Mondia Health
Poem Competition 2026
Winner: Mariette Balt
The Poem of Us
One voice rises, not loud, not hurried, but steady as breath.
It speaks – for hearts that have forgotten their own sound.
Hands reach, not to fix, but to hold.
Eyes meet, not to judge, but to see.
Here, healing is not a moment – it is a journey walked together.
A thousand small steps, stitched with courage, threaded with care.
Hope is not distant here – it lives in shared smiles, in whispered “you’re not alone”.
Connection grows like light through leaves – soft, persistent, alive.
Rooted in community, watered by compassion.
One voice becomes many – many voices become one – a chorus of becoming.
And in that unity, in that sacred togetherness,
hearts remember – they are heard, they are held, they are whole.
ABOUT MARIETTE
Mariette is the Case Management Lead at Mondia Dihlabeng, advocating for patients and securing positive medical‑aid approvals to reduce financial risk for both patients and the facility. She approaches every case with dignity, patience, and understanding. Beyond her professional role, she is a devoted mother and grandmother who values family, kindness, and resilience.
2nd Place: Melissa Schoeman
The Heart of Mondia Health
Not in grand gestures, nor in loud applause,
but in quiet moments, halls and boardrooms
softly aware of what lingers unspoken.
Not in policy, nor rushing to repair,
but in steady, intentional presence, connection, and care.
A chair turned closer, a pause that makes space,
a gentle, “tell me more,” offered with grace.
This is Mondia Health: where people are seen,
where armour softens and cultures are held.
Every role carries more than is shown.
With compassion, integrity, we contribute light,
and add depth, like salt, to what sits out of sight.
3rd Place: Thuso Thabana
In quiet rooms where weary hearts arrive,
You teach us not just to survive, but to thrive truly.
Through tender care and words that softly mend,
You remind us that hope is something we can hold again.
People and places brought together to heal and inspire.
You light within each soul a steady fire.
Where broken paths are healed with gentle grace,
And courage finds its home, a steady place,
Together we rise, stronger than before,
With purpose guiding us, we open every door.
Mondia is more than hope. it’s love, it’s unity,
A living flame of growth, of strength, of community