Meet Blondie Beatrice Ndebele! As an Atlas Corps Fellow on GFC’s communications team, Blondie provides a wide range of content creation, editorial, digital media, and design support.

POUVEZ-VOUS NOUS PARLER D'OÙ VOUS VENEZ ET DE VOTRE PARCOURS ?

I grew up in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe’s second-largest city. I am the first born in a family of two girls. I have a 5-year-old daughter whom I love dearly. I hold a bachelor’s degree in journalism and media studies and a master’s in international relations. I have a strong Christian background and a heart for local communities.

QUEL EST VOTRE SOUVENIR D'ENFANCE PRÉFÉRÉ ?

I remember during school holidays, after hours of hard play on the dusty streets of my neighborhood, all covered in dirt and dust, I would run to the house and sit on the floor, very close to the TV screen, to watch my all-time favorite cartoons. In those days, children’s TV programs used to start at 2:00PM to around 5:00PM. I used to watch The Adventures of Blinky Bill, The Puzzle Place, Denver the Last Dinosaur, Hurricanes, Transformers, and many more. Funny enough, I still remember theme songs for most of those cartoons and TV shows.

QU'EST-CE QUI VOUS A ATTIRÉ VERS CE DOMAINE D'ACTIVITÉ ET VERS GFC ?

My passion for communication for development and documenting the change stories of ordinary people. My passion for communication for development and my love for documenting issues affecting grassroots communities has brought me this far. As a news reporter and a media for development practitioner, I used to travel a lot to remote areas where I would interact with local communities to talk about the issues affecting them and possible solutions. Most of these issues had a greater impact on children, women, and young people. I’m also passionate about bridging knowledge gaps arising from the digital divide between rural and urban communities, which affect children and youth.

QUELLE SERA, SELON VOUS, LA PARTIE LA PLUS DIFFICILE DE VOTRE TRAVAIL ? QUELLE SERA LA PLUS SATISFAISANTE ?

The most challenging part of my job will be adjusting to American standards and perceived expectations.

What satisfies me the most is contributing toward global solutions to youth needs through learning and working.

POURQUOI CROYEZ-VOUS QUE LE TRAVAIL DE GFC EST IMPORTANT ?

GFC’s work empowers local organizations to creatively address issues affecting children and young people.

GFC and its partners are doing amazing work in alleviating the plight of children and youth by building global agency and commitments around their rights.

#FunFacts About Blondie

QUEL ÉTAIT VOTRE JOUET PRÉFÉRÉ QUAND VOUS ÉTIEZ?

I hate to admit it but a small Barbie doll was the best! My friends and I used to make clothes from old clothes for our dolls. We used to bathe them, feed them mud, and mimic all the roles of a nursing mother in our small play areas. I truly miss those carefree moments as a child.

QUE VOULAIS-TU FAIRE QUAND TU SERAI GRAND ?

I wanted to be a lawyer. For some reason, it was the only profession I knew that required arts subjects. I was never a fan of math or science subjects at school.

QUE FAITES-VOUS POUR VOUS AMUSER ?

I love trying out new recipes, hanging out with friends, nature walks, and visiting beautiful places.

AVEZ-VOUS DES ANIMAUX DOMESTIQUES?

Yes, a cute boerboel dog. I used to hate dogs until last year, when I got Boxer. He is my besty!

SI VOUS POUVIEZ AVOIR UN SUPER POUVOIR, QUEL SERAIT-IL ?

If I had a super power, it would be one that would solve all the world’s problems and make the world equal and just for all.