79 The Actionists About Partner With Us Contact Us FAQ ____________________ Thom Pierce Studios Menu Close Freedom Nonkululeko ‘Nox’ Mtshali Supporting the Vaal LGBTQIA+ community Freedom Nonkululeko ‘Nox’ Mtshali at home in the Vaal As the daughter of a preacher, Nox Mtshali found it particularly difficult to accept, at the age of 15, that she was a lesbian. She was ashamed, embarrassed and worried that she had been “attacked by demons”. She needed support and, in Sebokeng, there was very little immediately available to her. A friend advised her to check online where she found a Facebook group for Vaal Lesbians and Gays. It was through this initial social media group that she met a community of similar people in her area and became a founding member of the Vaal LGBTI. An organisation that was started to provide much-needed support and mobilisation to the queer community in the Vaal, Sedibeng Region of Gauteng. “Just because I am lesbian, I shouldn’t be worried about going to a government facility. I have to be able to go to a clinic and be treated like a lesbian woman. We need the community to be able to provide for us. We saw the loopholes and we saw the need for us to get involved in the way that the community functions. We saw that a lot of people did not know about LGBTQI issues, that they needed information about the people living around them.” Vaal LGBTI was formed in 2013 by 8 people and formally registered in 2014. There are now only 4 full-time committee members of the organisation catering to the needs of around 400 people in the area. They use social media to support and mobilise, deal with hate crimes and monitor court proceedings, putting pressure on the legal system to represent them fairly. They also provide workshops that deal with different aspects of life in the queer community. These workshops range from educating LGBTQIA+ groups about their legal rights and the court process to informing the community about the best ways to support others. As an organisation, they are currently working on a school project to deal with the high incidence of death by suicide of young LGBTQIA+ students. There is a concerning prevalence of discrimination at school between peers, which is often perpetuated through the outdated policies of the schools towards gender and identity. Through ActionAid, they have been able to be a part of the “Generation G” project which is a space for a variety of grassroots youth organisations to come together, support and learn from each other. “We are different organisations from different locations so the main objectives are that the youth of South Africa can share experiences and unite and capacitate each other and build a movement.” Run by Sonke Gender Justice, ActionAid and Activate the project provides training on capacitation, policy, justice and austerity measures; teaching its beneficiaries how to fundraise, write proposals, and pitch to funders. There is a strong focus on austerity measures, especially as they apply to vulnerable communities making budgeting and mobilising support important aspects of the programme. “My dream would be first, a world without any kind of discrimination in every aspect. Where everyone lives freely in holistic harmony, where they are not violated, or discriminated against for their gender, sexual orientation, size, race, religion or culture. With the work we are doing it is possible, I believe, to change one mindset at a time. With enough resources, we can reach enough minds and create a better world.“ This story was created in partnership with Action Aid < Previous Item Next Item >

3 The Actionists About Partner With Us Contact Us FAQ ____________________ Thom Pierce Studios Menu Close Keke Malakele Uplifting kids through robotics & coding Keke Malakele in Sandton, Johannesburg It’s a story that many people will recognise. Stuck inside the house during the COVID-19 lockdown, the whole family grappling to adapt to a new normal, and the kids being forced to embrace new ways of learning so that school can continue. Keke Malakele was no different. With three kids and limited resources, she was forced to find a way to keep them from falling behind. Noticing that other children in her block of flats did not have the support and equipment that they needed, she reached out. When regulations permitted, Keke invited small groups of children into her home to study online, supervising them in Maths and English. She took on a total of 20 children from her block, keeping them moving forward whilst the world stood still. It was this kind gesture that ignited a passion in Keke for bringing modern educational techniques to the most in-need members of society. Keke is a 35-year-old tech-savvy innovator who is fascinated by the intersection between technology and education. Although she has a full-time job as an IT support analyst at Baker McKenzie, a large law firm in Sandton, she spends the majority of her time outside work running her not-for-profit company “United Siyafunda” (United We Learn), teaching kids robotics and coding. “I am inspired by life itself. I believe that the beauty of life doesn’t depend on how happy you are, it depends on how happy others can be because of you.” It was during the pandemic that Keke realised that coding and robotics could provide valuable, marketable skills to the youth in a nation that has dramatically fallen behind in its quality of education to low-income areas. She