Bini Birdies
About Us
Nonikiwe Mashologu
co-founder
+ director of literacy, training and partnerships
Xanelé Mennen
co-founder
+ director: placemaking &
child-centred design
For nearly 20 years, Nonikiwe has worked at the intersection of literacy and training, guided by the belief that every child deserves joyful learning. Her experience includes roles as editor, translator, trainer, facilitator, and project manager with leading literacy organisations like Nal’ibali, Biblionef SA, Room to Read, and the National Library of South Africa’s First Words in Print. Most recently, she was Director of Partnerships and Stakeholder Relations at the Otto Foundation, where she helped develop vibrant school libraries and reading programs that reflect South Africa’s diverse stories.
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Through training and facilitation, she supports ECD teachers, practitioners and caregivers by building on their strengths, such as care, creativity and storytelling, while sharing practical tools to nurture a love of books and learning in young children. She is committed to creating inclusive literacy ecosystems rooted in community and story.
Nonikiwe is the author of Nala Sings, a joyful picture book inspired by a Sesotho folktale. Its isiXhosa version, Cula Nala, translated by Dr Xolisa Guzula, won the IBBY SA/Exclusive Books Prize for Quality Translation and was featured on the IBBY Honour List of 100 outstanding children’s books. Nala Sings was also longlisted for the 2024 South African Literary Awards.
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She continues to contribute as an editor and translator and has judged several literary awards including the Golden Baobab Prize, IBBY SA Award, Cover2Cover Short Story Competition and Otto Foundation Book Awards.
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Nonikiwe also serves on the board of the Denis Goldberg Foundation and previously held leadership roles at Nal’ibali and IBBY SA. Recognised as one of 12 women driving literacy change in South Africa, she champions reading as a radical, joyful and essential act, one book, one story, one young reader at a time.
Xanelé is a child-centred designer dedicated to creating spaces, experiences, and resources that support holistic child development. By collaborating directly with children, Xanelé embraces their creativity and agency, ensuring they are active participants in shaping the environments and experiences designed for them.
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Her primary focus is to contribute to children's well-being by integrating play, literacy, and intentional design into their everyday lives. Whether through educational tools, urban spaces, or interactive systems, her work is built on the belief that children's voices are essential in creating inclusive and empowering environments. Xanelé strives to design spaces where children can explore, learn, and grow emotionally, cognitively, and socially.
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Throughout her career, Xanelé has led and collaborated on a wide range of interdisciplinary projects involving children, educators, corporations, governments, and NGOs. Her approach is grounded in research-driven methodologies that emphasise creative and critical thinking, empathy, and proactive problem-solving. She is committed to designing impactful solutions that genuinely reflect the needs, desires, and capacities of children, ensuring their well-being and development are always prioritised.
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From 2010 to 2020, Xanelé co-founded and was executive director of See Saw Do, a child-centred design studio. From 2020 to 2024, she worked as a child-centred designer for The Otto Foundation, a philanthropic trust that promotes the joy of reading through child-focused initiatives. Xanelé’s work has been nominated twice for Design Indaba’s Most Beautiful Object of the Year, she has been selected as one of Mail and Guardian’s top 200 Young South Africans and has won the Golden Baobab African Illustrator’s Award.
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We look forward to hearing from you!
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