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Celebrating the Changemakers of South Africa
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Celebrating the Changemakers of South Africa
Shining a Light on South Africa’s Changemakers
Join us in honouring
the 2025 Proteas of Mzansi
The Proteas of Mzansi initiative is a much-loved celebration of South Africa’s unsung heroines—women who pour themselves into the work of community upliftment, often without any public acknowledgement. It’s a recognition of selfless service, quiet resilience, and tangible impact within the social sector.
Each year, Nation Builder invites the public to nominate remarkable women changemakers from across South Africa. The ten selected Proteas of Mzansi are celebrated in the Western Cape with a meaningful day of honour, professional photoshoot, pampering, and official ceremony—an uplifting occasion designed to spotlight their stories and amplify their impact.
On 25 September 2025, we gathered at The Polo Pavilion by Back’s, Val de Vie Estate, to celebrate ten phenomenal women whose leadership and vision are having a real, tangible ripple effect across the country. With inspiring spoken word by Puno Selesho, storytelling, and vibrant community recognition, the Proteas of Mzansi 2025 luncheon was a space of dignity, celebration, and connection.
Each honouree receives one year of complimentary Nation Builder membership, linking them into our national network of changemakers, access to resources, collaborative opportunities, and capacity support. Over the coming weeks, we will publish their stories, amplify their voices, and share their journeys across our digital platforms and partner media.
The Proteas of Mzansi initiative stands as a testament to Nation Builder’s core conviction: that celebrating changemakers is not only an act of gratitude—it is an invitation for others to step forward. By shining a spotlight on women who are driving community progress, we foster a culture of collaboration, resilience, and collective impact.
Watch this space as we share these 10 inspiring stories on our social platforms and website over the coming weeks.
The 2025 Proteas of Mzansi
Recognising
Women Driving Impact
Ten remarkable women, ten powerful stories of change.
We proudly honour:
Anna-Louise Olivier, Annie Maboea, Alison Alexander, Hanneke Mackie, Jacqueline Boulle, Sinenhlanhla Luthuli, Chiara Henry, Glenda Van Wyk, Abueng Leepile and Shontelle Rabothata.
Congratulations to each deserving honouree – your stories continue to inspire a more just, connected, and compassionate South Africa.
Glenda
van Wyk
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Glenda van Wyk (55)
Like the eternal Protea, her strength is not in bending to the wind, but in standing rooted while reaching for the sky.
Buffalo City – Helping others has always been part of her being. Whether it was doing the make-up for young girls in her community during her twenties, coaching them for pageant interviews, taking children in foster care on camps in her spare time or doing motivational talks at schools.
These days Glenda, the founder of the nonprofit organisation Equaltalk, works to enhance the physical and mental wellbeing of youth and women through the transformative power of music. Equaltalk addresses critical issues such as inequality, lack of youth development projects, teen-suicide and mental health. Their flagship programme, Tune Your Feelings, targets primary school children by providing musical instruments and music teachers to create safe spaces where the youth can express themselves. “Our tagline at Equaltalk is ‘make the circle bigger’ and we believe that healthy communities create healthy individuals which leads to a better country,” she explains.
Glenda herself has suffered many challenges and difficulties growing up in the Eastern Cape. “I grew up in a household with six other siblings, with extreme violence and episodes of poverty. I have witnessed many incidents of near-death violent outbursts towards my mother and siblings, and reading became my escape method,” the mother of one described her childhood.
“I always say that I have experienced the so-called big five of traumatic events early on in my life. At 22, I was diagnosed with Lupus and almost died. Growing up, there was extreme violence in my parental home and in my marriage, there was alcoholism, infertility and death.”
Glenda, however, always managed not just to overcome these challenges with grace but also to excel in life. She describes herself as a high achiever – someone who stood first in class, played the lead in school concerts, excelled in sports and performed well as a university student.
“At university, I was called into the late professor Adam Small’s office. I was sick with worry that I had done something wrong, only to be told by the professor that I had written one of the best philosophy papers he had seen in many years of teaching. He told me that I have a deep soul that cares about humanity – and that is my great gift. He encouraged me to continue to build my foundation on that.”
Life eventually took Glenda and her family to the US, where she obtained a master’s degree in Organisational Psychology. She worked as the HR and talent manager at Western Pennsylvania’s largest social impact organisation, and it was there that Equaltalk was incorporated and born.
She explains that social upliftment was deeply embedded in her professional career, driving around the villages of the Eastern Cape to educate communities about child welfare and early childhood development.
“During our time living in the USA we were deeply affected by the music and the arts. My daughter and I were walking down a street in an unfamiliar neighbourhood when we saw young girls playing musical instruments in an open space. I felt a tremendous sadness realising that many kids back home will never feel the transformative power of playing an instrument,” she recalls.
“I shared my deep concern about it with a church group and placed an advert in the local bulletin for instruments. My daughter, Beverley, and I drove far and wide in the snow to collect the instruments and encountered many sad stories of teenagers who committed suicide. The parents donated these instruments for our flagship programme in memory of their children.”
On days when the work and life feel heavy, Glenda relies on Don Miguel Ruiz’s principles, outlined in The Four Agreements. They are: Be impeccable with your word; don’t take anything personally; don’t make assumptions; and always do your best.
“These principles, coupled with a fundamental, strong faith that God has ordained my steps, keep me going.”
What will your billboard say? Make the circle bigger, bigger, bigger through helping others.
Describe your journey in three words: Ecstatic. Frustrating. Rewarding.
Anna-Louise
Olivier
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Anna-Louise Olivier (56)
The Protea’s crown reminds us that queenhood isn’t inherited; it’s cultivated through seasons of growth and grace.
Centurion – She’s always had an interest in people who think or act a bit differently than the social norm. Since a young age she liked to observe how people from different backgrounds, cultures, or religions did things and lived life. But this interest was sometimes misunderstood, Anna-Louise, the CEO of Irene Homes NPO, explains. Irene Homes is a South African organisation providing residential and day care support and skills training for people with intellectual disabilities.
“My mom used to tell me to relax – to not take life so seriously and to read books like Mills & Boon. I could however never see the relevance of reading books like that. I would rather read a self-help book, or something non-fiction or in the documentary sphere to get to the meaning of life. I guess it says a lot about how I can get absorbed or carried away by the stories unfolding in peoples’ lives.”
Anna-Louise has a deep curiosity about how different people can experience the same life situation in so many different ways. It fascinates her, she says. Her interest continues to be in people, diversity and different cultures – recognising we are more alike than different, she adds.
“The times in my life where my own actions were misunderstood, taught me the harshness of perception, judgement and false accusations. I think this has shaped my interest to work with people who are vulnerable, marginalised, or seen as the ‘different’ ones in life. Understanding the need for a true sense of belonging yet being true to who you are and living an authentic life has often been a challenge for me. I will always remain thankful for the opportunities for personal growth that my career offered me – both in the NGO sector and in the corporate world.”
Some personal life challenges set her on a path of soul-searching, self-help, reflection, and self-awareness experiences in her thirties, Anna-Louise recalls. She was set on looking for the real meaning in life. Even though she has had meaningful relationships in her life, she has never settled down to tell her own so-called “family with a white picket fence” story. Instead, she is now a ‘mother’ to many thanks to her work with vulnerable children and in the intellectual disability field. She also continues to be a mentor for younger staff members she’s met along her career journey.
