16 Mar 2025 Impact Report
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Celebrating 10 Years of MathMoms
In any organisation it is necessary to continually ask ourselves: “What, among all the things that we are doing, is the one thing that we really must be doing?” Our answer would be: We must build community in order to build each other as human beings. We are building belonging. Yes, we are doing maths with learners. Yes, we are mentoring Moms to do the maths. And yes, Mentors and Moms and learners are sharing a journey on which their innate ability to care for themselves and for others is strengthened. But in all of this, we are building belonging, because we believe that learners who know that they belong, who are guided by Moms who experience belonging, will flourish academically and in life.
In order to do this, we focus on creating spaces of belonging for all those who participate in our programme. We do this in the schools, at our training venues and at special events. In these spaces we practice listening to each other, sharing our stories, helping each other to work through trauma, and encouraging each other. This not only strengthens the resilience of our participants, but it also creates greater openness and mutual support among ourselves.
We realize that there is no quick fix to the challenges facing our learners, schools and communities. Our approach is one of a slow but sure growth in belonging, but it does yield results in the strengthening of relationships and through the impact of positive attitudes, choices and actions made by people who are built up within these relationships.
American author and nature therapy guide Kimberly Ruffin said that faith is the continuous exchange of belonging. As we continuously exchange belonging (through the everyday acts of care the Moms practise; the guiding wisdom shared by the Mentors; the affirmations Moms receive from learners) we are affirming our faith that the future of our communities and our world will look different. A future where every person can feel at home in the world.
To be part of a belonging journey, one must experience belonging oneself without sacrificing who you are. You must be able to smell and taste your sense of belonging, and feel safe with those closest to your heart. For the ten years that MathMoms has been running, my friends and my family especially have reminded me time and again that belonging also means laughing together, dreaming together, and unconditional caring. You remain part of the MathMoms story, because your love makes me strong.
Sonja Cilliers, MD: MathMoms