Purpose Beyond Profit: Namritha Sivsanker on Leading the Hope SA Foundation
From Business Resilience to Social Change: An Exclusive Interview with the Founder Driving Empowerment in South Africa
Organisations like Hope SA Foundation serve as vital pillars of support to a nation defined by its inequality and challenges. Namritha Sivsanker, whose journey from entrepreneur to dedicated humanitarian has shaped a unique, heart-driven approach to philanthropy. She shares candidly about the pivotal moments that led her to service, the essential role of faith, and her strategy for building sustainable, community-led impact across South Africa.
The goal is not to do everything, but to do the right things well.
Namritha Sivsanker
What Does Hope SA Foundation Do?
What was the pivotal moment that led you to establish the Hope SA Foundation?
Honestly, the seed was planted when I was a child. I always felt God was calling me to do something bigger, something meaningful. I questioned life and my purpose from a young age. I admired Mother Teresa and how she helped people selflessly. My own childhood was painful, and I promised myself I would never let others feel that same kind of pain. I wanted to bring hope and joy to people who had lost both. That is where Hope SA began, from a place of wanting to heal others through service.
What is the reminder you give yourself of why you started?
I remind myself that it is about giving hope to children, to victims of GBV, and to anyone struggling to meet basic needs. Every meal we serve or life we touch reminds me of why this work matters. It is about making sure no one goes without the essentials, food, safety, dignity, and love.
How has being a South African shaped your understanding of service and giving back?
South Africa teaches you empathy and resilience. We have seen hardship up close, and that makes you want to help others rise with you. Growing up here taught me that helping is not optional. It is part of being human.
Who has inspired your approach to philanthropy?
It is a mix of heart and passion. I have always been inspired by people who give quietly, out of love rather than recognition. My faith and the people I meet every day remind me that kindness still changes lives. It is not about fame. It is about purpose.
How would you explain hope and the Foundation’s purpose in just three simple words?
Uplift. Empower. Restore.
How to Run a Successful South African Non-Profit
How has your entrepreneurial background influenced the growth and strategy of Hope SA Foundation?
It has given me structure and resilience. Running a non-profit requires business discipline, but it also demands heart. You have to keep pushing even when resources are tight or things fall apart. This work is not easy, and resilience keeps you going when passion alone is not enough.
What is the greatest difference between managing a conventional business and a non-profit?
It is all heart for me. In business, you measure success in profits. In non-profit work, success is in people’s smiles and stories. Being on the ground, seeing the sheer destruction and pain firsthand, is very different from sitting behind a computer. God is my strength through it all. He reminds me that this is His work, not mine.
With a diverse range of initiatives, how does Hope SA Foundation should focus its energies?
We look at where the greatest need is. Food security remains our anchor, but we also focus on GBV, healthcare, and education wherever we can make real impact. The goal is not to do everything, but to do the right things well.
How To Measure the Success of an NGO
How do you measure a project’s long-term success, beyond just immediate relief?
Success is when people no longer need our help. When someone we supported is now helping others, that is transformation. Relief is temporary; empowerment lasts.
How do you ensure a project’s sustainability without your ongoing, direct intervention?
We are training and upskilling people in their own communities. That is the key. When people have the skills to build or run something themselves, it lasts. We are expanding this focus next year, from IT and business training to candle-making classes and other small-scale enterprises. The goal is to help people become self-reliant and create income, not just depend on aid.
How does the Hope SA Foundation sustain itself financially?
Everything we have built is through faith, grace, and perseverance. We rely on partnerships, corporate support, individual donors, and sometimes sheer miracles. There have been times when we did not know how we would continue, and somehow, something always came through. By December 2024, we had fed over one million meals, purely from the kindness of donors and God’s grace. Hope SA stands because God makes a way every single time.
When you look at the future, what non-profit trend or innovation excites you most for South Africa?
The shift toward empowerment and sustainability excites me. I am seeing more organisations focusing on skills development and entrepreneurship rather than just aid, and that is exactly the direction we are taking. Collaboration between NGOs, businesses, and tech-driven social initiatives gives me real hope for what is coming next.
South African NGOs: Government Gaps and Collabs
How can NPOs collaborate to avoid donor fatigue or divided public attention?
By remembering why we started. It is not a competition. We are all serving the same people. If we collaborate, we reach more lives and make donors feel their support has broader impact.
Does the number of NPOs suggest government is not doing enough to address social needs?
Yes. Sadly, our NGO has received no government support. We have often stepped in during disasters and crises where government should have been present. There are plenty of gaps, and the corruption we see across systems is frustrating. But at the end of the day, it is the people who suffer if we do not act, so we keep stepping in because their lives cannot wait for politics to catch up.
What are the most crucial skills for starting a successful NGO in South Africa today?
Do it for the right reasons. Many NGOs are started for the wrong motives, chasing money or government tenders. But how far can money take you if you do not have heart, good values, and a God-fearing foundation? This work is not about profit or recognition. It is about purpose. Integrity, resilience, and compassion are essential. Without heart, the work will not last.
What mindset change do you hope your work inspires in the average South African?
Do not wait to have enough. Start with what you have. Help starts small. Follow your heart, have faith, and take action. Kindness inspires hope, and hope inspires change. Collaboration multiplies impact.
What is the easiest way someone on a limited budget can embody ‘Each One Help One’?
Share what you can and include a free smile. Check in on a neighbour. Buy a packet of rice and give it to someone in need. Every small act of care has a ripple effect.
When you feel overwhelmed by the challenges, what is your personal motivation to keep going?
God, yes, always. My faith is my foundation. Even when the weight of the work feels heavy, I know I was chosen for this path. Being on the ground during disasters, from Turkey’s earthquake to the Boksburg tanker explosion, has exposed my team to sheer destruction and pain. PTSD and burnout are real. But the communities we serve, their strength, and their gratitude remind me that I am exactly where I am meant to be.
What role does joy play in your work?
Joy is from God. It keeps me grounded and human. Even amidst abuse, trauma, and disaster, joy shows up, in a child’s smile, a warm meal shared, or a prayer said together. Those moments give the strength to keep going.
How To Support NGOs Like Hope SA Foundation
How can individuals or organisations best support the Hope SA Foundation right now?
Our greatest need right now is funding. Donations will directly help us open shelters and provide skills training for women and children. We also welcome partnerships, fundraisers, PR exposure, and any services you can offer in your free time. Every contribution makes a real, lasting difference.
A message for the youth:
Dream big. Follow your dreams, take action, and be kind. Use your words to stand up against the ills of society, always with grace and peace. Support one another, be grateful for even the smallest blessings, and do not forget to smile and enjoy every moment, the good and the bad.
Images courtesy of Namritha Sivsanker | www.hopesa.org
