Who we are
We are women from all walks of life who want to inspire and empower the girl-child of today to achieve academic and personal success.
Founded by Nosi Ncoyo in 2011, Vision4 Women is a women and girl empowerment programme. We take a holistic mentorship approach that fosters girls’ intellectual, emotional and practical skills along three dimensions: head, heart and hand.
The goal of Vision4 Women is to inspire and empower women and girls to reach their full potential, lead meaningful lives, and become leaders and change makers regardless of their background or home circumstances.
In 2023 Vision4 Women officially registered as a non-profit company and established a board of directors to provide oversight and guidance into the future.
Nosi invited Dr Bayanda Mbambisa, Gillian McAinsh, Dr Laura Best and Akhona Sanqkela to join her in forming a board to steer Vision4 Women into its next phase.
Our Vision and Mission
Vision
Our vision is that the girls on our programme will develop into active citizens who will, in rising, lift those around them. In this way, they will contribute to addressing South Africa’s triple challenges of poverty, unemployment and inequality.
Mission
Our mission is to empower women and girls with the skills to live up to their full potential, both academically and in life in general.
Our Vision4 Women Values
Develop intellectual abilities and expand their knowledge base, help mentees to build critical thinking, problem-solving and decision-making skills. Improve academic performance by providing guidance, tutoring and resources.
Grow emotional intelligence and interpersonal skills, develop empathy, self-awareness and emotional regulation. Help them to understand their own feelings and perspectives, as well as those of others. Encourage effective communication to build positive relationships with peers, family members and other adults.
Develop practical skills for success in daily living, and “lending a hand” to others through community upliftment projects. Facilitate practical skills such as sewing, gardening, household skills, car maintenance, learning to drive, job readiness and business skills.
Meet Our Team
Our team at Vision4 Women consists of a Board of Directors, Mentors and Destiny Helpers. All are unpaid volunteers.
Board of Directors
Founder and chairperson Nosi Ncoyo
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Nosi Ncoyo, who has a Master’s degree in Business Administration, is the founder and managing director of Vision4 Group, an entity geared towards training, skills and enterprise development. She has worked as a consultant on development projects for the public sector, SMME development agencies and private sector in the Eastern Cape and nationally. In 2012 Nosi launched a mentorship programme through Vision4 Women to empower high school girls from under-resourced schools. She hosted the regional television talk show Vision4 Women with Nosi on Mpuma Kapa TV. The regional newspaper, The Herald, has recognised Nosi’s work by naming her one of its five finalists in its prestigious annual Citizen of the Year awards. She also was a Nelson Mandela Bay Business Chamber Top 40 Under 40 Achiever.
Deputy chairperson Dr Laura Best
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Laura has a PhD in Business Management, with a background in social sciences and labour relations. She has strong management and transformative leadership experience at senior level in academia, government, the parliamentary arena, and the non-profit sector. She is active in the non-profit sector, in women’s empowerment and mentorship. Laura has worked internationally in research and sustainability policy advocacy, and is a member of the UN Conference on Trade and Development Group of Experts in Consumer Protection and the African Dialogue Consumer Policy. She brings her experience in strategy-aligned organisational culture change, policy scoping and corporate governance to her portfolio at Vision 4 Women.
Secretary Dr Bayanda Mbambisa
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Bayanda is an ophthalmologist and head of the Clinical Unit in Ophthalmology at Livingstone Hospital and Port Elizabeth Provincial Hospital. In addition to publications and conference presentations, she has research and supervision experience. She is the immediate Past President of the Ophthalmological Society of South Africa and Chairperson of OSSA Right to Sight Trust. She is a councillor on Kingswood College Council, in Makhanda, a past president of the Rotary Club of Port Elizabeth, in Gqeberha, and a director of the non-profit company Women in Ophthalmology South Africa (WOSA). Bayanda joined the Vision 4 Women mentoring programme in 2015 shortly after moving to the Eastern Cape from Gauteng. Having been privileged to have had access to good educational opportunities, she hopes to be able to pay it forward by ensuring other young, black girls are able to lead successful lives. She believes that her experience in other non-profit professional organisations will assist her in her role on the board.
Treasurer Akhona Sankqela
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Akhona is the founder and managing partner at SAICA accredited accounting firm Kuyasa SA Professional Accountants, an associate general accountant and registered tax practitioner. During her SAICA articles she obtained experience in public and private sector audits working with the Auditor General, Eskom and other state entities. Akhona serves as an independent director for Nafcoc Nelson Mandela Bay and has served in the Small Business Committee with the Nelson Mandela Bay Business Chamber. Akhona holds a BCom Accounting, Postgraduate Diploma in Accounting Sciences and various certificates in Comprehensive Enterprise Development. She is the winner of the 2021 ABASA Private Sector CEO of the year and 2021 Eskom BIC Trade and Services Sector finalist.
Deputy Secretary Gillian McAinsh
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Gillian, who has a Master’s degree in Clinical Psychology, is a freelance writer and editor with extensive experience in print and online journalism. She has been involved with the Vision4 Women mentoring programme since 2014. Gillian is a qualified clinical psychologist (not currently practising) who can attest to the profound positive impact the programme has on the psyche of mentees. Her role at Vision4 Women is to provide marketing support and generate publicity through digital and other media channels.
Mentors
Meet our Mentors…
Our mentors are the backbone of the Vision4 Women programme. Mentors are women who are businesswomen, professionals and others who wish to “pay it forward” to the next generation. There are up to 60 women in the pool of mentors, but this changes from year to year, depending on who is available. They are guided by a mentor support committee led by three experienced mentors: Xoli Moyane, Lungi Ntshengulana and Noluthando Diniso. Each mentor is matched with one matric girl.
Destiny Helpers
Meet our Destiny Helpers
A younger group of mentors are known as Destiny Helpers. Many of our Destiny Helpers have been through the Vision4 Women programme themselves, and many are students. They run a group mentorship programme with girls in Gr 10 and 11. They generously dedicate their time to support camps and other events, providing invaluable assistance and guidance.
Learn more about us
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