dreamed of providing a way for South Africa to keep up with the rest of the world. “This is the time for South Africa. This is the time for us to bring innovative solutions to solve African problems. We have the youth but we need to upskill them because they are the solution.” The skills that can be learned through these courses are vital to staying relevant in a world that is developing so fast towards a technological future; creative development, engineering, computational thinking and problem-solving. But one of the biggest challenges is access to equipment. A robotics set can set you back upwards of R13 000. Because of access to equipment and teachers, it is often only the kids who go to the best schools that will learn these important new skills. Many others have the capacity for this new way of thinking, but few of them have the opportunity to find that they can do it. “The limitation for human beings is not knowing. The difference between those who have answers and those who don't is information. From that day, I wanted to share knowledge.” Keke devised a model to fund the venture that puts access to information for the poorest communities right at the centre. United Siyafunda delivers coding and robotics training to eight schools in total. Two of them are private schools and six of them are government schools. The private schools pay R200 per person. This fee covers the operational costs so that the public schools can get the services for free. The programme provides an innovative environment where kids are encouraged to come up with real-life solutions to societal problems using coding and robotics. Over a short time, they have achieved a great deal, notably 1st place in the UNISA African Innovation Expo in 2022. Today, United Siyafunda offers three different programmes; A teacher training programme to upskill teachers and help them adapt to the proposed coding and robotics curriculum. A kid's programme of coding and robotics clubs for five to 15-year-olds in various locations from Soweto to Thembisa. A youth programme that upskills young people to train and become coding and robotics coaches, deploying them in schools as coaches and facilitators. ”We want to become the key enablers in all of our communities, breaking the divide for those that don't have access. We want to be the solution in this country.” From its very beginning, United Siyafunda has focused on job creation at every level. Through her passion and vision for a technology-rich future, it is clear that Keke Malakele sees a bright future for all South Africans. < Previous Item Next Item >

80 The Actionists About Partner With Us Contact Us FAQ ____________________ Thom Pierce Studios Menu Close Mamiki Masilo Educating the youth on sexual health rights Mamiki Masilo at the Afrika Tikkun Centre, Johannesburg In grade 10, Mamiki was given a challenge at school to get involved with a community project for Mandela Day. Like many people around South Africa, she set about trying to find a way to ‘donate’ her 67 minutes to a good cause. Little did she know that this would be the turning point in her life, setting her on a path towards community activism. She discovered the AfriKa Tikkun Centre in downtown Johannesburg when she approached the children's hospital next door to donate her time. After volunteering in the library, and working with the child and youth development beneficiaries, she joined as a beneficiary herself at the age of 16. “I wouldn’t be who I am today if I wasn't given those opportunities. That’s where my love for community began. The manager at the time was very passionate about youth development. I learned all about advocacy, development and community.“ Interested in current affairs and the development of communities, she chose a course in public management and governance at the University, furthering her education with a master's degree in monitoring and evaluation. At the same time, she joined the ActionAid Young Urban Women programme. The support groups operate through the Afrika Tikkun Center, and this is where Mamiki was introduced to them. It was the perfect place for her to further her networks and get involved with advocacy around the country. Through a twice-monthly meeting with over 150 participants, they discuss sexual and reproductive health rights (SRHR), decent work, GBV and economic development, focusing on empowering the individuals and running campaigns as a group. Mamiki has now taken on a leadership role at YUW, looking for opportunities for young people to learn. “I care because I exist within this environment. I care because the people I engage with are also facing the same troubles that I am facing. I care because if we aren't going to try we are going to be despondent. You can't change the world but the little you do can impact one person and a few people.” In recent years ActionAid has shifted its focus towards economic development and the importance of developing an understanding of economics for young people so they focus on austerity and how it affects people daily. Low-income workers often don’t get a chance to understand austerity so they run workshops that teach about tax justice, public budgets and the tools needed for more effective advocacy.” “We suffer the greatest as young people and we suffer from the mistakes of the elders. We suffer from the promises that they made and it's in our hands to craft our future. I know how it is to be unemployed and to worry about whether you will be able to support your family.” It’s through her family that Mamiki came to care so much about the people around her and develop a deep-rooted passion for community and empowerment. “My dad was a person who cared so much about education and current affairs. He used to preach the importance of developing community. I feel like any work I had done that didn't pertain to community development would have made me miserable.” “Knowing that the next person has gained something. I think that is the basis of human happiness. I don't think it comes from your selfish desires. I think seeing the next person gain something brings the ultimate happiness.” This story was created in partnership with Action Aid < Previous Item Next Item >