“I love the younger generation’s energy and how they teach us about selfcare. In my own community circles, I often tend to informally get involved in youth initiatives.”
Anna-Louise’s second biggest turning point in her life came in her forties when she came to understand Asset Based Community Development. “In this time my role was never to do things for people, but rather with people. I’ve learned to question Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, by experiencing first-hand how young people in under resourced communities – with no or little food, safety and security – could still thrive and turn out to be leaders in their community. I think this was my biggest turning point – to realise that these people are and can be active participants that know best how to shape their own futures,” she explains.
“Moving towards working with people and allowing them to see their own worth and potential continues to be my focus in the leadership roles I occupy.”
Anna-Louise lives by the motto: Love what you do and never work a day. “If my work was a symbol, it would be a circle – implying that it is an all-in-one, none compartmentalised way of being for me. My work takes up a lot of time and even in my free time, when I am not spending time with my community, meaningful occupation feeds my soul. The colour green has become significant for me; I recently realised green symbolises growth, new beginnings.”
What will my billboard say?
Look beyond yourself.
My journey in three words:
Being. Becoming. Belonging.
Alison
Alexander
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Alison Alexander (63)
In the language of flowers, the Protea whispers: ‘I am transformation incarnate, beauty born from struggle.’
Cape Town – If her work had to be a metaphor or symbol it would undoubtedly be a rainbow, Alison, the founder, guardian and primary care giver at Rainbow of Hope in Goodwood, explains.
The rainbow is a promise from God of no more rain after the storm. Of new beginnings. Of God’s saving grace. A proverbial promise of a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.
Through her work, Alison too provides the children she cares for with the promise of a new life; a future bright with opportunity away from the pain and struggles they have had to endure during the earliest years of their life.
Rainbow of Hope, lovingly known as Rainbow House, was established in October 2007 and operates as a place of safety for vulnerable children in Cape Town. It all started with Alison, a pre-primary schoolteacher at the time, opening her own home to help abused and neglected children in her community. When her own home grew too small, Rainbow of Hope was born.
“Growing up in a family of 13 siblings had its challenges as well as its strengths. Living in those conditions on the Cape Flats was never easy. Hindsight is foresight they say and looking back – remembering the abuse, trauma and drama amidst times of happiness and a loving family – definitely left its mark.
“I had a loving mom, dad and great siblings but I too, in my late twenties, remembered abuse in my early years which I had chosen not to remember. I must however say that should I choose to do it all over again, I wouldn’t change a thing because I know God prepared me for Rainbow of Hope. What I remembered as a mess in my life and that of other family members, God took and turned into a message for the children of today.”
Alison explains the odds were stacked against her as a young girl on the Cape Flats in the apartheid era, where the opportunity to pursue further studies after high school were not really encouraged and, in some instances, just not possible.
She ended being the only one amongst her sisters to matriculate – with university acceptance – and a dream to become a social worker. She however had to find a job instead but managed to qualify as a pre-school teacher after she got married.
“The dream of becoming a social worker never left me and I believe that today, I am doing what every social worker should be doing – and that is protecting our most vulnerable children at risk.”
According to Alison there was never a specific turning point in her life that motivated her to start helping others. “My siblings say that as young as twelve I used to say that I was going to adopt many children. I was not much older than that, when I used to run over to a place called “Die Nannie Huis” in Athlone, where I went to play with babies born to unmarried moms from the Cape Flats. I think this is where the seed was sown because I would come home and think: I want to run a place like that, but it must be filled with love and warmth – not the coldness those children encountered.”
Today, Alison is the mother of two biological children and one adopted child, 12 foster children and two grandchildren. She lists having her biological children as one of the greatest achievements of her life. That, and the impact she has had on the lives of each and every child – her own children included.
“This is the legacy I want to leave. Not brick and mortar as in a building called Rainbow of Hope, but the life of every child who passed through our hands.”
Alison describes her work as a calling and not a job – and that keeps her going when times are tough. “I know I need to be true to the one who called me [to do this work] despite the challenges. I have also learnt that even when its heavy there will be a breakthrough – sometimes it’s just something small that God shows me. He is still in control!
What will my billboard say? “Children, speak out! Look up! Look forward!”
My journey in two words: Unconditional love. Forgiveness.
Abueng
Leepile
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Abueng Leepile (35)
Like the Protea, she blooms fiercest in the harshest soil, transforming adversity into extraordinary beauty.
Mahikeng – Growing up resources were limited, but dreams weren’t, says Abueng, a successful agricultural entrepreneur and the founder and director of Bokamoso Abu Farms in the country’s North West Province.
“I faced many challenges, like not having access to opportunities or role models in entrepreneurship. But those same limitations made me resourceful, grounded, and hungry to create something bigger than the circumstances I found myself in.”
Through Bokamoso Abu Farms, Abueng contributes to food security by growing a variety of vegetables and raising small livestock, all whilst helping, empowering and inspiring rural youth and women.
She is currently part of a continental leadership development programme for young African changemakers and has represented South Africa in a pan-African programme focused on food systems leadership and transformation.
“One of my biggest challenges has been facing constant rejection especially when it came to accessing land and funding. Coming from a rural village, I was often overlooked and underestimated. But instead of giving up, I chose to build with what I had and grow from there. That decision taught me resilience, creativity, and the power of starting small while dreaming big,” she explains.
The turning point in her life came when she realised no one was coming to save her, she adds. She had to build something from what she had. That also set Abueng on a path of helping others. “That shift made me want to become the person I needed when I started out. Helping others, especially rural youth and women, became my way of saying: ‘If I can rise from this soil, so can you.’”
Abueng describes building Bokamoso Abu Farms from the ground up with very limited resources as her greatest achievement in life. Her proudest achievement is staying rooted – using her work to give back, inspiring rural youth and proving that a village girl can lead.
She tends to her plants and animals on a daily basis – something that might seem like a small task to the outside eye but is part of building something bigger. It is Abueng’s daily commitment to growing food ethically, learning as she goes and creating opportunities that she hopes will uplift others in the long run.
“Farming is my way of sowing seeds for a better future, one step at a time,” she adds.
“If my work were a symbol, it would be a seed small, often overlooked, but full of potential. Just like a seed needs care, time, and faith to grow, my journey as a rural farmer has been about nurturing dreams from humble beginnings. A seed reminds me that impact doesn’t always start big it starts buried, quiet, and unseen… until it breaks through and begins to bloom.”
What would my billboard say? “Hope is not just a word — it’s the seed we plant every day in the soil of Mzansi.”
My journey in three words: Grow. Lead. Inspire.
Chiara
Henry
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Chiara Henry (33)
She carries the spirit of the Protea – ancient wisdom wrapped in contemporary grace, thriving where others cannot.
Durban – Growing up, life was very unpredictable. Some days there wasn’t enough to eat and some nights she wasn’t sure if she would be safe. Belonging, too, always felt out of reach, Chiara, operations consultant at SA Harvest, explains. SA Harvest is an NGO with a mission to end hunger in South Africa and to reduce food waste.
“I grew up in Durban, in a neighbourhood where hunger and poverty were the backdrop of everyday life, and where alcohol and drugs tore quietly through many homes. Food was never guaranteed, and safety even less so. It is a world that leaves children searching for something that I couldn’t name – a place, a person, a sense of belonging.”
