Bini Birdies
About Us
Nonikiwe Mashologu
co-founder
+ director of training, facilitation and partnerships
Xanelé Mennen
co-founder
+ director of design:
child-centred spatial designer
Nonikiwe Mashologu is a passionate literacy advocate and the co-founder of Early Birdies, a vibrant social enterprise on a mission to address South Africa’s low literacy rates.
Through playful and imaginative literacy resources, materials, and training, Early Birdies is helping to equip young children with the skills they need to soar in their educational journeys and beyond. The initiative develops engaging play-and-literacy-based activities while training ECD caregivers to spark a love for reading, storytelling, and learning through play.
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Before embarking on this exciting journey, Nonikiwe served as the Director of Partnerships and Stakeholder Relations at the Otto Foundation Trust and held leadership roles across several literacy-focused organizations.
Her dedication to early literacy is reflected in her involvement as a board trustee at Nal’ibali, the Denis Goldberg Legacy Foundation Trust, and previously IBBY SA. She's also the author of Nala Sings, a joyful children’s story that celebrates the power of awareness.
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Recognized as one of 12 women driving literacy change in South Africa, Nonikiwe has also contributed her expertise as a judge for various prestigious literary awards.
When she's not championing literacy causes, you can find her reading, enjoying time with loved ones, exploring the outdoors on a hike, or finding her zen with yoga and meditation.
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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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