At the Bulungula Incubator (BI), it feels shallow to describe what we do as simply “work.” We are a deeply embedded, place-based organisation with virtually nonexistent boundaries between our work and community. With 130 permanent staff—90% from our community and all staff living and working here—our efforts are shaped by and directly connected to the realities on the ground. This deep sense of ownership drives everything we do.
We have intentionally created a work culture that reflects our community’s warmth, trust, and cohesiveness. When you enter our office, you immediately feel the deep connection among our staff. Every day starts with greetings, not just as a formality but as a genuine expression of mutual respect and care.
Our workspace has been thoughtfully designed to break down traditional workplace barriers. There are no private offices or separate desks. Everyone works together in a single room, facing one another, with no visible signs of hierarchy. This openness creates an environment where transparency and communication come naturally.
Our team values collective effort, with fluid boundaries between responsibilities. We support one another across projects, creating a culture where initiative flourishes. The absence of rigid structures allows us to act quickly and adaptively, while the deep trust among our team members fuels creativity and innovation in our projects.
As “doers” rooted in rural life, we are used to rolling up our sleeves and finding practical solutions, often with limited resources. This resilience is ingrained in everything we do, and it’s common for staff members to go well beyond their job descriptions, driven by the belief that when one of us succeeds, we all do. Our success is ultimately measured by the impact we make together.
Our philosophy of “growing our own timber” has guided us since our inception in 2007, when there were scarce skills available for many of our projects, particularly in health, education, finance and admin management. As a strategic focus, we prioritised training people from our community, even if we needed to outsource jobs temporarily while developing skills in-house. This approach has been transformative, especially considering that 95% of our community members had not completed high school before BI was established. We believe that focusing on capacity-building from within helps sustain long-term, meaningful change.
Strong relationships with traditional leadership and the broader community have been crucial to our success. Development at BI is truly community-driven, with local input shaping every project. An elected Community Forum works closely with us on strategic planning, while a full-time Community Liaison Officer ensures effective two-way communication. Community representation is enshrined in our governance, with members serving on the Board of Directors—including our community’s Senior Traditional Leader (Chieftess) acting as the Chairperson of our Board.
In line with our values, we ensure equitable compensation across our organisation. With a 5:1 pay ratio* between the highest (programme managers, teachers, nurses, director/founder) and lowest-paid staff, we reinforce the belief that every contribution is essential, regardless of role.
At Bulungula Incubator, we know that how we do development work is just as important as what we do. By building a culture of trust, respect, fairness and shared ownership, we create solutions that are impactful now and sustainable for the future. BI is not just an organisation operating in a community; it is a community working together to shape a thriving future.
*Pay ratios in many South African organisations and companies typically range from 20:1 to 50:1 or even higher in some cases. Read more.