About

Sihlume Consulting (NPC) was founded by Zena Makeleni, a passionate Foundation Phase educator committed to creating learning environments where every child feels understood, included and empowered to thrive.

Zena holds a Bachelor of Social Science with majors in Psychology and Anthropology from Rhodes University, a Postgraduate Certificate in Education (Foundation Phase) (cum laude) from Rhodes University, and a Postgraduate Diploma in the Psychology of Education (cum laude) from the University of South Africa (UNISA). Her interdisciplinary background, together with her commitment to continuous professional learning and evidence-informed practice, shapes an approach that considers not only the individual child, but also the family, school, community and cultural contexts in which learning and development take place.

With over seven years of teaching experience across independent and public schools, Zena has worked with children from diverse backgrounds, with different strengths, learning profiles and support needs. These experiences have strengthened her understanding that meaningful inclusion requires more than supporting a child in isolation — it requires responsive learning environments and strong partnerships between the adults and communities surrounding them.

Her approach is warm, collaborative, child-centred and strengths-focused, beginning with where each child is and building from their existing strengths, interests and needs.

At the heart of Zena’s work is a simple belief: every child deserves to be seen beyond their challenges, every family deserves to feel supported, and every educator deserves practical strategies that make inclusion achievable.💙💛🌱