Chiara found solace and belonging in sport – it became her anchor. “On the field, I found something I rarely felt at home: teamwork, care, and a sense that I could add value to the world around me. I mattered here. I did not have all the correct gear, but I would run harder if it meant it could help my team or level the playing field, even for a moment.
“Sport gave me something to look forward to on the days that were hardest, a reason to keep going when everything else felt heavy. It showed me that your beginnings don’t define your character.”
Chiara’s teenage years were spent trying to stay afloat when the ground beneath her shifted in ways she couldn’t control. “In my matric year, my father was shot, a near-fatal incident just days before my final exams. A few months later, my mum was killed, a casualty of gender-based violence. The world I thought I knew had vanished. The carpet had been ripped from underneath me, and suddenly, everything I had relied on and looked forward to in the next chapter was gone. The grief, the fear, the uncertainty, it could have swallowed me whole. For a while, it almost did.”
She describes foster care as something that became a lifeline for her. “I am incredibly lucky. I lived with two families who gave me stability, love, and a space to just breathe. That care didn’t just keep me afloat; it changed the direction of my life and shaped the person I am today. Saying thank you will never be enough.”
Chiara believes that everything she does in life comes from a place of helping others. “From surviving moments that some of my childhood friends never made it through and from the quiet, unwavering care of the people who never gave up on me. Their support became a small, steady light in the darkness, showing me that even the smallest gesture, a smile, a meal, a moment of kindness, can become the wind in someone’s sail. I carry that with me every day, making sure the kindness I was given keeps moving, reaching someone who needs it.”
She lists connection as the thing that keeps her going when the days feel heavy and the challenges all-consuming. Whether it be a smile from someone who needs you, a person who braves the cold to feed others, or a child with a full tummy for that day. These are the moments that outweigh every challenge, she adds.
“I do one tiny thing daily that feels almost invisible. A smile when thanking a petrol attendant, a genuine ‘no thank you’, or being silly with my dog. These small moments add up, creating a kind of neighbourliness that cannot be measured but can make someone’s day.”
If her work had to be a symbol it would be a bridge, Chiara concludes. “We connect people every day. Those who have resources, like good food to give, with those who need nutritional support and hope in their neighbourhoods. Like a bridge, our work doesn’t just link two sides; it creates relationships, trust, and possibility. Each connection strengthens the whole community, and even small acts of care can have a far-reaching impact.”
What would your billboard say?
Do what you can, with what you have, where you are.
Describe your journey in three words:
Grit. Grace. Gratitude.
Shontelle
Rabothata
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Shontelle Rabothata (30)
She blooms like the Protea – not despite the drought, but drawing power from depths others cannot reach.
Kgapane – Despite the challenges her mother had raising her and her siblings as a single parent with limited means, she always demonstrated kindness, warm and exceptional hospitality.
“She would frequently cook for visitors, and it was rare for someone to leave our home without having a meal. Her culinary skills and generosity were remarkable, especially considering our limited resources,” Shontelle fondly recalls.
“Nonetheless, she consistently prioritised the needs of others, demonstrating her kindness and warmth. This aspect of her character has left a lasting impression on me and reflects her remarkable nature,” she adds, describing her childhood home.
Shontelle is a Limpopo-based South African social entrepreneur and faith-driven leader, known as the founder of I’m Frésko, a non-profit organisation focused on youth development and restoring dignity. Her organisation was founded in 2020 and supplies monthly toiletry care packs to students from impoverished backgrounds. She also hosts annual youth seminars, amongst other things.
“Being raised by a single mother presented numerous challenges, especially after my father left. He left when I was in Grade 6, and I have had no contact with him since,” she explains. “The disparity in parental responsibilities is striking, as fathers often walk away, leaving mothers to care for their children with or without support. Despite these circumstances, my mother worked hard to provide for my siblings and me. She made sure that we never experienced hunger.”
Shontelle says she was disturbed by how some of her classmates in high school bullied others for things like body odour or the clothes they were wearing on things like casual days. “They would mock and tease them without understanding the other person’s background. This experience stuck with me, and I made a promise to myself to take action,” she adds.
“When I started working, I began small by buying basic personal care items for five high school students. Over time, our efforts grew, and now we can provide support to 300 high school learners per month,” this inspiring young social entrepreneur says.
Shontelle says her own mental health challenges after school have been a real struggle to overcome. “Dealing with it on my own didn’t help, and I realised that I needed support. Despite moments of desperation, including thoughts of taking my own life, I was fortunate enough not to act on them.”
She adds that albeit challenging, this personal experience has shaped her perspective and made her extremely passionate about mental health. “Having navigated the dark realities of mental health struggles, I understand its impact on one’s mind and overall well-being. This journey has instilled in me a desire to raise awareness and support others who may be facing similar challenges, ensuring they know they are not alone and that help is available.”
When the days get challenging and the work heavy, Shontelle says she is fortunate enough to have a strict mentor who holds her accountable for her goals. She also relies heavily on the support of her best friend, Bridget Manyama, and is furthermore inspired by her mother’s strength and resilience. “God also plays a huge role in my life as he is my strength. He fights my battles and that puts me at ease.”
When asked what symbol best represents her work, she chooses a flourishing tree. “Just as a tree provides shelter, nourishment, and stability, our organisation nurtures and supports students and the community. The roots represent our foundational values of faith, leadership, and health, which grounds our mission.”
“The branches symbolise the various initiatives we undertake – providing toiletries, serving warm meals, and gathering pre-loved clothing donations; each reaching out to those in need. The leaves represent the young individuals we inspire and empower, flourishing as they grow in an environment of care and support. Like a tree that grows stronger over time, our impact deepens with each passing year, fostering resilience and hope in rural areas.”
What will your billboard say?
Not everyone will appreciate your efforts, but that shouldn’t deter you from continuing with your work. Not everyone will express gratitude, so it’s important to remember the reasons you began your mission. Your actions should not be driven by the desire for applause or recognition. It should be more than that.
Describe your journey in three words:
Resilient. Hopeful. Inspiring.
Hanneke
Mackie
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Hanneke Mackie (42)
A woman’s strength is like the Protea’s crown – multifaceted, bold, and impossible to ignore.
Johannesburg – She’s always loved children. Drawn to their honesty, sincerity, and mindfulness, she’s always felt a deep desire to protect them.
“I want to equip them with tools to know and express themselves; to protect their own hearts, minds, and ideas. I love learning from children – how to be a more present and more playful person,” Hanneke explains.
This mother, wife, social entrepreneur and educationalist founded Buzz Kids in 2012, a South African education company focused on child development through the arts, offering drama, dance, and singing workshops for children.
From there, the non-profit company, The Buzz Foundation, grew. This NPO was established to operate the same services as Buzz for disadvantaged communities, including amongst other things, drama, dance, and singing workshops for children and teacher training in schools and early learning centres across South Africa.
It has reached thousands of children in townships and rural schools since, helping them develop vital 21st-century skills. “We’ve seen children’s confidence blossom, their communication skills come alive, and their curiosity and creativity ignite – all through the power of arts in education,” Hanneke explains.
Her own childhood had its own challenges.
“I grew up in the Northern Suburbs of Cape Town, in a middle-class, white Afrikaans family. I acknowledge the privilege and implicit advantages that come with that context — and, the complexities. My parents divorced during my early teens, and the years that followed were deeply unstable. For a time, I lacked a true sense of home, and that experience left its mark,” Hanneke says.
