My name is Nombulelo Khanyile (née Ndamse). I was born in Kroonstad, South Africa in 1951. My family moved to the Eastern Cape where I did my Primary and Secondary schooling. Thereafter I attended the University of Fort Hare, doing a Bachelor of Science degree, majoring in Chemistry and Zoology.
In 1981 I did a Post-graduate Diploma in Urban and Regional Studies, specialising in Housing, at Birmingham University, England. From 1986-1988, through the University of South Africa I did a Post-graduate Diploma in Marketing Management.
From 1974-1978 I was part of the Moral-Re-Armament team in the United Kingdom and Switzerland. From 1984-1986 I worked as a Public Relations Officer at Vista University in Johannesburg (Soweto Campus). Then in 1988, for a year, I worked for the Mobil Foundation as a Research Assistant and thereafter, in 1990 as a Community Liaison Manager for FHA Homes in Johannesburg for 3 years.
In 1973, my parents were invited to attend a Moral Re-Armament conference at Caux in Switzerland. When they came back, I was struck by some profound changes in them. My father who was a politician at the time, struggled to have adequate time with the family, but after Caux this changed. He took a decision that he could spend more time with the family. This meant a lot to us. Being the only girl with four brothers, I had a special relationship with my mother. She always told me that if I had a question or something that was bothering me, she would always be there to listen. She did not want me to go and find answers from other people. I am forever grateful for the relationship we had, and I told myself that I would do the same thing with my own family.
In 1974, I received an invitation to attend an International Conference at Caux in Switzerland, I had no hesitation in accepting the invitation. During the following four years, I had the opportunity of serving and working with people from all walks of life, young and old, politicians as well as ordinary people in various communities. What immediately caught my imagination was that change needed to start with yourself in order to develop your inner power, and in the process recognise the oneness of humanity. In such an environment, people opened up and felt free to discuss problems and difficulties that they were experiencing in their different situations. This work took me to many countries, viz. USA, Canada, France, The Netherlands, UK, Zimbabwe and Namibia.
In 1979 Vusi Khanyile and I got married, and we have been blessed with three children, Thulani, my stepson (52yrs), our son Phakade (43yrs) and our daughter Ndoni (41yrs), and 5 grandchildren.
