Creating the Village Mother’s Need

Originally posted in The Kalahari Memorandum digital

“It takes a village to raise a child,” the saying goes. It is a phrase we hear often, but in places like Postmasburg, it is more than a saying. It is a daily reality and a deep need. As Mother’s Day approaches, many of us turn to familiar gestures of appreciation: flowers, cards, kind words.

These are meaningful, but they also raise a more important question. What does a village truly look like, and are we doing enough to build one around the mothers who need it most?
In Postmasburg and other parts of the Northern Cape, many mothers are raising children under difficult conditions. We see this through our work in Tsantsabane and Kgatelopele. For many women, motherhood means doing everything alone: working, cooking, cleaning, and caring for children, often without enough support.

This is where we must stop and ask: What does a village look like?
A village is more than just a place. It is the network of support that surrounds a mother and helps her raise her child in a safe, healthy environment. It starts at home, with family. When fathers are present, involved, and committed to parenting, they ease the pressure that many
mothers carry alone. Unfortunately, in many households, this balance does not exist, and mothers are left to carry the emotional and physical labour of parenting on their own.

Beyond the household, the village includes extended family and neighbours such as grandparents, aunts, uncles, and friends, who step in to offer help and companionship. In places where services fall short, these informal community connections often become the first line of support.
However, mothers also need functioning systems to lean on.

Access to health care is essential, yet in many communities, clinics are overburdened and under-resourced. Mothers cannot always count on timely support for their physical and mental health, which adds further strain. Mental health in particular is often neglected, even though many mothers silently battle stress, anxiety, and exhaustion. When emotional well-being is not cared for, the effects spill over into the lives of children.

Another pillar of the village is Early Childhood Development. In homes where resources are stretched, a well-run ECD centre offers more than education. It provides safety, stimulation, and stability for young children. It also gives parents the space to earn a living or take care of their own well-being. We have seen how much these centres matter in Postmasburg. For many families, they are not a luxury but a lifeline.

The village should also include support from the state. Policies that support families must be implemented effectively on the ground. Social grants, access to nutrition, parenting programmes, and safe community spaces can help ease the load on mothers. But in reality, these supports often fall short, and mothers are left to navigate everything alone.

At The Lesedi Solar Park Trust, we believe in helping to rebuild this village, piece by piece. Through our partnerships with schools, families, and local organisations, we work to strengthen the systems that support children. One of our key initiatives is the Flourish programme, which focuses on the health and well-being of both mother and child in the first 1,000 days. It recognises that the future of every child is deeply tied to the health and confidence of the mother.

We have heard stories from mothers who, once supported, begin to feel seen and valued, not just as caregivers, but as people with dreams and potential of their own. That is the kind of village we believe in.
This Mother’s Day, let us not only offer thanks. Let us offer real support. Let us ask, “What does a village look like for the mothers around us?” And more importantly, let us work to build it, together.
Because when mothers are supported, children thrive. And when children thrive, entire communities grow stronger, more hopeful, and more resilient.