73 The Actionists About Partner With Us Contact Us FAQ ____________________ Thom Pierce Studios Menu Close Matilda Tsitsi Fakasi A safe space for survivors in Masiphumelele Matilda Fakasi at her community garden in Masiphumelele Like so many other Actionists, Matilda found her calling through traumatic events in her past. Her values were developed and cemented through her own experiences, together with the motivation and determination that she needed to create lasting change. Matilda was a teacher in Zimbabwe. Passionate about education and children, she worked her way up to the position of deputy head of school. Through the politically turbulent years, she persevered whilst, at the same time, living with an abusive and violent husband who wanted children and would punish her for not falling pregnant. Her parents did not want her to divorce him and, even after waking up in the hospital after being beaten unconscious by the man who claimed to love her, they ordered her to return. But one day her husband announced that he was leaving her for a new woman who was pregnant by him, he offered Matilda the chance to stay on as their maid but when she refused, he dropped her at her parent's house and announced that they had separated. Matilda was left with nothing and, because the teacher's salary was so little, she left her beloved profession. It was only through the kindness of a friend, Linda, that she was saved from the deep depression that she had fallen into. Linda cleaned her house, washed her clothes and gave her $500 to help get back on her feet. 15 years later Matilda’s life is very different. She now lives in the small township of Masiphumelele outside Kommetjie in the Western Cape. She is remarried and runs an early childhood development centre and an NPO called InterVisionary. InterVisionary is all about empowering women, offering a safe space for GBV survivors to get counselling and support, and teaching them about self-sustaining farming practices. “A woman who is not financially independent cannot raise her voice against violence. In many cases, they stay because they depend on them.” Once the 2020 lockdown took place, the focus shifted to the immediate help that was needed at the time. Matilda quickly noticed that with so many people locked in their homes, unable to make money and unable to put food on the table, stress and anxiety were rising, along with incidents of GBV. So, from her home, and with the loving support of her husband, Matilda started a feeding scheme. On the first day, 40 people turned up and within a week they were feeding 400 people a day. Once lockdown was over, they called the community in for a dialogue, to see what was needed and where they could provide a valuable service. The main issue that arose was that of affordable childcare so that parents could get back to work. Before they knew it they were running an ECD centre with 33 children. The GBV program resumed and now includes a healing program, a GBV ambassadors training program and public awareness campaigns. Their focus is still on empowerment, monitoring and supporting a group of 103 women who are survivors of GBV. They aim to help them with seed funding and mentoring to start small sustainable businesses whilst also providing them with the counselling that they need on an ongoing basis. Matilda also runs a small farm just outside Masiphumelele where she grows vegetables to provide the children with a healthy meal and teaches survivors self-sustaining farming practices to implement at home. “Before I die I want to create a big community centre where women and children are safe, with a garden and crops here in Masiphumelele. I see the different parts of the GBV program; counselling rooms, empowerment activity rooms, a pre-school for the children of survivors, and a big hall for our workshops. I see, on the walls, the pictures and stories of the heroes that have played a part in the birth of this organisation.” All of this is achieved through the grit and determination of a woman motivated by the need to help others going through a situation that she knows all too well. As is often the case, funding is sparse and to keep the projects going Matilda is now looking for financial and logistical support. This story was created in partnership with Heinrich Böll Foundation < Previous Item Next Item >

