Siyabonga Mahlangu by Thom Pierce Add paragraph text. Click “Edit Text” to update the font, size and more. To change and reuse text themes, go to Site Styles. Siyabonga Mahlangu runs a community-based organisation in downtown Johannesburg called the Inner City Federation. Its purpose is to provide support to vulnerable tenants in low-cost housing who are being exploited by landlords, corrupt city officials, and fake building owners. These situations may seem fantastical but, in a city where the law is sparsely enforced, they are all too common. In 2013 the owner of the building where Siyabonga rented an apartment passed away, and the building was put up for auction. He was presented with an eviction order and told to leave. He had lived there for five years. Through a court hearing and subsequent appeal process, Siyabonga learned that The City of Johannesburg has an obligation to provide alternative accommodation to anyone being evicted whose personal circumstances indicate that they could not afford a new place to live. In his case, it was ruled that The City must provide him with alternative accommodation before he could be evicted. It took five years for Siyabonga to be rehoused and it eventually happened only after the entire building was destroyed in an accidental fire during the first coronavirus lockdown. Throughout the six-year process, Siyabonga was faced with the prospect of being left homeless on several occasions. He experienced, first-hand, the frustration and helplessness that thousands of others face due to the lack of rights and accountability for the welfare of low-income tenants in Johannesburg. But it lit a fire in him to commit his life to help other people who were struggling in similar circumstances... “I promised myself that I would fight for human rights. I will make sure that they are recognised, fulfilled, and protected ...That’s what I tell myself each and every day.” From a small room in Braamfontein, Siyabonga and his team provide free support to 50 buildings in the city centre and deliver valuable services to some of the most exploited residents of Johannesburg’s low-cost housing. Every month Siyabonga and his colleague Sifiso facilitate a meeting between members of the buildings committees. A valuable space for them to come together and discuss issues that they face, and to share advice and solutions that have worked in the past. Siyabonga and Sifiso also take on cases where tenants need more personal support. In these instances, they provide mediation with the landlord or the City; or act as a link to legal representation for court proceedings. Next Item Previous Item Log In About Projects All Projects UDWOSA #PayTheGrants Join Us Blog Print Store Donate CART CART Log In MENU Home All Projects Join Us Blog Print Store Donate

Colin Northmore by Thom Pierce Add paragraph text. Click “Edit Text” to update the font, size and more. To change and reuse text themes, go to Site Styles. Sacred Heart College is a school that sits between two very different socio-economic areas of Johannesburg. On the one side is Houghton, a quiet, affluent, middle-class suburb and on the other lies Yeoville, a bustling community that is home to many asylum seekers and refugees. In 2004, Colin Northmore created Three2Six, an educational programme that enabled undocumented refugee children to get the basic education and qualifications needed to legitimately enrol in high school. As the head teacher at Sacred Heart, Colin used his position and the school's facilities to build a bridging educational programme that would provide opportunities and stability to kids who had already experienced so much upheaval in their short lives. “Sacred Heart is on the border of two worlds, we can’t just serve one side of the street.” Colin grew up in a typical white, blue-collar family in Springs. His father was a fitter and turner in the mines and the family lived a regular apartheid-era life, shielded from the cruelty and with little racial interaction. After completing his degree in education from Wits, Colin served as an officer in the SADF before embarking on a career as an English teacher in government schools. It was from his father-in-law that Colin’s passion for social justice was ignited. As the secretary general of the South African Council of Churches, John Rees was persecuted by the Nationalist Government for his dedicated work with oppressed communities. There came a point where he had to stop keeping records of his work as the security forces would raid his offices in an attempt to trace the people he was helping. An event that would echo through Colin’s own work many years later. Sacred Heart College is a Marist Brother's school which, during apartheid, was one of the only schools to defy the government by becoming multi-cultural after the 1976 Soweto riots. By 2003 the school had started to lose its momentum as an institute on the frontline of social justice, so Colin decided to steer Sacred Heart in a new direction. He realised that there were refugee teachers who were unable to teach, and refugee children who were unable to learn; all living within walking distance of