It still feels surreal to reflect on how the world changed four years ago. The pandemic brought life to a standstill: businesses closed, travel ceased, jobs were lost, and the normal we once knew faded into memory. Yet, through prayers, perseverance, and collaboration, the world slowly began to rebuild.
For Xolile and Michael Masumba, 2014 and 2013 alumni of African Christian College, the global crisis was more than a health emergency; it was a personal catastrophe. Michael lost his job, and despite countless efforts, he couldn’t secure new employment. The couple struggled to provide the basics for their children. But instead of giving in to despair, they chose to reimagine their future.
“I was temporarily working with kids, helping them with assignments before everything shut down,” Xolile recalls. “Starting a nursery school had crossed my mind before, but I never took it seriously. Yet in that moment, when everything felt like the end of us, we decided to revisit that idea.”
Tapping into their training from African Christian College and drawing on practical experience, Xolile from her involvement in tutoring, and Michael from his leadership background, they felt equipped to take a leap of faith.
With courage, they launched Golden Kids Park Academy—right in their backyard.
The beginning was humbling. Only six children enrolled. Doubts crept in, and discouraging voices loomed large. “But we chose to trust God and move forward,” Xolile says. “We had no external support; our only resource was our faith, our hands, and our vision.”
Xolile Masumba, 2014 Graduate.
The work-study programme taught us how to work hard and be resourceful. When life backed us into a corner, we were able to identify the acres of gold around us and use them to transform our lives, and our community.
The community’s need for early childhood education was evident, yet no one had stepped up to meet it. The Masumbas’ commitment filled that gap, and slowly the dream began to grow. The nursery school soon evolved into a vision for a full-fledged primary school.
Turning that vision into reality, however, was a challenge of its own. “We needed proper classrooms, and we had no money to hire builders,” she says. “But Michael had construction experience, and I decided to get off my heels and help.”
Together, they built it, brick by brick. Xolile prepared the mud; Michael laid the bricks. The physical labor was backbreaking, but deeply rewarding. “Today, I look at the buildings and proudly say, we did that.”
Beyond the physical structures, there was paperwork: licensing, proposals, and curriculum. They leaned heavily on the skills and knowledge gained during their time at African Christian College to navigate the process. With grit and determination, Golden Kids Park Academy became an officially registered and approved pre-primary and primary school.
Today, the school serves over 200 students, with qualified teachers, growing facilities, and a clear mission: to nurture future leaders. Looking ahead, the Masumbas dream of expanding the school into a technical college, offering a full journey from nursery to tertiary education.
“We’re incredibly grateful for the education we received at African Christian College,” says Xolile. “The work-study programme taught us how to work hard and be resourceful. When life backed us into a corner, we were able to identify the acres of gold around us and use them to transform our lives, and our community.”
Their story is one of resilience, faith, and innovation. It is proof that with the right foundation, even a crisis can lead to legacy.
You can rewrite your story, too. Join African Christian College, and become a transformational leader.
Leave a Reply