She however adds that those formative years shaped much of who she is today. “They taught me what it means to feel dejected, and to carry questions of worth. But they also gave me resilience, empathy, and a fierce sense of purpose. I believe I was born into the family I was meant to be — not because it was easy, but because it made me who I needed to become.”
According to Hanneke, her work with children is, in many ways, a response to that early instability. “I know what it feels like not to be fully seen or safe — and I’ve dedicated my life to ensuring that children, especially in underserved communities, have joyful, creative spaces where they are valued, heard, and empowered.”
Her greatest struggle has been her childhood, without a doubt Hanneke says, but it has also paved the way and motivated her to work with children and make sure they have a voice.
“My childhood was emotionally turbulent, unpredictable, and very traumatic. It left me with scars I still carry, with triggers I still navigate. It absolutely shaped how I see the world and how I show up in it. I believe much of the pain of my early childhood motivated my love for children and my need to make sure they have a voice.”
As an adult, one of the most challenging times in her career and life was the COVID-19 pandemic years, Hanneke recalls. A desperate and brutal time, where she had to let 50 employees at Buzz go and they lost their home, amongst other things.
Prior to this moment, Buzz was successfully running in-person (drama, dance and singing) services in more than 100 schools across South Africa. But during this time, schools were not just closed; external service providers were also not allowed back on site immediately after they reopened. It would eventually be three years before they could trade like they did before.
Hanneke never gave up. Even when it was the most desperate of times and her son turned two years old when they had no home of their own. “I turned our for-profit company into a franchise model over the worst COVID years. Now there are 10 independent, profitable Buzz businesses and this is growing into more, rapidly. Each business employs young arts facilitators. This has amplified our reach and our impact. We are able to test this model in underserved communities through our NPO. This is a huge job creation mechanism for the arts industry,” Hanneke says proudly.
They also managed to put all the Buzz workshops online during this period. “This birthed the concept of an interactive, edutainment television show for children. We managed to create this during COVID. We had always designed curriculum and original content like music and podcasts for children.”
Hanneke also developed an online platform for teachers called Buzz-in-a-Box, helping them to bring more movement, play, music and creativity into the teaching environment, with no special skills or training required. “Today we have more than 400 teachers using it. It is a revolutionary teaching tool.”
The pandemic years were desperate and brutal, Hanneke recalls, but they became the birthplace of all the new offerings they have today. “Somehow, through all of it, we reached children through our online programmes in every province of South Africa. We’re still standing. Still creating. Still buzzing.”
What will your billboard say? Creativity WILL BE the most IMPORTANT skill for the FUTURE: the expressive arts build this in children!
Describe your journey in three words: Joyful. Challenging. Pioneering
Lucy (Annie)
Maboea
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Annie Maboea (48)
The Protea teaches us that true resilience isn’t surviving the fire but blooming because of it.
Ekurhuleni – It is her faith that keeps her going – her belief in prayer and in God, even when times are tough.
“I also believe that I was born to do the work I am doing now. This is how I serve God, by serving others. Another thing that keeps me going is the children’s smiles and hugs at work. The whole day, every day. Seeing them happy and being able to just be children makes me happy and content,” Annie, a social, child and youth care worker and the residential care manager at the Kids Haven Child and Youth Care Centre, explains.
Kids Haven provides invaluable care and support for children, young people and families in Benoni and across the Ekurhuleni metro. Since its inception in 1992 as a shelter for street children, the organisation has expanded to a Child and Youth Care Facility with space for 170 children and young people needing protection and care.
Annie says she has always wanted to help other people – even as a child. When she was just 13 years old, she was already working with children in her community. “The younger children would come to my house, and I would teach them modelling and read them stories.” About three years later she got involved with a youth club called Siyanqoba – started by her own two friends, the late Sbongile Dlamini and Linda Mhlongo, where they were teaching young children dance, drama and modelling.
“I like to ask the children at Kids Haven in mornings how their evening was and how they are feeling. In the afternoons I stand outside the door and ask them about their day at school. And I get and give many hugs of course!” Annie explains about these little, small gestures daily that have such a big impact in these kids’ lives.
When asked about someone she looks up to and who inspires her to keep going, she says Moira Simpson, the founder of Kids Haven. “When I look at what she sacrificed, the challenges she faced standing up for the children, and how she advocated and loved the children. Her compassion and passion to help others reminds me why I keep going. I want to keep her legacy going whilst working on mine.”
Whilst Annie has received many accolades and recognition for her work, she lists being a mother as her proudest achievement. “I am very proud of my boys and the kind of men they are becoming. They are my greatest joy and achievement.”
The loss of her father a few years ago was devastating to her. “It felt like my whole world fell apart. The one person who understood me and silently held me up was gone; it was devastating. I think the love, support from my family and my work with the children kept me going and gave me the courage to bounce back. This experience made me understand what the children (we work with) go through when they lose their parents.”
If her work were a symbol, it would be a footprint, she says. “We all have a chance to leave a mark on earth. You can leave a positive mark on someone’s life. A child can be raised by a community – every adult has a responsibility to love, care and protect our children.”
What will your billboard say?
Every child deserves what your child deserves!
Describe your journey in three words:
Fulfilling, unpredictable and colourful.
Jacqueline
Boulle
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Jacqueline Boulle (60)
Like petals of the King Protea, feminine power unfolds in layers, each one revealing deeper strength than the last.
Cape Town – If her work had to be a symbol it would be a rainbow. “We are continuously unlocking pots of gold, and the work is as full of magical moments as a rainbow,” Jacqueline, a proud mother of two and a leader in youth development and tackling youth unemployment on community and government level, says.
Jacqueline is the CEO of the YeBo Institute, an NPC established in 2024 that acts as the administrative home for YearBeyond – a national youth service programme. The programme provides unemployed youth (18-25 years old) with meaningful work experience and a pathway to further studies or work, while at the same time encouraging a culture of community service.
Jacqueline is committed to tackling youth unemployment and providing a bridge into the South African economy for young people not in employment, education or training (NEET).
She grew up on a smallholding in Kwazulu-Natal where her parents had a plant nursery and roadside stall, and she spent most weekends working in these. “Growing up my mom was involved in the church, and we were always made aware of our relative privilege and encouraged to help others. As I grew up, I became involved in the anti-apartheid resistance movement and as a student I held leadership positions in student organisations,” she says.
“This kickstarted my career in development. I have worked in the religious sector, NGOs, in the United Nations organisations, in government (national and provincial) and as a consultant supporting local government. In all this work my focus has been on tackling inequality and supporting vulnerable groups. Over the last 15 years, my work has focused on supporting NEET youth to connect with economic opportunities.”
As a young professional working in Namibia, she witnessed death as a result of war – an experience that has been both challenging and jarring. “I witnessed families discovering the dead bodies of those killed crossing the border back home into Namibia. It made me painfully aware of the dehumanising nature of war,” Jacqueline recalls.
She has since built a career she feels incredibly privileged to be a part of – which includes establishing networks for NGO’s, helping to formalise the public works programme in the 1990s and more recently, developing a model for youth service and connecting young people to the economy.
The message she would like to send out to the world about the community she serves is that the youth is not a problem to be solved – they are a solution we keep underestimating.
“The people I work with, and the youthful energy in the office – which is the majority – keep me going on the days when the work feels heavy. That, as well as the feedback from alumni around the impact the (YearBeyond) programme has had on their lives.”
