Model and philanthropist Noëlla Coursaris Musunka on empowering girls.

Noëlla Coursaris Musunka, a Congolese/ Cypriot international model and philanthropist, founded Malaika in the village of Kalebuka near her birthplace in southeastern DRC, an area which previously had little or no access to electricity, clean water, education facilities, healthcare, or technology. She is a leading voice for the power of girls’ education.

Through collaboration, partnerships, talks, and events worldwide, Noëlla actively shares her experience and insights she has gained through working with the Malaika team with organizations and individuals looking to make a change, from the World Economic Forum to universities such as Harvard, MIT, and Oxford. In addition to receiving an award from the House of Mandela at the Nelson Mandela centenary celebration, she was named one of the BBC’s 100 Most Influential & Inspirational Women of the Year in 2017.

“Education gives them the knowledge they need to achieve these goals and the self-belief and strong values that will strengthen society.”

Would you please tell us about yourself and the incredible work happening at Malaika? 

I am a mother, an international model, and founder of Malaika, a non-profit organization that is based in the Democratic Republic of Congo. I lead Malaika at every level on a voluntary basis. I am a philanthropist and ambassador for The Global Fund to fight against AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria, and I am dedicated to raising awareness of the importance of educating girls across the globe.

Malaika is a grassroots non-profit organization that is working to transform lives in the Democratic Republic of Congo by providing access to education and health. It was founded in 2007 and now comprises a primary and secondary school that provides free, holistic education to 400 girls.

We also have a community center that offers education and sports programs to over 5000 youth and adults.

We have built and refurbished 21 wells so that 32,000 locals have access to clean water and have a sustainable agriculture program that helps feed students and staff two nutritious meals each day.

Malaika is a community-driven ecosystem that can be duplicated in any context around the world.

What inspired you to start Malaika? 

I myself was born in Congo. My father died when I was five, and my mom did not have the education to be able to support me on her own. She sent me away to live with relatives and receive an education. She sacrificed so much so that I could have more opportunities.

When I returned to Congo again, I was 18. During my visit, I met many girls whose stories could have been mine. After talking with them, I decided that I wanted to do something to provide them with opportunities -- an opportunity to learn and to be empowered to expect the best from their lives.

Today there are over 50 million girls in Sub-Saharan Africa who are out of school, and UNICEF estimates COVID-19 has threatened to turn back 25 years of progress in girls’ education and empowerment. So what inspired me at the age of 18 continues to inspire me today as not only is education a human right, we need girls to be educated and reach their potential because globally, society will benefit.

Your career is a beautiful representation of both modeling and philanthropy. Did you always have a goal to have a foot in each world, or did that develop over time? 

I had the dream to start Malaika first, when I returned to Congo at the age of 18. After that trip, I went back to Europe and finished a business management degree. I got into modeling shortly after when a friend of mine put me forward for a competition to be the face of Agent Provocateur. I won, and my career took off from there.

Whatever career I had gone into, I would always have had philanthropy as part of my vision and my life. I think giving back when you find yourself in any position of privilege - as in you have a roof over your head, food on your plate, and skills that will help others - is essential to help those who are disadvantaged.

What should be done to move philanthropy in Africa forward in a sustainable and impactful way? 

Educate girls! Education for Africa’s youth is essential to give them a mind to help others and equip them to actually do that. To innovate, build businesses that create jobs and boost economic growth, and understand the role they play in their communities.

Our girls have big ambitions to become doctors, teachers, and pilots, and they already speak about giving back to their communities and country. Education gives them the knowledge they need to achieve these goals and the self-belief and strong values that will strengthen society.

If you could give young girls three pieces of advice, what would it be? 

Believe in yourself - you have great potential and are special.

Don’t give up. Anything worthwhile doesn’t come easy.

When you’re given an opportunity, grab it with both hands and give it 100% of your effort.

Your efforts to help and empower girls are genuinely inspiring. Do you have any final words of wisdom to share with us?

Africa has so much to offer, and I am inspired and excited by the rising talent we see coming through.

If we can all mentor someone who is a few steps behind us, we can empower the next generation - so if you’re not mentoring someone or you haven’t got a mentor, find someone!

Editorial for Circular Threads Project

Photography Alex Brammal

Makeup Jessica Mejia

Styling Natalie Wansbrough-Jones

Hair Keiichiro Hirano