At just 10 years old, Gertrude Fefoame began experiencing vision loss. Four years later, she went blind. Living in Ghana, she endured stigma and discrimination which people with disabilities are regularly subjected to.
“There is a misconception in most parts of Africa that one would have a disability as a result of one's ill deeds,” Fefoame says. She internalised this prejudice, feeling gradually isolated. But after attending a school for people with blindness and meeting others with similar experiences, she gained new confidence and belief in herself. Now, Fefoame has dedicated her life to making the world more accessible for people with disabilities....
Clover Mama Afrika, Clover's corporate investment project aimed at upskilling Mama Afrikas all over South Africa, has appointed Mama Kedibone Miyambo of Moepathutse Children Centre in Hammanskraal as its 48th Mama Afrika.
The CSI initiative started in 2004 and has since hosted 426 training sessions with over 2,261 beneficiaries.
See the gallery below.
The hall is decorated with bright streamers. Pop music fills the room, beckoning people to dance. Young students adorned in custom-made gowns take the hand of their well-dressed dates. In South Africa, a matric dance is the first time many pupils are made to feel special. But not all can afford the occasion. This was apparent to design duo Fagin Hardine and Adri Andrews of Paarl. Wanting to provide for the youth of their community, they decided to honour the final-year students in style.
Read their full story...
Restonic, in partnership with cycling kit brand, Ciovita, has donated cycling kits to two Sani2C race riders within the Underberg region in KwaZulu-Natal. The local bedding brand has been supporting the Sani2c event for over five years, together with its parent company, KAP Industrial Holdings, which is the title sponsor of the MTB race.
See below pictures from the handover event.
Grabbing a vertical pole with hands stretched wide, Johannes ‘Timo’ Gunther braces himself and lifts his body parallel to the ground, forming a perfect human flag. Somewhere above him, Phelelani Ndrakrokra is suspended upside down, loving life.
Both high-flying performers know what it means to fall. Gunther, a pole acrobat, ran away from his Namibian home seeking a fresh start in Cape Town. Ndrakrokra, a wheel artist, was born to a single mother living on the streets. They both have found a home at Zip Zap Circus through its Dare to Dream project. The programme looks to help people from all walks of life realise their dreams through circus art.
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Sarah Isaacs stands still and gazes towards her subject. There’s a shy smile and a laugh, as the woman standing nude behind a bouquet of flowers shares this vulnerable moment with the photographer. Isaacs ducks behind her camera. Setting and focusing her frame, she hopes to capture the essence of the moment. Her muse isn’t perfect, but she’s the real thing.
Read Sarah Isaacs' full story here....
Puseletso Mabote bows his head and braces himself. His breath is measured but his determination is at full blast. Competing in the World Para Athletics Junior Championships is a momentous opportunity. Sweat drips from the runner’s forehead. The gun fires and Mabote leaps into action. He bolts down the track, crossing the finishing line ahead of the others. It’s only after the adrenaline subsides that the 14-year-old realises the enormity of what he’s just accomplished.
Read Puseletso Mabote's full story...
Do you remember the search for your first job? Sending off your CV, hoping that your application would stand out, then waiting for days on end for a reply? For Kevin Boshoff, who has Down Syndrome, it was almost impossible to find employment. Being rejected from career opportunities can strip anyone of their dignity, self-esteem, and financial security. But Boshoff never gave up.
After three years of looking for work, he received a job at the Bean Tree Café in Plattekloof. With a smile on his face, Boshoff serves food and coffee and helps however he can. The restaurant has created a discrimination-free space where he can follow his aspirations. “The coffee shop is my life,” Boshoff says. “The coffee shop is my home.”
Read Kevin Boshoff's full story...
Glittering sunlight beckons at the end of the cobalt tunnel. Glide across the water’s surface, dance with the sway of the board, and feel the rush of the wave collapsing. Surfing is one of the most thrilling ways to experience the ocean. But it’s expensive. The cost of the sport, from lessons to surfboards and wetsuits, keeps many people onshore. Luckily, nine-year-old Will Ronquest-Ross is helping other kids catch their big break.
Read Will Ronquest-Ross' full story...
The Independent Philanthropy Association of South Africa (IPASA) hosted its annual Philanthropy Symposium on 28 and 29 October this year under the theme, 'Social cohesion: Towards building hope and trust in South Africa'. The event took place at the Stellenbosch Institute for Advanced Study, focusing on the role that philanthropy can play in enhancing social cohesion in South African schools, universities and communities, and how philanthropy can address the various fault lines in society....
The winners of the 2019 Feathers Awards were recently announced in Johannesburg. The awards recognise South African personalities and institutions, activists, performing artists, sportspeople and media organisations that fly the LGBTIQ+ flag high.
Zahraa Hendricks had a game to win. To her, scoring tries was the challenge, not wearing a headscarf. The young hijabi didn’t expect to make headlines in her first rugby match. But when Hendricks ran onto the field, pictures of her were taken and posted to social media. Instantly, they went viral. Hendricks’ amendments to her kit had caught onlookers off-guard. For protection and as a symbol of modesty, Muslim women veil their hair. Because of it, they’re often doubly painted with the stigma of being oppressed. “That’s not true,” Hendricks says. “I am free.”
Read Zahraa Hendricks' full story...
