03/06/2026
Today, the NCM-E team was at Hosea Inkhundla for the 21 Days of Yello Care Launch, standing alongside our partners in the shared effort to improve community access to health services, education, and support.
Two moments stood out to us during the event.
The first was a conversation with Community Police Officer Phinda Dlamini, who came over to learn more about the services NCM-E provides. Simphiwe Matsebula, our focal person for the READY+ programme, was first on the scene to engage with him and address his questions.
Officer Dlamini’s questions were direct and thoughtful, and they evinced a deep understanding of the community he serves. What impressed us most was his knowledge of the social challenges facing Hosea, his experience with community-based programmes, and his clear concern for the well-being of young people and families.
One of his most important questions was how NCM-E reaches and supports adolescents, especially since the day’s event had drawn more older community members than young people.
This was a question close to the heart of our work. Ms Matsebula explained the READY+ peer mentor model, through which trained young people provide guidance, encouragement, and support to their peers. Through mentorship, life skills development, psychosocial support, and linkages to health services, peer mentors help young people navigate adolescence while building confidence, resilience, and healthier futures.
The conversation was a powerful reminder that lasting community development is built through partnership. It requires committed community members, dedicated public servants, and organisations working together to identify challenges and find practical solutions.
We were encouraged by Officer Dlamini’s passion for his community and look forward to continuing to work with stakeholders who share the vision of empowering young people and strengthening communities.
The second moment that stood out was seeing the Minister of Health, Hon. Mduduzi Matsebula, engage in a meaningful discussion with Winile Dlamini Vermaak, the READY+ Project Coordinator, about the READY+ programme.
The discussion reflected the Ministry’s continued concern for young people and its support for NCM-E and its partners. Mrs. Dlamini Vermaak, fully conversant with the scope and progress of the programme, used the opportunity to update the Minister on the gains made through READY+.
These achievements have been made possible through strong partnerships and the Ministry’s continued support. Moments like these remind us why collaboration matters: when communities, government, and civil society work together, young people are better supported, families are strengthened, and communities move closer to a healthier future.