Elinor Sisulu facts for kids

Elinor Sisulu (born Elinor Batezat on 9 March 1958) is a well-known writer and activist from South Africa. She grew up in Zimbabwe and has dedicated her life to writing and working for important causes.

Who is Elinor Sisulu?

Her Early Life and Learning

Elinor Batezat was born in a city called Salisbury, which is now Harare, the capital of Zimbabwe. This was in a country then known as Rhodesia. Her parents were Francis Batezat and Betty Stuhardt. Elinor spent her childhood in another city called Bulawayo.

She went to college at the University of Zimbabwe. She also studied in other countries, including Senegal and the Netherlands. While she was studying in the Netherlands, she met Max Sisulu, who later became her husband.

A Career of Writing and Activism

Elinor Sisulu started her career as a researcher. She worked for the Ministry of Labour in Zimbabwe. Later, she worked for an international group called the International Labour Organization in Zambia.

In 1991, Elinor and her family moved to Johannesburg, South Africa. This was after apartheid ended, which was a time of unfair rules in South Africa. For several years, she worked as a freelance writer and editor. This means she wrote and edited for different clients.

Writing for Young Readers

In 1994, Elinor wrote a special book for children called The Day Gogo Went to Vote. This story is about the first time everyone in South Africa could vote in a democratic election. It was a very important moment in history.

In 2002, she wrote a biography about her husband's parents, Walter and Albertina Sisulu. The book is called Walter and Albertina Sisulu: In Our Lifetime. It won an award called the Noma Award for Publishing in Africa. It was also a runner-up for another important book award.

Elinor has also written shorter pieces. These include reflections on important historical events like the 1956 Women's March in South Africa. She also wrote the introduction for a book by Jestina Mukoko, which was about human rights in Zimbabwe.

Helping Others and Communities

Elinor Sisulu is very active in helping communities. She helped start a group called the Crisis Coalition of Zimbabwe. This group works to help people in Zimbabwe. She has also written reports for important organizations like the Independent Electoral Authority of South Africa and the World Food Programme.

She helps lead many different groups. She is on the board of the Open Society Initiative for Southern Africa and the National Arts Festival. She also helps the Heal Zimbabwe Trust and chairs the Book Development Foundation. This foundation helps develop books in Cape Town. Elinor is also the executive director of the Puku Children's Literature Foundation. This foundation works to promote reading and literature for children.