A Beacon of Hope
Earlier this year, I was asked to speak at a leadership conference at Zevenwacht Wine Estate. There were 28 leaders from 5 different countries. As I prepared for my lecture, I came across some research that Gallup launched at the World Government Summit 2025. It was the result of the largest leadership poll ever undertaken. Gallup interviewed over 700,000 people from 50 plus countries. The question that was asked is simple, yet the outcomes are profound: “What do followers want from a leader?”
I asked my audience what they thought the answer was; no one got the correct answer. Things like trust, integrity, wisdom, etc, were mentioned. No surprise there. 56% of those interviewed expected their leaders to give them “hope,” i.e., to be a beacon of hope. At first, I was initially surprised by the result of the poll, but the more I thought about it, the more I realised that people all over the world are crying out for help. There is much more to explore on this topic, but this isn't the appropriate forum. I do, however, believe that it’s important that we try and understand the needs of the people we try and serve. In the Foundation, we see this sense of hopelessness daily, it's why teenage suicides are at an all-time high. When we lose hope, there’s nothing to look forward to. More and more, we are realising that our role in the Foundation is to be that beacon of hope, a light shining in the darkness, a voice offering a way out, an ear to listen.
NOVA Initiative
It’s for this reason that we are launching the NOVA Initiative. In the past, we have focused primarily on running workshops with students and teachers. Although this has been beneficial, we have come to realise that we will only see real transformation when we work with the school leadership. We believe that these leaders - Schools Governing Board (SGB) and the Schools Management and Leadership (SML) teams, can become beacons of hope.
We have lined up four schools for 2025 and are looking forward to working intimately with the leadership of these schools. Clive and I are also pleased to announce that we are in the discussions with Mr Bruce Probyn, the Founder of the Principal’s Academy, and hope to partner with them. We believe that as we synergise and collaborate we will see the schools we work with, flourish.
Mandela Day 2025
This year, the Nolands Foundation has agreed to partner with our Nolands offices to maximise our Mandela Day outreach. In the past, each office chose a project and supported various initiatives. In 2025, we want to make an even bigger impact than we have in the past. We are currently identifying schools so that we can plan accordingly. This year, we're running two exciting projects: one for young ladies, Proud to be She, and a brand-new project launching later this year, before Mandela Day, where we will be focusing on empowering young men. Keep an eye on our social media for this exciting launch.
With Thanks
We would like to extend our deepest gratitude to our dedicated donors and selfless volunteers whose generosity forms the bedrock of what we do. Your financial contributions and hours of service have transformed abstract hopes into tangible change in our community. Your commitment inspires us daily and reminds us that behind every initiative and success story stands a community of passionate individuals who believe in our shared vision. We are profoundly thankful for your partnership in this important work.
Should you wish to join us in our quest to bring hope to those who need it most, please contact us. Even better, why don’t you join the Nolands Foundation 100 Club?
Feel free to contact Paul Jones, the CEO of the Nolands Foundation, via paulj@nolandsfoundation.co.za