well-equipped classrooms that were sitting empty in the afternoons. “It all came together in my mind that the way Sacred Heart and I could make a contribution was in tackling xenophobia in our society by using the empty classes in the afternoons.” Three2Six focused on three things; providing education, food (because you cannot learn when you are hungry) and a school uniform that resembled those of the main school so that they were seen as fellow students and not outsiders. It didn’t come without its challenges, however. Towards the fifth year of the project, a law started to make its way through parliament that posed a real risk to the refugee communities. The law would enable police to raid the Three2Six offices in order to get information on refugees. So, like his father-in-law many years before, Colin was forced into the removal of physical records, putting everything on to an encrypted digital platform with a donor putting money aside to defend him if he was prosecuted. Three2Six was a great success over the years, seeing dozens of students come in with no documents and little education, and leaving to become integrated into the formal education system. It’s a testament to the quality of the programme and the values instilled in the students that many of them returned to volunteer their time to the next generation of learners. “I am proud and humbled to have originated the idea, but the teachers and funders were the real hands and the hearts of Three2Six.” Colin Northmore left Sacred Heart College in 2017 to run an online school called Evolve that focuses on unique and innovative learning experiences. The Three2Six project is still functioning and administered by Sacred Heart College but it is now hosted by a new school, Dominican Convent, where it offers a full curriculum, integrated with local students in the same classroom. Three2Six has continued to thrive since Colin left and has recently moved its entire operations to the Dominican Convent School. For a detailed understanding of the programme visit www.three2six.co.za . Next Item Previous Item Log In About Projects All Projects UDWOSA #PayTheGrants Join Us Blog Print Store Donate CART CART Log In MENU Home All Projects Join Us Blog Print Store Donate

Tshweu Mosedi by Thom Pierce Add paragraph text. Click “Edit Text” to update the font, size and more. To change and reuse text themes, go to Site Styles. “Passion fatigue” is a phrase that Tshweu uses when he talks about his commitment to youth development in his community. Every so often he has to take some time off, but he always comes back stronger. It’s not surprising considering he spends almost all of his waking hours helping the youth of Katlehong township to deal with health issues, both physical and mental, to promote positive self-acceptance and a brighter outlook for the future. Tshweu’s motivation comes from his experiences growing up in a township which provides little in the way of support or activities for the youth. This situation has seen the younger members of the community battle with issues relating to purpose, drive and responsibility. “As someone who is passionate about young people, I felt the urge to create platforms for other young people and the leader in me came into play where I felt responsible. If nothing is happening and no one is doing anything then I should be the one who is responsible for creating opportunities for other young people.” As someone who is passionate about young people, I felt the urge to create platforms for other young people and the leader in me came into play where I felt responsible. If nothing is happening and no one is doing anything then I should be the one who is responsible for creating opportunities for other young people. “Even if I don't get paid for anything, as long as I can sleep peacefully at night then I just do it. I am a father now and I would love to be paid for everything I do but when I sit and watch things happening, people suffering and the quality of life deteriorating in my community, I feel like it is on me to do something.” Tshweu is also an actor and writer who has worked in community theatre for twenty years, producing plays about xenophobia, crime, substance abuse and GBV. He is also currently working at the African Youth Development Fund as coordinator of their “Alternatives” program. He is also the deputy chairperson of the National Teen Pregnancy Prevention Coalition, the chairperson of the Treatment Action Campaign branch in Katlehong, and the provincial coordinator of the South African Tobacco Youth Free Forum. With all this on his plate, we can probably forgive him a little passion fatigue once in a while. You can learn more about Tshweu and his youth work through his YouTube channel @whizzymediaSA Next Item Previous Item Log In About Projects All Projects UDWOSA #PayTheGrants Join Us Blog Print Store Donate CART CART Log In MENU Home All Projects Join Us Blog Print Store Donate