Jacqueline adds the song “Titanium” by Sia would be the perfect theme song for the work she does in youth development and employment. “The work is about young people finding their inner strength and rising above all the challenges.”
What will your billboard say?
Tomorrow is shaped by today’s youth. The time to invest is now.
Describe your journey in three words:
Exposure. Growth. Passion.
Sinenhlanhla (Sine)
Luthuli
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Sinenhlanhla (Sine) Luthuli (40)
The Protea stands tall on windswept mountains; so too does she rise above life’s storms with unwavering dignity.
Durban – She constantly reminds herself that the work she does is bigger than her. “It is about creating pathways and breaking ceilings for those who will come after me. Knowing that I am helping to change even one life keeps me going,” Sinenhlanhla, an engineer in the automotive industry, mentor and advocate for young black women, says.
Sine grew up in Nongoma, a rural and impoverished town in Northern KwaZulu-Natal, where she continues to empower young black girls by mentoring them about career options aligned with their strengths and academic interests; and also providing essential digital skills to help them apply for further tertiary studies.
She is actively involved with both YAP South African and the International Black Women’s Public Policy Institution, as well as a director-board member for Global Women of Change. She was also one of the key founders and lead organisers of the Nongoma Career Hookup initiative hosted on the 25th of June this year. This event was specifically designed to bring global and national companies, professionals, and resources directly to rural areas, bridging the gap between urban opportunities and rural youth.
Sine started working in the automotive industry as a young adult – a male-dominated industry, presenting its own challenges. “The challenges that I faced were breaking through barriers of representation and bias in the traditional male-dominated field. Through mentorship, I was able to advance my career to become a senior manager,” Sine, rightfully proud, explains.
Today she is a beacon to other young women of what you can become with hard work, grit and tenacity. She has a passion for mentoring and helping others see their true potential – even if society tells them that the odds are stacked up against them.
“Having the privilege of travelling and working internationally, I saw minimal representation of Africans in the global automotive space, which in turn motivated me to start motivating, mentoring and coaching young girls in the STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) sector. Seeing the work my mother did within the community of Nongoma, inspired me to make an impact in my hometown as well to improve the social impact of young girls.”
Breaking through barriers and climbing ladders were not the only challenges Sine faced, however. The sudden loss of her mother in 2023 was devastating.
“She was an executive committee member in the Nongoma Local Municipality and was also the chairperson of a political party’s Women’s Wing in the Nongoma constituency. She was widely respected as an advocate for widows and child-headed households. She was a great community leader and a role model,” Sine says.
“Instead of letting that pain close me off or break me, I chose to let it open my heart wider to others. I turned my grief into a mission: to continue my mother’s legacy of service, to reach out to girls in rural communities who feel unseen, and to build platforms like the Nongoma Career Hookup that help them dream beyond their circumstances.”
Some of her proudest achievements in her life include being selected to work and represent her automotive company in Japan for two years, working as a global project leader coordinating with Asian countries, South America and South Africa. She is also immensely proud seeing people in her hometown gain access to information, mentorship, and global opportunities. “It gives me a sense of purpose that no title or award could match.”
On the days the work feels heavy, she leans on her faith, family, and the support network of incredible women and mentors who remind her that she is not walking this journey alone. “Their encouragement and belief in me help carry me forward when I feel like I can’t take another step.”
If her work had to be a metaphor or a symbol it would be a bridge she concludes. “A bridge connects two places that might seem too far apart to reach each other, just like I am working to connect rural girls and young people in KwaNongoma to global opportunities, resources, and dreams they might have thought were out of reach,” Sine explains.
“A bridge is strong, but it’s also built piece by piece, requiring patience, commitment, and a clear vision of what it is meant to link. My work is about creating that safe, supportive passage from where young people are today to where they want to be tomorrow. It also symbolises legacy – each person who crosses the bridge builds courage to create new paths for others.”
What would your billboard say?
Rich with history and possibilities.
Describe your journey in three words:
Courage. Purpose. Legacy.
We Salute You
Remembering the 2024
Proteas of Mzansi
The 2024 Proteas of Mzansi were honoured at a heartfelt gala dinner in Paarl, where we celebrated their stories of impact, courage, and community leadership. Explore each Protea’s story of impact and view moments from the evening in our photo gallery below.
Amanda-Jane (Mandy)
Pearson
ReStory Foundation
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Amanda-Jane (Mandy) Pearson
Durban – The protea family includes a wide range of species, each with their own unique shapes and colours. They symbolise diversity and variety.
The 52-year-old Mandy Pearson, a wife and mother of three from KwaZulu-Natal, has made it her life’s work to cultivate and foster diversity and inclusivity in the same way.
She is passionate about justice, dignity and empowerment and believes that her calling is to help bring healing and wholeness to the world.
Mandy is the founder and CEO of the ReStory Foundation, a registered non-profit organisation founded in 2007 with the sole purpose of empowering the marginalised such as orphans, vulnerable children and unemployed youth to be agents of change.
It all started with Mandy praying to God to direct her to a community closer to her where she could make a meaningful difference. Bhambayi was brought to her attention after flash floods had a significant impact on this already extremely disadvantaged community in Inanda.
The Bhambayi Project was the first seed sown from which the ReStory Foundation ultimately grew. “I had a growing discontent from a young age that things weren’t as they were meant to be with people treated differently by race,” Mandy, who holds a Masters in Economics of Developing Countries from Cambridge, explains.
“The world needs right-siding. It’s wrong that people are treated as less than because of the colour of their skin or because their wallets are empty. These individuals are often far wealthier in ways that count. It’s wrong that South Africa has the worst inequality in the world. Charitable giving often unintentionally reinforces inequality and increases poverty of being,” she adds.
Mandy believes that how people see others and how they give needs to change. “We need to build up those who have been treated as less than and who have usually been through the most horrific traumas. We need to grow their identity, belonging and their trauma resilience, and enable them to be courageous agents of positive change in the world. Without these things, how can we hope to build a thriving South Africa?”
The space she works in can be very rewarding, but also extremely challenging and sometimes the wheels of change can move slowly – until like-minded people stand together and roll up their sleeves.
Mandy recalls one of the proudest moments in her life as when they marched to the Ntuzuma Court, where their children delivered a petition with over 11 000 signatures. It led to the rearrest of a repeat rapist and the removal of a magistrate from that court to be investigated.
It ultimately also brought the very divided Bhambayi community closer together and helped them to stand up against crime.
“The community policing forum strengthened, neighbourhood watches started growing and adults and children marched together, united against crime. But then a backlash started, and perpetrators started killing those bringing about this change.
“A significant number of the community policing forum were among the victims. I lost Madlokovu, a dear friend and key member of our community board of advisors. Three children, who are now part of our programmes, lost their parents. My staff and I were in serious danger.”
Mandy explains that the backlash and lives lost challenged her to the core of her being as she felt responsible. “If the work of growing agency was causing people to lose their lives, what was I doing? As a team we discussed what to do however. One staff member, orphaned at 12 years old, said: ‘We have the clothes of love and the clothes of fight. If we must fight, we will fight.’
“We still long to see the community ignited and unified for a cleaner, safer community and are continuing the fight (especially against child rape), but now approach this far more carefully.”
