Meet The Team – Tgengisa

At All Out Africa, there are many things that set us apart. One of them is our fantastic team! That’s why we decided it was time to sit down with our staff and have them answer a few fun questions about why they love what they do!

Today we are highlighting Tgengisa, our Social Projects Manager! Tgengisa is our volunteers daily go-to-guy. From orientation on day one, he will be the first staff member that greets you each morning and makes sure you have plenty of fun activities to keep you busy!

What is your name/nick name?

Tjengisaumusawenkhosi Dlamini, but Tjengisa or Tjengi is used frequently which is cool, as my name has 20 characters/letters.

People also call me “Crazy Legs” due to my epic break dancing skills- if your lucky you will get to see it in action!

What is your favourite thing about your job?

Placing young international volunteers on sustainable community development programs that changes the lives of both the volunteer and the children we support as an organization on a daily basis at our various outreach projects/communities.

When was a time you thought to yourself “wow, I love what I do!”

It happened about 6 months into my position when I was challenged to set up an afternoon program that would concrete on helping other children who were less fortunate, in having good parental guidance. We all know that an early stage (adolescent) a lot of peer pressure is placed a growing child. A lot is influenced by friends, which can sometimes derail a child.

This is when a ‘homework club’ was set up as a pilot project, targeting our sponsor children who were at primary level. These kids needed some sort of an activity that will assist them academically and make it a habit for them to do their homework each day.

The homework club initiatives, to date, have grown to 3 different clubs per week! At the back of my mind I always think that children should do their homework every single day, even since the initiative started over 2 years ago – I am hopeful this project will continue to grow!

Where is your favourite local hang out?

Over the past years, on the weekends, I hang out with my old high school friends. The area is called “Sandla”, and its just outside the Capital City of Mbabane the Kingdom of Swaziland, where I grew up as a boy.

It is nothing special upon first look, but it holds a lot of memories for me, and there is always a group of great friends waiting for me!

When you’re not changing the world, what do you do for fun?

I am a huge Manchester United fan and I had the privilege to attend “Live matches” in the earlier 90’s in the City of Manchester. Since then, I have been a die-hard fan of the English Premier League (EPL) and when it’s football season I am always glued watching a Man U match on the nearest “big screen”!

When you wake up in the morning what do you look forward to most?

Well for me, each morning I look forward to work on what I had planned for day and give it my total best. This is obviously achieved by the awesome people I work with, including our main clients which are the international volunteers, local community members and the less fortunate children we service as an organization.

In essence service delivery is key in completing my day.

If you had a super power what would it be?

If I had some sense of super powers, my powers would reflect and try to alleviate poverty in Swaziland, starting with my family’s rural area, leading to community members I work with and in term associate my concept in alleviating poverty throughout the Africa continent.

 I would envisaged myself being named “Super-Supreme Man” 🙂

If you were a volunteer with AOA, what program or tour would you sign up for? (and why?)

I would probably sign up for the Kruger to Cape (12 weeks). There is so much you can do within a short space of time. I mean Kruger National Park for 5 days on my first week, then volunteer for two week in Swaziland. Coastal area in Mozambique on my 4th week, then back in Swaziland for another 2.5 week of volunteering. 

More exciting would be the “Garden Route” in Cape Town and volunteering program in out Bay for another 4 weeks.