Southern Africa Youth Project Headquarters, Johannesburg – 24-26 June 2025
In a powerful and heartfelt address during the SayPro Capacity Building Training for NPOs Programme, held from 24 to 26 June 2025 at the Southern Africa Youth Project headquarters, SayPro CEO and Leader of Development, Neftaly Malatjie, shared a critical leadership lesson with nonprofit leaders:
“Swallow your pride and respect your people in your company.”
Malatjie’s words resonated deeply with more than 150 nonprofit managers, founders, and coordinators attending the training. His message highlighted the importance of humility, emotional intelligence, and people-centered leadership in building strong, sustainable organizations.
The Human Side of Leadership
“Many leaders in the nonprofit space struggle not because they lack vision, but because they fail to value the people around them,” said Malatjie. “When you put pride above your team, you lose trust, creativity, and unity. Swallow your pride and respect your people—because your success depends on them.”
This statement underscored a key theme of the three-day training: effective leadership is rooted in service, empathy, and respect.
Practical and Transformational Training for NPOs
The SayPro Capacity Building Training Programme offered practical tools and training designed to help nonprofit organizations build stronger internal systems, improve service delivery, and strengthen leadership. Key training modules included:
- Governance and ethical leadership
- Building and managing effective teams
- Financial planning and donor accountability
- Monitoring and evaluating impact
Each session combined technical knowledge with real-world case studies and leadership principles that emphasized humility and community-driven decision-making.
SayPro: A Model for Respectful Leadership
As CEO of SayPro, Neftaly Malatjie has led by example, building a culture of mutual respect, accountability, and empowerment within the organization. His leadership approach has helped transform SayPro into a respected nonprofit development agency working across Africa.
“Leadership is not about controlling people—it’s about empowering them,” he told attendees. “You’re only as strong as your team. Respect them, and they will help you build something that lasts.”
Impactful Reflections from Participants
Delegates praised the event not just for its skills training but for its inspirational and transformative approach to leadership.
Nontobeko Sithole, a project manager from KwaZulu-Natal, said, “This was not just training—it was a wake-up call. I’ve realized that I need to shift how I treat my team if we’re going to grow.”
Continuing the Movement
SayPro announced that follow-up workshops and one-on-one coaching sessions will be offered in the coming months, with a continued focus on leadership, team development, and personal growth for nonprofit professionals.
For more information and upcoming training schedules, visit www.saypro.online.
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