Meet Noella Coursaris Musunka | International Model, Philanthropist & CEO of Malaika

We had the good fortune of connecting with Noella Coursaris Musunka and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Noella Coursaris, what is the most important factor behind your success?
– I think that I have built a strong team around me and a strong team of staff who are running our programs at Malaika. They do an incredible job and each of them have amazing skills and abilities that have helped us deliver quality education and grow over the past 16 years. – I always say Malaika isn’t what it is just because of me, it was my dream that was brought alive by a team of passionate people.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
Please select one of the questions from below and tell us more about your professional life and career. Noella Coursaris Musunka | International Model, Philanthropist & CEO of Malaika
Malaika was a dream that came out of my personal story. I was born in DRC and my father tragically passed away when I was 5. My mother didn’t have the means to take care me so I was sent to live with relatives in Europe.
I had a tough childhood, very little means of communication with mother during these 13 years except a few letters. I threw myself into education.
I returned to Congo when I was 18 and I was shocked at the conditions my mother and neighbors were living in. There was no running water, electricity, infrastructure, technology, little access to education.
I realized these girls could’ve been me, had my mother not sent me away.
I knew I had to do something to give back to my country out of the education I had received.
I went back to Europe and finished my studies and them some friends entered me into a competition to be the face of Agent Provocateur and I won. From there I landed other campaigns in cities such as London and New York. My career grew from there and it wasn’t long before I realised I had a platform from which I could start what would later become Malaika.

About Malaika:
I started off small, sponsoring 10 girls to go to school.
Malaika has since grown to a thriving ecosystem that can be duplicated in any context around the world. It is comprised of 5 pillars:
School
Comprehensive, free primary and secondary education to 430 girls
Taught in French and English, heavy STEM focus, coding, music, theater, sport, art.
Community Center
Offers literacy, vocational education, sport, heath classes & more to more than 5,000 youth and adults each year
Using sport for social change, to promote equality and peace
Boys, mothers, fathers attend
Wells
Built or refurbished 28 wells in the area
Provides clean / safe / potable water for drinking, cooking, cleaning, washing, etc (especially impt during pandemic)
Central locations
Impacts more than 35,000 individuals each year
Agriculture program
Sustainable & organic farm / garden beneficial for several reasons
Helps to provide 2 nutritious meals each day to students and staff
Teaching opportunity for students and community members in sustainable agriculture
Provides job / employment opportunities for adults in the community
Technical classes
Teaches mechanics and electrical engineering in partnership with Caterpillar Foundation and Congo Equipment, to youth and adults at the community center. First cohort have recently completed training and many have secured jobs with local companies.
Also teaching housekeeping and culinary skills.
Our Mama Ya Mapendo program teaches local mothers sewing and embroidery skills and they attend workshops on design, financial literacy, etc

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc. In your view what are some of the most fun, interesting, exciting people, places or things to check out? Milan – I would take a friend to watch a football game! There is such a passion for the sport in Italy and there would be an incredible atmosphere at a game.
Milan is a fashion capital so I would take them to the Galleria Vittorio Emanuelle II, which is full of shops and designer boutiques as well as bars and restaurants, but is also a stunning building.
The food is amazing in Milan so I would take them to a market to try some street food, chat to the locals, and maybe book a cooking class with an Italian chef.
And we would get some gelato and catch some sunshine in the Sempione Park.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
My Shoutout is dedicated to all the mamas in the village of Kalebuka in the Democratic Republic of Congo, where Malaika is based. They have made a huge impact on me, personally and professionally, since I founded Malaika. These women face immense challenges in their day to day lives and yet they are so positive and resilient. They encourage me and make me smile with their kindness, generosity, and courage. This journey of building Malaika over the past 16 years would not have been the same without them.

Website: Background — Noëlla Coursaris Musunka

Instagram: Noëlla Coursaris Musunka (@noellacoursaris) • Instagram photos and videos

Linkedin: (7) Noella Coursaris Musunka | LinkedIn

Twitter: Noëlla Coursaris (@Noellacc) / Twitter

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100057846527480

Youtube: noella coursaris – YouTube