One of my greatest achievements: “Seeing our orphans who have been so damaged by life spontaneously helping those new to our programme – whether it’s overcoming their trauma or help with their schoolwork. We have had children as old as 12 who have never been in school before. The school even sends us videos of our children helping in class!”
Danielle
Moosaji
Arise Children’s Ministry
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Danielle Moosaji
“To live with integrity, authenticity and honesty.”
Cape Town – Growing up on the Cape Flats in Cape Town in a single parent household and a strained relationship with her father struggling with addiction, meant that the 38-year-old Danielle Moosaji had to overcome many challenges as a child and teen.
Just like the hardy nature of proteas – which can withstand tough environments – Danielle too however represents courage and bravery. She persevered and grew despite these challenges and has since devoted her life to working with vulnerable children and families as the executive director of the faith-based organisation Arise.
“After overcoming many challenges as a child and teen, I wanted to give children and families the same peace that I had knowing that it is possible to move forward and achieve one’s goals even when it is tough,” Danielle explains.
It has been a journey to where she is today, she adds. From her studies to her career in the corporate environment and ultimately finding herself at Arise. “I find that I have found my calling to the hard stuff, the messy stuff – which is helping people navigate difficult relationships. This is all rooted in my relationship with God. Knowing that God created everyone with a purpose.”
Danielle has over 14 years’ experience working with children and families on the Cape Flats. She is a wife and a mother of three children and became the director of Arise in her early thirties. Before that she had a successful career in the corporate environment when she worked in consulting.
She describes her greatest achievement in life however as seeing children and families’ lives change for the better. “I have countless stories of children who were on the road of dropping out of school or joining gangs, turning their lives around. Or caregivers connecting deeply with their children,” Danielle says.
Her work and the people that crosses her path have changed her life too, she adds. “My motivation every day is making sure children are feeling seen and heard. In many ways, these children and families have no idea how they have changed my life.”
Even though she loves and believes in the work she is doing, it hasn’t been easy. Being a young female leader in a faith-based environment has its challenges. “I have had to prove myself repeatedly as I had male leaders consistently doubt my decision and strategic viewpoints – especially in corporate settings when I worked in consulting.
“It felt like I had to prove myself all the time as I became a director of an organisation in my early 30s. There were many times I felt like I wanted to quit and give up. It impacted my self-esteem deeply.”
At the end of 2018 when Danielle stepped in as interim director of Arise, the organisation had its hardest financial year in its history – threatening to close its doors. “With great perseverance from the team, we ended the year by winning two big awards for our programme development with regards to family strengthening, namely a gold award in social innovation and a Mark Shuttleworth Award. It is still one of the biggest highlights of my career!”
She explains that her belief that everyone is made in the image of God motivates her daily to do the work that she does. “God calls us to show hope in a world of despair. With that belief I want to ensure that those without hope has hope, that relationships can be restored, that children are valued and that families – no matter how they are formed – are the cornerstone of our society. If we can strengthen families, we can strengthen communities.”
One of my greatest achievements: “Besides being a mother to three wonderful children and wife to an amazing husband, my greatest achievement by far is seeing children and families’ lives change for the better.”
Virginia (Annietjie)
Ramatlhape
Kgabo Holdings T/A Kgabo Cars
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Virginia (Annietjie) Ramatlhape
“Attitude of gratitude. Always.”
Tembisa – Creating a safe hub for little minds where young book worms are fostered, nurtured and empowered is what the 54-year-old Annietjie Ramatlhape lives for.
This mother of three hails from the Alexandra township in Johannesburg and knows all too well the challenges of being unemployed and how helpless one feels not being able to find a job.
Just like proteas however, which have in South African culture long been regarded as symbols of hope, resilience and strength, Annietjie persevered and has since dedicated her life to nurturing young minds and sharing the magic that books can bring.
“I grew up in the Alexandra township and had a good upbringing. I don’t remember having any challenges as a child – only in my teenage years when I became a mother while I was still in high school,” Annietjie, now a grandmother of four, says.
One of the most difficult challenges in her life was completing her tertiary education and not being able to find a job for a long time. She eventually found herself in the short-term insurance sector where she worked as an underwriter for 20 years.
Her passion for reading, books, language and education led this experienced and compassionate volunteer to start and facilitate two book clubs in Tembisa and Soshanguve respectively, called the Marang Children’s Book Club.
She has also volunteered at the Rose Act Saturday school for almost 18 years, where children from grade 4 to 9 are tutored in Maths and English over weekends.
At her book clubs the children work on their reading, spelling and mental maths, play puzzles and educational games, draw, read and then play some more. “I started volunteering as a teacher because I knew I had beautiful ideas of how to work with children of different ages and at different school grades. There was a problem where our grade 4 children were not reading to understand well, and I knew I had to correct that – one child at a time,” she adds.
“I love it when children become readers. I have been a reader since I was a child. I know what a great feeling it is to be able to read, speak, spell and write with ease only because you are a reader,” Annietjie says.
One of her greatest achievements in life? Running two children’s book clubs and doing it from her own pocket. “Having children come to the book clubs without being forced makes me extremely proud. Also being able to provide a safe space for children to learn and play outside of school.”
One of my greatest achievements in life: “Running two children’s book clubs successfully will forever be my greatest achievement – especially since I am still doing this from my own pocket!”
Mathilda
Fourie
Vastfontein Community Transformation
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Mathilda Fourie
“May all who come behind me find me faithful.” (Song by Steve Green)
Pretoria – The Queen Protea symbolises change and hope – a beacon of resilience and beauty in the fynbos landscape, even in the most adverse conditions.
The Queen Protea also carries a message of enduring strength and transformation. In the same way, the 64-year-old Mathilda Fourie embodies and spreads that same message by touching and changing lives every day through education, training and mentorship.
“There really is no greater achievement than obeying God and doing His will,” Mathilda, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the nonprofit organisation Vastfontein Community Transformation, explains. She is also an executive director for Halftime Institute Africa and holds an honours degree in Theology.
“Being busy with what He has called me to do and doing what He asks of me – whilst doing it faithfully and with joy – that is an achievement. As well as seeing someone’s life change when they accept Jesus through our testimonies and having loved them through their difficulties.”
As the CEO of Vastfontein Community Transformation, Mathilda is responsible for the organisation as a whole – which includes Christian schools providing affordable and quality education for disadvantaged children, a wellness Centre, skills development and training, church activities and other support services.
The organisation aims to educate, train, develop and mentor people and children holistically, with a vision to ultimately see a transformed community.
Mathilda and her husband Wessel have however also opened their own home as a place of safety and care for vulnerable children and those in need over the years. She is a mother of five, including two adopted children, 18 foster children and 11 grandchildren.
“I grew up in Pretoria. I was rebellious and often challenged the systems. I am however very grateful for praying parents and a grandmother and God’s grace for saving me out of a life in the world, and into a life dedicated to His Kingdom at the age of 24,” she says.
“I grew up in a house where being generous and helping others was part of what we did. My husband didn’t grow up in the same environment, so getting him on board was the biggest challenge. When I surrendered him to the Lord and allowed Him to change his heart, our household opened first, after which God called us into fulltime ministry.”
Mathilda says the lives that have been touched and changed by Jesus through her is something she is immensely proud of. “I do what I do because I love Jesus and would like to hear Him say the following to me when I meet Him face to face one day: ‘You have brought me glory by completing the work I sent you to do (John 17:4).’”
One of my greatest achievements in life: “There is no greater achievement in life than obeying God and doing His will.”
