About us

A young organisation, built around an old idea

Mona With The Children is a Bahá'í-inspired Non-Profit Organization (NPO) working across Tshwane.

Who's behind it

Our directors

Samson Junior Von Eck

Director and Vice Chairman

Penelope Italia Tombisa

Director and Treasurer

Gloria Ntuli

Non-Executive Director

Farah Naimi

Director and Secretary

Foad Naimi

Director and Chairman

Where our name comes from

Mona

The organisation is named for Mona Mahmudnizhad, a seventeen-year-old arrested in Shiraz, Iran, on 23 October 1982, together with her father. She was held for nearly eight months before she was executed by hanging on 18 June 1983, alongside nine other Bahá'í women. One of the charges against her was misleading children and youth. What she had actually been doing was teaching children's classes.

A little over two years later, a song called Mona with the Children was written about her by Doug Cameron and reached the charts in Canada. It is from that song that this organisation takes its name. A young person who, given every reason to stop, kept teaching.

We hold ourselves to that same standard today: the most useful thing an adult can do for a young person is to show up and teach them something true.

“Mona With the Children”, performed by Tom Francis (a cover), from Bahá'í Blog's Studio Sessions. Watch on YouTube.

“Mona With the Children”, the original 1985 recording by Doug Cameron. Watch on YouTube.

What guides us

Three focus areas hold everything we do

A facilitator helping young people with a drawing activity in a preschool classroom

Community training and education development

Helping learners build the skills and information they need to make good decisions about their future, starting with our Career Guidance programme.

Children sitting at small tables sharing a meal in a preschool classroom while staff look after them

Community social development

Working alongside families and schools so that support reaches young people where they actually are, not just where it's convenient to deliver it.

Young people working on a craft activity together at a table

Community youth development

Building relationships and programmes that grow with young people over years, including our Junior Youth Programme.

Part of a worldwide effort

The same work, in many places

Study circles, children's classes and junior youth groups are running in communities all over the world, adapted to wherever they happen to be. The materials for these programmes are developed by the Ruhi Institute in Cali, Colombia, and we draw our inspiration from them. For us, the moral empowerment of young people goes hand in hand with their career development.

A study circle meeting outdoors, participants writing in exercise books

Five people studying printed material together around a table

Children holding hands in a circle during an outdoor game

A junior youth group reading together indoors

How the programme is studied

The Junior Youth Moral Empowerment Programme is currently offered in twelve texts. Groups are facilitated by volunteers known as animators.

Breezes of Confirmation
Wellspring of Joy
Glimmerings of Hope
Walking the Straight Path
Habits of an Orderly Mind
On Health and Well-Being
Learning About Excellence
Drawing on the Power of the Word
Thinking About Numbers
Observation and Insight
The Human Temple
Making Sense of Data

Listening to learners

How a presentation becomes a plan for the school

After every presentation, learners tell us what they thought. We read every form and turn what they say into a report the school can act on.

Learners give feedback

Straight after a presentation, each learner fills in a short form.
We read every form

We bring the answers together: what landed, and what learners want next.
The school gets a report

A Feedback & Proposal Report goes to the principal and Life Orientation department, with proposed next steps.