300 SECONDS with Noëlla Coursaris Musunka
Noella Musunka, philanthropist and international model is the Founder and CEO of Malaika, a grassroots nonprofit empowering girls and their communities in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
INTRODUCE YOURSELF AND WHAT YOU DO CURRENTLY.
My name is Noëlla Coursaris Musunka, and I am the proud founder and CEO of Malaika, a grassroots nonprofit empowering girls and their communities in the Democratic Republic of Congo through education and health.
I’m also a philanthropist and an ambassador for the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria and an advisor for Concordia. I’ve also built a career as an international model.
And, most importantly, I’m a mother. I have two wonderful children, JJ and Cara.
DID YOUR BACKGROUND INFLUENCE YOU IN FOLLOWING YOUR CURRENT PATH?
My background led me to where I am today. I was born in Congo, but grew up in Europe. My father passed away when I was five, and my mother made the tough decision to send me to Europe so I could pursue an education. I returned to Congo again at age 18, and that was a key moment in my life. I was back in my homeland, and reunited with my mother for the first time in 13 years. And beyond that, I was shocked to see the extreme poverty in my country. I noticed how many girls were left out of school. And I knew that could have been my life, if my mother hadn’t sent me to Europe. But more importantly, I saw the huge potential among these young women and their families and neighbours.
That’s how I got started on my current path — I knew I wanted to give back and help empower communities, and especially girls, in Congo.
HOW DID THE IDEA OF MALAIKA COME ABOUT?
As I built my international modeling career, I realized I had a platform I could use to make a difference. I also had a business degree, so in 2007 I decided to set up a foundation.
Malaika means “angel,” and when we first set up the foundation it was called George Malaika after my dad. I later changed it to just Malaika because I didn’t want it to be seen as just mine. I’m the founder and CEO, but Malaika was built by many donors and with the community, supporters and a team of international staff and volunteers, so I want everyone involved to feel a sense of ownership and pride in our impact.
CAN YOU TELL US MORE ABOUT MALAIKA AND HOW IT WAS FOUNDED?
Malaika is a grassroots non-profit organization that empowers communities in Congo and provides access to education, water and health.
Our organization includes a primary and secondary school for girls, with 430 students currently enrolled. Our holistic curriculum includes STEM, art, physical education, theater, entrepreneurship and more. The girls are provided with two meals a day, school uniforms and supplies, and bi-annual health checks. We invest in their leadership potential and we teach them about the importance of giving back to their communities in the future.
We also have a community center, built partially in partnership with Fifa, where we provide programs to thousands of adults and young people. We teach social cohesion and conflict resolution through sports and provide vocational classes.
Our technical program in partnership with Caterpillar Foundation is educating and certifying female and male electricians and mechanics. Our agriculture program provides two nutritious meals each day to students and staff and also serves as a teaching platform about sustainable farming. All programs work together as a replicable model and are offered free of charge.
WHAT CHALLENGES HAVE YOU FACED AS A FOUNDER OF AN NGO IN THE CONGO?
Congo is a challenging country to work in, with little access to infrastructure — no running water, electricity, decent roads or technology.
Malaika faces these challenges head on. We see anything that holds girls back — including infrastructure issues — as something we need to address. As an example, we’ve built 28 wells in the area so far, helping 35,000 people have access to clean water and reducing the rates of waterborne illnesses. Because girls can’t go to school if they’re sick.
HOW DO YOU PUSH THROUGH THOSE CHALLENGES?
It’s always important to remember what you’re working toward and to have perseverance and resilience — don’t give up.
Malaika has an amazing support network to rely on. And we always listen to the voices of the girls and families we’re partnering with in Congo — that’s critical to making sure we’re meeting their needs and learning from every challenge along the way.
WHAT ARE YOUR BIGGEST WINS SO FAR IN THE PROJECTS YOU HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN?
Malaika has developed into a thriving ecosystem, with the schools and the center serving as really the heart of the community. As we’ve grown, we’ve defined five key pillars in our work: the school, the community center, technical classes, wells and agriculture.
We have a positive impact on girls every day, not only giving them a quality education, but transforming them into progressive thinkers and leaders.
We’ve also just released the Malaika Model Toolkit, a replicable model that will allow others to access our collective insights and experience and apply this as a blueprint to empower more individuals and communities throughout Africa and the world.
WHAT WOULD YOU SAY IS YOUR BIGGEST ACHIEVEMENT SO FAR?
First, my biggest achievement has been my children, JJ and Cara. I’m always proud of them, but I’m especially proud of the passion for helping others I’ve instilled in them.
It’s also been so rewarding seeing Malaika grow from a dream, to a sponsorship of a few girls, to an organization with its first cohort of girls ready to graduate next year. They all have dreams, to become doctors, journalists, engineers and so many other exciting futures. I can’t believe the massive impact Malaika has had so far, and I can’t wait to see where we go from here.
CAN YOU SHARE BRIEFLY WHAT YOUR SUCCESS HABITS ARE?
Communication is so important — I’ve found that it’s key to stay in constant communication with our teams across the globe. Collaboration is up there too — you have to learn to harness the power of collaborations as much as possible. Together, we can achieve so much more.
And when it comes to raising support, you have to be not afraid to ask again and again. And again.
WHAT IS YOUR ADVICE TO YOUNG AFRICANS WHO ARE ABOUT TO OR HAVE STARTED NGOS TO MAKE AN IMPACT?
I’d say to always remember to have perseverance, and to remember the big picture — what you’re working toward. You should find mentors to guide and inspire you, and look for collaborators.
The philanthropy space in Africa is growing, and it’s only going to continue to gain momentum. There are so many incredible people in the African diaspora who want to help their home countries. And there are so many Africans realizing their endless potential and finding ways to better their communities. If you can, it’s always great to find a worthy organization you can help either with your time or finances or by spreading the word about their work.
There’s so much to accomplish if we work together.
WHAT AFRICAN SONG DO YOU UNASHAMEDLY LISTEN TO RIGHT NOW?
I love the song ‘For Days’ by BNXN fka Buju.
Find Noella and Malaika on social media:
Malaika
@MalaikaDRC
Noella
Instagram @Noellacoursaris
Twitter @Noellacc
Facebook @Noella Coursaris Musunka
Linkedin @Noella Coursaris Musunka