Zahida
Goulfarris-Ishmail
Valmont Early Childhood Development Forum
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Zahida Goulfarris-Ishmail
“Success is best when it’s shared.”
Cape Town – She always lacked confidence when she was young. “I suffered from low self-esteem for most of my life until I found my passion,” the 45-year-old Zahida Goulfarris-Ishmail, a passionate Capetonian social entrepreneur and early childhood development professional, explains.
Today Zahida is the proud co-owner and principal of Incy Wincy College in Charlesville on the Cape Flats, a school with three campuses educating and changing children’s lives since July 1998.
And just like the bold and striking appearance of the protea, Zahida is brave and fearless in her quest to educate and empower young minds and mentor others to be successful.
“My primary and high school experience was very challenging. My college experience, however, brought about a change in me for the better,” Zahida explains. She has a National Diploma in Educare, a Certificate in Education Management from UNISA and a NQF level 5 certificate in Small Business Management from the University of Stellenbosch Business School.
Zahida is also on the committee of the Sharing Hope Foundation and the chairperson of the Valmont Early Childhood Development Forum. She started her school when she was just 19 years old with her father as her partner.
“It’s when I successfully completed a course in Early Childhood Development that I realised that I have found my calling. My confidence grew and it changed my life forever,” she says.
Zahida is passionate about education and serving her community. Her parents have been her role models from a young age, always rolling up their sleeves and getting involved in various community projects. “My parents were always involved in community work. Their commitment to be there for others shaped who I am. I have always been driven to make a difference and to assist those in need to the best of my ability.”
This mother of four lists motherhood, being able to be a successful businesswoman and the fact that she is a humanitarian as the things she is proudest of in her life. “Managing a successful business and being able to mentor others to also build successful businesses are some of my greatest achievements in life so far,” she adds.
“I absolutely love being able to make a positive impact in the lives of little ones. I strive to lay a firm foundation for every learner that graduates from my school.”
One of my greatest achievements in life: “Managing a successful business and being able to mentor others to also build successful businesses.”
Maria
Solomons
Solomons Haven
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Maria Solomons
“Do unto others as you want done unto you.”
Mitchells Plain – Proteas are known for their ability to survive and thrive in harsh conditions, symbolising transformation and resilience.
So too the 66-year-old Maria Solomons has also survived and thrived through many hardships and challenges over the years, ultimately dedicating her life to help thousands of abused children find their way to a better life.
Maria is the founder of Solomons Haven in Mitchells Plain in Cape Town, a nonprofit organisation that cares for physically and sexually abused children placed in their care by the Department of Social Services.
She established the shelter in 2001, determined to help abused children and offer them a place of safety – a place where they not only receive food and counselling but also get equipped with skills to help them in the future.
Maria says she has since helped more than 3 000 abused children into loving homes or environments that is free from abuse. And she is rightfully proud.
“One of my greatest achievements in life is seeing them years later, having their own families and reaching the goals that seemed unreachable to them.”
Life hasn’t always been kind to Maria, who grew up in Retreat.
“There was always abuse in the house between my mother and father – especially on the weekends, from Friday afternoon until Sunday. One of the most challenging experiences that I had to go through in life was having to leave school at 10 years old to care for my siblings,” she says.
“It meant that I was illiterate until the age of 38 when I attended Maryland to learn to read and write.”
Maria explains that the circumstances of her own upbringing motivated her to roll up her sleeves and get involved in her community.
“Having lived in poverty myself, I could not just stand by and see the suffering around me – knowing that no matter how small my contribution is, I can still do something for others. I want to ensure that others are given the opportunities that were taken away from me.”
What are you most proud of? “To be a positive contributing member of society and to be able to assist people in need.”
Amanda
Blankfield-Koseff
Empowervate
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Amanda Blankfield-Koseff
“Be the change you want to see in the world. Mahatma Ghandi popularised this quote.”
Johannesburg – The protea flower plays a supporting role in our local ecosystems – attracting pollinators and providing a habitat for birds, insects and other small mammals.
In the same way the 41-year-old Amanda Blankfield-Koseff works passionately to empower and motivate the next generation of active citizens by providing skills development and teaching leadership skills.
She is the founder and chief executive officer of The Youth Citizens Action Programme (Y-CAP) – a youth development competition-based programme focusing on empowering and motivating children and youth through conscientiously teaching leadership skills and competencies for them to become active citizens and social entrepreneurs in their communities.
“Ever since I can remember I wanted to help others. My parents are caring people, and they instilled that value in me,” Amanda explains. “I wrote a poem about how parents need support to help their children when I was in primary school. I submitted the poem to be published, but it was rejected. When I finished school, I was still searching for a way I could help people, because I did not want to be a doctor.”
Amanda started working for the nonprofit organisation Afrika Tikkun as a marketing manager and found her calling. “My passion for youth development began there – especially after seeing their afterschool programmes. Shortly thereafter I started Y-CAP.”
The programme was so successful that it was moved to its own youth empowerment organisation, Empowervate Trust, in 2013. “I get a sense of fulfilment when I see young people discovering they have the power to make positive changes to their circumstances and their lives. I love seeing people grow and develop into the best versions of themselves,” Amanda says.
This mother of one is also involved in many other sectors of her community. She is a guitar teacher, volunteers as a trainer and mentor of small and medium enterprises at ORT Jet and performs at homes for the elderly to cheer up the residents. She is even running the Cape Town Marathon to raise funds for Empowervate!
Life has however had its own difficulties over the years. When Amanda was just 12 years old, she and her family were the victims of an armed robbery at their house. “I had to untie my grandmother and unlock the bathroom where they kept my parents after they [the robbers] left. It was a scary experience, but I was grateful we were not badly hurt or worse.”
When she was 13 years old her parents got divorced. Even though they are all close and get along, Amanda says she is proud of the fact that none of those experiences negatively affected her. “I am proud that I started an organisation and got married in 2013 at the age of thirty. I am also proud that Y-CAP is 15 years old. I am proud that I am managing juggling all the things I do in my life, like being a wife, mother, homemaker, CEO, guitar teacher, marathon runner, opera student, music theory student, daughter, sister, and friend.”
One of my greatest achievements in life: “I love it when I meet up with an alumnus from Y-CAP who tells me how the programme changed their lives – or I meet a guitar student who says their confidence was boosted from lessons with me and they improved in all aspects of their lives. “It is all about helping people see and reach their potential.”
Marion
Peake
Helping Those in Need
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Marion Peake
“I grew up in a coloured community where we had enough to live by. I served soup alongside my mom as a child growing up,” she tells of her childhood and how she started caring for others in need since she was a young girl.
Today Marion is an inspiration and pillar in her community. Except for her own two beautiful biological daughters, she also cares for a further 25 children they have rescued from abuse and abandonment.
She has also since fallen pregnant – a miracle and against all odds after being diagnosed with triple positive receptor invasive cancer and undergoing a double mastectomy and cervical surgery. She and Matthew never thought they would ever be able to have more children after being told it was medically impossible.
Now she is excitedly looking forward to the day they get to meet the new life in her belly.
She is however still in the midst of her cancer battle, but Marion makes it her life’s work to not just care for all the children in need in her community but also motivate and inspire many women facing the same trauma she has.
“We all need a helping hand sometimes. The turning point for me was when that hand wasn’t available during my times in need. I decided I wanted to be the hand that’s there for others as I know what it feels like not to have that,” she explains.