33 The Actionists About Partner With Us Contact Us FAQ ____________________ Thom Pierce Studios Menu Close Thokozani Ndaba Drama for healing & social change Thokozani Ndaba at home in Johannesburg Thokozani Ndaba found the theatre at a very young age. During apartheid, theatre performances were often used as a cover for community meetings so that people could come together to discuss the liberation struggle. “At the time, it was illegal for more than five people to gather together, except at formal events, so we were forced to get creative.” Growing up in a township outside Pietermaritzburg, a love for theatre quickly materialised and set the foundations for a lifetime of passionate activism, using theatre techniques as facilitation tools for dialogue and change. “As a young person who faced challenges at a young age I used the Theatre as a shield, I knew that it was imperative for me to bring drama and theatre to my work as a tool for healing and growth.” Thokozani went on to gain a master's degree from New York University focusing on implementing theatre in communities and has travelled extensively using drama for transformation and education. In 2017 Thokozani founded the Ntethelelo Foundation in the informal settlement of Setswetla, neighbouring Alexandra Township. The foundation was initially designed as a place for young girls in the community to talk about their lives in a non-judgemental, safe space. Every Monday to Saturday during the school term and holidays, young men and women from the community now come together to attend classes at the Ntethelelo Foundation that deal with issues ranging from GBV to HIV, toxic masculinity and gender norms. “In isiZulu we say ‘Zibanjwa Zisemaphuphu’ meaning it’s better to catch them while they are young, especially when it comes to self-development education. It is much harder to change the mindset of an adult that is already set in its way.” Using theatre techniques as a communication tool they facilitate discussions and conduct workshops alongside reading clubs and yoga programs. They also develop performances that can be taken into the local communities to raise awareness of gender-based violence. The foundation aims to create change-makers who can be an example to the community. “We strongly believe that self-love and self-respect build individuals and communities.” Since 2021 Ntethelelo Foundation has had its own dedicated space working out of repurposed containers with 3 flushing toilets, a shower and a kitchen, a counselling room and a library. < Previous Item Next Item >

To link individuals and communities to information and resources that help them to make informed decisions in relation to their challenges. Our mission Confidentiality Respect Transparency Professionalism Commitment Our values Victim support/empowerment Legal advice Mediation Court education/support Right to information program Training and capacity building Facilitate family law programs Pro-bono services Counselling support Our Services Skills development: Teaching skills to empower people to sell blankets and beaded key holders. Workshops: Topics include gender related matters, legal knowledge and violence against children. Training & Education ABOUT US We Care, We Support, We Empower & We Restore. Dobsonville Human Rights Centre is a hub of community support offerings in the Dobsonville, Doornkop and Braamfischerville areas of greater Johannesburg. Starting out as a program to combat the high levels of gender based violence (GBV) in the area, the DHRC has broadened the scope of it's work to include a wide range of services from victim support to skills development. With the support of probono.org and Norton Rose Fulbright we have developed our community support, education and development programs to fulfill the needs of the people we serve. OUR TEAM Jordan Parker Position / Role Max Johnson Position / Role Drew Carlyle Position / Role Morgan James Position / Role Our Clients Tholakele “Nova” Ngubo Nova received help to apply for guardianship of her sister who was in an unsafe situation at home. The ongoing support has helped them to receive grant payments and find ongoing education and training for her sister. “There is an organisation you can go to to give you a helping hand without charging you anything. Just to help you” Pride Ntombenhle Stephens During the covid lockdowns, Pride’s mental health started to suffer. Her medication was making her drowsy and she struggled to stick to the regimen. DHRC provided her with the support she needed to get back on track. “It feels great to know that I can get help anytime and someone is there to assist me in any situation I face.” Lerato Rampai Lerato had a dream to start an empowerment, training and education centre for women, children and youth in Lawley, Johannesburg. DHRC helped her to get her initiative started, through mentorship her vital resources. “Martha gives guidance and light to any situation. She epitomises women with true integrity.” Thapelo Chirwa After loosing his eyesight at 21 years old, Thapelo was referred to DHRC for help adapting to his new life. They are assisting with many aspects of his new life as well as finding a school to further his education. “They have helped me a lot to adjust to using a stick, how to do the washing, the ironing and even how to cook.” Nomonde Mdladlamba Nomonde’s identity was stolen and used for an illegal marriage. Her name was changed and her child support grant payments stopped. DHRC are helping her with the complicated divorce proceedings and have assisted her in reinstating the grant payments. “I used to cry every single night and day but now it has all changed. I don’t feel lost in the middle of nowhere anymore.” Pumzile Twala Pumzile approached DHRC needing