Mayda was involved in the healthcare sector for numerous years. Currently, she is a ‘Clinical Advisor’ for the Catalyst Care Group, where she ensures that there is a consistently high standard of service that is being applied and maintained through the company’s quality assurance programme, amongst other duties and responsibilities. Alongside this role of hers, in 2021, she became the CEO of the Catalyst Foundation.
“I absolutely love children, I am ‘that aunty’ that everyone comes to for anything. I am in my element when I am around children, and this passion of mine is one of the reasons for the birth of the Catalyst Foundation – S.H.E Programme. It is my desire to make an impact, by focusing on girl-child empowerment in Africa.
Seeing the S.H.E Programme grow, witnessing the difference and impact that the Catalyst Foundation has made in the lives of our beneficiaries has been overwhelming, yet exciting and fulfilling. We have girls aspiring to be pilots, teachers, doctors and entrepreneurs among other professions.
Initially, when you have a vision, you have an idea of how you would like it to come to life, but then to see it actually happening right before my eyes has been inspiring and very emotional. From setting up our first Programme in the Tsholotsho district in Zimbabwe in 2021, to see it now expand into Zambia in 2023, and then into other countries across Africa in the near future, keeps myself and my incredible Team motivated to continue working hard to empower our beneficiaries.
It has been wonderful working with my Team, where I have been privileged to meet like-minded people who also share the same values as myself, in terms of changing lives through women and girl-child empowerment. Some of our beneficiaries’ stories are really heart wrenching, but when you see how resilient they are, regardless of the challenges that they are facing, one can’t help but stop and ponder.
There have been so many memorable moments so far, whilst working alongside our beneficiaries. My most vivid memory was watching Jaya (first beneficiary) grow up and do extremely well in her studies at school, and has now gone onto university. She works tremendously hard in everything that she does and she is focused on achieving her goals. Jaya truly is an inspiration to the other girls who are part of the S.H.E Programme.
What I am most excited about the Catalyst Foundation’s future, is the impact that we will be continuing to make in the rural communities that we work and will work with in the future. We are looking forward to forming meaningful partnerships with stakeholders, partners and donors, which will assist us in ensuring the long-term holistic support provided to our beneficiaries.