So, what are the things this remarkable woman that has overcome so many challenges are the proudest of in her life?
“I’m most proud of my spirit to never give up – despite what life throws at me. My faith and the thousands of children who call me mom from the bottom or their hearts make me proud daily. I don’t focus on my actions but rather the smiles I get to create through being humble.”
One of my greatest achievements in life: “Being a safe haven for many women and children – not just in my home but also in my heart.”
“]
“If life gives you lemons, don’t make lemonade – take it up a notch and make lemon meringue.”
East London – The protea flower doesn’t just symbolise strength and resilience, but also a mother’s love.
The meaning behind this flower could however not be more fitting when it comes to the 38-year-old Marion Peake, a humanitarian, philanthropist, mother, cancer warrior and advocate for children’s rights in the Eastern Cape.
Marion is the chief executive officer of the nonprofit organisation Helping Those in Need (HTIN), an organisation she started with her husband, Matthew, in 2017 to foster abused and abandoned children, and feed families in need and the homeless.
“My greatest achievement in life so far has been realising my greatest desire of being a mother of the nation to all the races [in Africa] living in our home. I also provide a safe haven for many women and children – not just in my home but also in my heart. There is no greater joy and achievement in life than earning true authentic gratitude and changing lives – not by my works, but by God’s works and a community who stands by us,” Marion explains.
“I grew up in a coloured community where we had enough to live by. I served soup alongside my mom as a child growing up,” she tells of her childhood and how she started caring for others in need since she was a young girl.
Today Marion is an inspiration and pillar in her community. Except for her own two beautiful biological daughters, she also cares for a further 25 children they have rescued from abuse and abandonment.
She has also since fallen pregnant – a miracle and against all odds after being diagnosed with triple positive receptor invasive cancer and undergoing a double mastectomy and cervical surgery. She and Matthew never thought they would ever be able to have more children after being told it was medically impossible.
Now she is excitedly looking forward to the day they get to meet the new life in her belly.
She is however still in the midst of her cancer battle, but Marion makes it her life’s work to not just care for all the children in need in her community but also motivate and inspire many women facing the same trauma she has.
“We all need a helping hand sometimes. The turning point for me was when that hand wasn’t available during my times in need. I decided I wanted to be the hand that’s there for others as I know what it feels like not to have that,” she explains.
So, what are the things this remarkable woman that has overcome so many challenges are the proudest of in her life?
“I’m most proud of my spirit to never give up – despite what life throws at me. My faith and the thousands of children who call me mom from the bottom or their hearts make me proud daily. I don’t focus on my actions but rather the smiles I get to create through being humble.”
One of my greatest achievements in life: “Being a safe haven for many women and children – not just in my home but also in my heart.”
Matimba Glacia
Makaringe
Courageous Cosmetics
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Matimba Glacia Makaringe
“The sky is not the limit.”
Tzaneen – The Protea flower is symbolic of strength, power and resilience. These flowers are bold and represent beauty and encouragement.
One can say that the 34-year-old Matimba Makaringe, an entrepreneur and motivational activist, encourages the people in her community and surrounding areas to heal and rebuild their confidence in the same way.
This mother and businesswoman have used the difficulties and challenges she has experienced in life to build a business that restores hope and dignity – motivating other women to rise above, fight against all odds and rebuild their lives.
Matimba is the founder and managing director of Courageous Cosmetics, a perfume shop in Nkowankowa, Limpopo, manufacturing oil-based perfumes and learning women about the industry and running a small business. She is also a mentor and coach for The Sistapreneur, and initiative she started to help young women running informal businesses to formalise their operations.
“I grew up in Nkowankowa, a township on the outskirts of Tzaneen in the Limpopo Province. I was raised by a single mother who worked as a teacher,” Matimba explains.
“My mother didn’t have a car, and I was an athlete so on weekends she had to hire someone to take me to school to catch the bus for that weekend’s sports activities. She would also make sure to fetch me from my daily sport practice and we would take a taxi back home together.”
According to Matimba there were two challenging life events she experienced that eventually led her onto her current life path. “As a young adult, dealing with a miscarriage was one of the most difficult things I ever went through. I also sustained second degree burn wounds on my lower body. This affected my self-esteem greatly and I had to fight so hard to find myself again and regain my confidence,” she says.
“I however woke up one day and decided that I no longer want to feel the darkness. One of my greatest achievements in life so far is bouncing back from depression and going on to help many other people find their voice and strength,” Matimba adds.
She is extremely proud of the fact that she can bounce back from any situation and wants to share that with others. “I want to restore hope and dignity in underdeveloped communities. I want to heal people and help them rebuild their confidence. Fighting anxiety and depression and realising that I didn’t have a support system, made me want to be the pillar of strength and a mentor for children and women in and around my community.”
One of my greatest achievements in life: “Bouncing back from depression and going on to help many other people find their voice and strength.”
Brenda
Scheepers
Knoop Academy NPC
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Brenda Scheepers
“Get up . . . don’t give up.”
Durban – The protea flower’s unique appearance has always been perceived as a symbol of individuality and the ability to stay true to oneself.
The 55-year-old Brenda Scheepers, a social entrepreneur, creative and changemaker, encourages authenticity and empowers a network of crafters to rise above their circumstances and stay true to themselves in the same way.
Brenda is the founder and managing director of Knoop Academy NPC, an organisation striving to develop more sustainable crafters by empowering them to create products of a very high standard and quality – along with increasing their skill level and market share.
Knoop Academy was founded in 2017 and has since empowered numerous crafters with the necessary skills to grow their businesses and change their own lives.
Brenda herself started her career as a sample set manager, pattern maker and designer in the clothing manufacturing industry in KwaZulu-Natal, after which she ran her own fashion atelier. She is passionate about design and making things with her hands, but just as passionate about empowering women and fellow creators and helping others to thrive by using their God-given talents.
Brenda can do both through Knoop Academy. When you ask her why she has become involved in social entrepreneurship and empowerment work, she explains that it brings out the best of her in terms of her skills and talents. “It doesn’t feel like work; it is a way of life,” she says.
She describes her divorce and getting back on her feet financially after that, as one of the most challenging experiences in her life. It however also set her on the path she is today – helping others become the best version of themselves by finetuning their skills and establishing successful businesses.
“Surviving on my own with no financial backup has really been one of my greatest achievements in life so far. “It has been a tough journey, but it has made me resilient and determined. I’m a better person because of it,” she says.
She is also extremely proud of the milestones the Knoop Academy has achieved – like being able to sell their products in the USA. “I am also extremely proud of the empowerment of two of our learners to become trainers over the past four years. It has truly been a dream come true for me, and one my crafters didn’t think was possible.”
She adds that the gap year she took at 40 was also a turning point in her life and reminded her of the passion and dreams she had for empowerment work and social upliftment. “It helped me to remember the dreams I had to do community upliftment when I studied. I decided to dust those aspirations off and give it a go.”
One of my greatest achievements in life: “Survival on my own with no financial backup. It has been a tough journey, but it has made me resilient and determined. I’m a better person because of it.”
Showcasing the endurance +
dedication of Mzansi’s leading ladies
Hailing from different corners of South Africa, these ten extraordinary women are a testament to what’s possible when compassion meets courage. Their legacies continue to inspire us as we look ahead to this year’s celebration.