help getting maintenance from her children's father. It became clear that she was stuggling with depression, so they referred her to a psychiatrist and give her ongoing counselling several times a month. “When I come here I am sad but when I leave I am laughing” CONTACT US Braamfischer Office VEP 5634 Cemetery Rd. Braamfischerville Tel: 076 104 1933 Email: dobsonville.human.rights.centre@gmail.com Doornkop Community Hall Block 4 Thulani Tel: 076 104 1933 Email: dobsonville.human.rights.centre@gmail.com Doornkop Office VFR Doornkop Police Station 2825 Mohajane Street Thulani, Doornkop Tel: 068 247 4419 Email: dobsonville.human.rights.centre@gmail.com Old Bophelong Clinic, Block 11 Doornkop Tel: 068 247 4419 Email: dobsonville.human.rights.centre@gmail.com in association with... Dobsonville Human Rights Centre Home Services Our team Our clients Contact us Menu Close

66 The Actionists About Partner With Us Contact Us FAQ ____________________ Thom Pierce Studios Menu Close Love Our City Klean Greening & cleaning Joburg inner city Zwelihle and Metsi Magwaza at LOCK in Bez Valley Sometimes being an Actionist isn’t born out of one single brilliant idea. Sometimes it comes from a passion to see change and the dedication to finding a space for yourself in a world that feels like it is determined to work against you. Zwelihle and Metsi Magwaza are open about the bumpy road that they have ridden in their mission to clean up Joburg, whilst also finding a cost-effective and sustainable output for the waste that is collected. It all started when they were living in Marshaltown. They would walk to the Johannesburg Art Gallery and pass by Joubert Park which, at the time, was full of litter. Instead of looking the other way, they decided to do something about it, so they invited their artist friends to help them clean up the park. Over time they had to formalise their cleanup project in order to work with the City and other organisations - they called it Love Our City Klean (LOCK). Since 2016 they have been trying out different ideas to see what works, fully embracing failure as a way of learning and moving forward, never losing sight of the big picture, to clean up the city that they love. Much of the struggle has been in dealing with big corporations that do not benefit financially from the recycling of their products. Several initiatives that LOCK have trialled had to be abandoned as they were seen as not being economically viable, despite providing a more responsible and sustainable environmental footprint. But the ideas keep on coming, and the enthusiasm never wanes. Zwelihle and Metsi have helped to create a community swap shop at Victoria Yards where local residents of Bertrams and Bez Valley are encouraged to collect, sort and clean recyclable items and drop them off in exchange for points which can be used to buy food, clothing and books. In 2021 PIKITUP offered them a space in their Bez Valley garden site. Already established as a recycling drop-off centre, it provides an undercover space to sort and sell items that have more value than standard bulk recycling items such as paper and plastic. From this venue, they want to create a space where artists can come to be inspired, and they are passionate about building a bespoke service for artists who require specific items for collage, sculpture and other disciplines. This is a labour of love for Zwelihle and Metsi, but they cannot do it without help and they understand the power of finding the right partners; responsible business owners who are also passionate about the environment, and the city of Johannesburg. You can find them on Instagram: @weloveourcityklean and Facebook: @loveourcityklean. < Previous Item Next Item >

41 The Actionists About Partner With Us Contact Us FAQ ____________________ Thom Pierce Studios Menu Close Baba Biblos Lebona Preventing cable theft and blackouts Baba Biblos Lebona in front of the BCTT headquarters It took three cable thefts at the local Eskom substation and multiple days without electricity for Baba Biblos Lebona to decide that enough was enough. Taking the livelihoods of thousands of households into his own hands he decided to protect the substation himself, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, with a little help from his friends. This was back in September 2022. Eskom had told them that they did not have the money to keep on fixing the cables and so any subsequent blackouts from cable thefts could go on for weeks if not months. Baba created a WhatsApp group and invited others to join him in camping out next to the substation, taking it in shifts to guard the facility in small groups. Unarmed, they rely on their presence and their relationships with councillors and the local community to protect them. Ten months later and there are now 35 members of the Boitshepiville Commanders Task Team. Their name is a combination of the three townships that are served by the substation; Sharpville, Tshepiso and Boipatong. The team is a mix of men and women from around the different communities, all passionate about keeping the lights and heating on when there isn't load shedding. It is a completely voluntary role which they are doing to protect their families and their community. A converted kraal makes for temporary shelter so that they have a base looking onto the area that they are protecting, and they greet each other with their slogan, “Commanders Morning”, no matter what