Independent (Charmaine Kamau)

I am Charmaine Kamau, a passionate social impact practitioner with a Bachelor of Social Science degree in Gender Studies and Historical Studies from the University of Cape Town. My work focuses on advancing gender justice, social inclusion, and youth development, with an emphasis on marginalized groups including women, children, and survivors of gender-based violence. I bring a human-centered, design thinking approach to problem-solving and program design, combining academic training with grassroots action to address the structural inequalities that shape our societies. I am proud to be the co-founder and Chief Operations Officer of Starting Point Foundation, an organization dedicated to supporting the holistic development of children and youth in Heideveld, Cape Town. Starting Point Foundation was founded by Zoë-Dee Jackson, a young community development practitioner, in response to significant gaps in holistic support for primary school children. When her early efforts were overlooked, Zoë-Dee boldly established an organization that centers the voices and ideas of youth. I joined soon after as co-founder, bringing theoretical expertise in societal inequalities to help ensure our programs are inclusive and responsive to the community’s real needs. Our team was further strengthened when Roline Jacobs, a literacy tutor with over 10 years of experience, joined to enhance our academic programming. Our mission at Starting Point Foundation is to ensure that no child is left behind. We intervene at critical life stages where children are the most receptive and/or face the greatest risks, from early childhood through adolescence. We aimt to equip them with the skills, resources, and opportunities they need to thrive. Our vision is a future where every child, no matter their background, has the chance to become a well-rounded, conscious global citizen. We aim to break the cycles of inequality and uplift the next generation by addressing the systemic barriers that hold them back.