful form of leadership than authority.

“The work she does is about lifting others so that they too can stand tall,” he said.

iLA, established in 2019, focuses on mentoring and supporting boys in rural areas to develop essential life skills and reach their full potential. Masinga said she chose to focus on boys because of concerns about the risks faced by young men who are not given opportunities.

“We cannot do to men what has been done to women. When I started iLA, I decided to ignore everyone who thought I was crazy and focus on boys, especially in the rural areas, as the boys in the suburbs and the townships have at least some opportunities,” she said.

She added that initiatives to empower young girls in South Africa have sometimes left boys feeling “forgotten and ignored”. Masinga warned that failure to support young boys can contribute to crime, but iLA aims to guide them to become “self-regulating boys” who are able to pursue their ambitions.

The organisation uses the innovation, sports, technology, tourism, research, robotics, rehabilitation, recreation, entrepreneurship, engineering, environmental studies, energy, AI, agriculture, arts, aviation, mathematics, mining, minerals, marine studies and media (iSTREAM) framework to foster an entrepreneurial mindset, academic achievement, psychological wellness, emotional intelligence, and gender tolerance among young men.

While based on the science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) model, iSTREAM incorporates a wider range of subjects.

“STEM speaks only to science and maths, but we need to add in art and music to make sure we do not leave anyone behind,” Masinga said.

The iSTREAM interventions are delivered through summer and winter camps and other programmes, beginning in primary school and continuing beyond university.

Masinga said she wants young people to plug into the iSTREAM to find themselves and what works for them.

“Falling out of the iSTREAM must be avoided. I would like them to be glued to the iSTREAM until they find their purpose,” she said.

She also expressed a long-term goal of seeing the iSTREAM curriculum adopted nationally.

Through iLA, Masinga continues to provide structured mentorship, coaching, and support to boys in rural areas, aiming to equip them with the skills needed to succeed and contribute positively to society.