time of day it is. To help pay for their costs; transport, food and data they go door to door in the three communities asking for R20 donations and explaining what they are doing. Some people have helped, others have slammed the door in their faces. Even the local businesses, including a Shoprite supermarket, are not willing to help, even though they benefit from the protection that is being provided by Baba and his commanders. Still, they keep working, motivated by the belief that if they don’t do it, nobody else will. Boitshepiville Commanders Task Team will be celebrating their one-year anniversary in September and their hope is that they might be able to attract donors willing to help them with transport, food and a container to replace the temporary shelter that they have built. Baba Biblos Lebona was nominated as an Actionist by Tebogo Rapakgadi. < Previous Item Next Item >

63 The Actionists About Partner With Us Contact Us FAQ ____________________ Thom Pierce Studios Menu Close Ashby Mo Empowering Westbury youth through art Ashby Mo in his studio at Westbury Community Centre Empowering the youth of Westbury wasn’t on Ashby’s mind when he approached the youth centre to find studio space for his art. It just so happened that they offered him a space to work in return for his time volunteering to help teach kids how to read. It was initially a way of paying the rent but it quickly turned into so much more. Sometimes you have to go looking really hard for purpose and meaning, sometimes it finds you. Ashby is a devoted conceptual artist who creates masks and three-dimensional collages that explore issues to do with magic and sorcery. Coming from a community such as Westbury in Johannesburg, he knows how hard it can be to find mentors from within your community, especially in a field such as fine art. Westbury has suffered at the hands of increasing gang violence over the last few years and, even though it is a very small suburb in a very large city, its reputation is growing as one of the most dangerous parts of Johannesburg. Working out of the youth centre gave Ashby a chance to provide the artistic mentorship, that he could never find, to a new generation of upcoming artists in the community; and has solidified his passion for art as a vehicle for social change. Over the last 5 years, in return for his studio space, Ashby has been mentoring a group of local artists through a creative recovering program, providing them with tools and exercises to open up their creativity and use it as a means of self-expression. He is passionate about art and the important place that it holds within society, especially for the youth, and through his program, he hopes to empower the kids from Westbury to go out and confidently pursue their dreams. Alongside his artistic courses, he also runs the reading program and community garden at the youth centre. Find Ashby on Instagram @stdiosba and learn more about the Westbury Youth Centre on their website. < Previous Item Next Item >

39 The Actionists About Partner With Us Contact Us FAQ ____________________ Thom Pierce Studios Menu Close Sbusiso Malinga Alexandra's unwavering water warrior Sbusiso Sangweni next to his catchment net in Alexandra Every Wednesday and Friday, Sbusiso Malinga would walk from his home in Alexandra Township to clean up the litter trap that sits across the Jukskei River and collects hundreds of polystyrene takeaway containers that have floated downstream over the previous days. The volume of waste that built up over only a few days was vast, making his work thankless, repetitive and unending. But as a passionate advocate for change in Alexandra, he kept going, unpaid, week in and week out. Sbusiso passed away from natural causes last week, on the 18th of July 2023, at 35 years old. In 2022 Paul Maluleke introduced Sbusiso to me as one of the most dedicated volunteers for the Alex Water Warriors. He was the first person that I formally profiled for The Actionists. We are publishing the profiles of Sbusiso and his colleague Paul to commemorate the important contribution that Sbusiso made, through the story of the Alex Water Warriors. As one of the founders of the Alex Water Warriors, Paul Maluleke has built a team of volunteers who get together to clean up the Jukskei River which starts at Ellis Park and joins the Crocodile River outside Lanseria, flowing through the township of Alexandra on the outskirts of Johannesburg. The cleanup project is born out of passion and necessity. The level of pollution from discarded plastic has reached such high levels that it affects the health and livelihoods of most people living in the community. As a passionate advocate for bringing tourism back to Alexandra, Paul knows the importance of cleaning up the river whilst also passing on new values to the next generation. Formed in 2017 the water warriors have grown in numbers and support. From an original team of 4 dedicated volunteers, they are now approximately 700, collecting around 1000 bags of rubbish per week through their ten teams working along different sections of the river. They recently received a recycling station from Coca-Cola Beverages SA, launched on Mandela Day, in partnership with COJ, ARMOUR and Adreach's Wastepreneurs to provide the warriors with space for weighing and sorting of recycling as well as a buyback centre to aid ongoing sustainability for them and the community. < Previous Item Next Item >