Desmond D'Sa by Thom Pierce Add paragraph text. Click “Edit Text” to update the font, size and more. To change and reuse text themes, go to Site Styles. The list of organisations that Demond D’Sa has been instrumental in forming is overwhelming: RIGHT2KNOW KZN Subsistence Fisherfolks Poor Flatdwellers Movement South Durban Community Environmental Alliance KZN Environmental Alliance Coalition of the Poor As he reels them off, it is hard not to wonder why they are all necessary. But, as he expands on his experience as an environmental activist, it becomes clear that he knows there is strength in numbers. He is also passionate about including everybody in his mission to provide a more just society as well as a healthier and cleaner world for all. Desmond grew up in Cato Manor, KwaZulu Natal. At the time, it was a lush area with clean, fresh water. There was healthy soil to grow food and ample space to enjoy being part of a diverse and generous community. As the 11th of 13 children, he learned how to share and how to care about the people around him. It was at 15 years old that life changed dramatically. In 1966, the family was split apart and removed from Cato Manor as part of the Group Areas Act. He was relocated to a flat in Wentworth with his mother where he still lives to this day. Desmond’s journey into activism started in 1998 while he was working at an acrylic factory making fibre for clothing and blankets. He noticed that many of his colleagues were becoming sick from working with the toxic liquid chemical acrylonitrile. They were being dismissed by the factory clinic without any concern or treatment, and so he decided to investigate. While his bosses were “sleeping on the job”, Desmond would steal whatever paperwork he could find and take it home to read up about the risks that they were exposed to. After he started asking questions and speaking up at work about the dangers, he was dismissed from his job. This experience lit a fire in him and inspired him to understand the true extent of the damage that the petrochemical industry in Durban was causing to its workers and the communities living around the factories. From that point on, it has been a life mission for Desmond to be the protector of air, water and land pollution, not only in Wentworth but around the country. From a small office building in Wentworth, he started the South Durban Community Environmental Alliance which has grown to become a team of nine people who work tirelessly to monitor pollution levels from local industries. Through a programme of community engagement, regular patrols, a network of whistle-blowers, and monitoring techniques for air, water and soil, they keep an eye on the whole city and, when the pollution levels get too high, they know who to hold accountable. “We are more than a watchdog, the officials don't even know what is going on. We hammer them, we put pressure when we need to.” With over 25 years of experience as an environmental activist, Desmond has learned how to fight and how to get his message heard. He is so passionate about his role as an environmental protector that, from the outside, his workload and responsibility to the community can seem overwhelming. But, having had these values instilled in him from a very young age, hard work and helping others is second nature to Desmond. “My mother and father were always about service. If anyone knocked on the door and asked for anything they would give it. We never hoarded money. We were taught to be providers. As long as we work hard, things will work out.“ Next Item Previous Item Log In About Projects All Projects UDWOSA #PayTheGrants Join Us Blog Print Store Donate CART CART Log In MENU Home All Projects Join Us Blog Print Store Donate

Dineo Baloyi by Thom Pierce Add paragraph text. Click “Edit Text” to update the font, size and more. To change and reuse text themes, go to Site Styles. They say if you want to get things done, ask a busy person. As soon as she got her first job at the age of 21, Dineo Baloyi started to help others, assisting learners in her neighbourhood with admissions and bursary applications. In 2016 she started her own foundation to increase the number of people she could help provide better educational opportunities to in her home town of Hammanskraal. Seven years later and Dineo is now working full-time for an Infrastructure Development firm in Sandton, whilst also studying and raising a young child. She is still running the Dineo Foundation which continues to support learners, providing her with a way to make a positive change in the lives of many others. “I am a giver, my name means “gifts”. So I just wanted to be that gift to the world” Although Dineo grew up in a family who were struggling to make ends meet, what they had they gave in abundance, namely their unwavering support and love. Even though they did not always have money for food, books or school uniforms, her dad would be at school every two weeks to monitor her progress. When she studied for her further education he would sit up with her while she worked late into the night. It is not a stretch to see where the motivation for The Dineo Foundation comes from, it is clearly inspired by the strength and struggles of her own upbringing. The foundation has a few different programs, one of which is the monitoring and support of learners at Rapelego Primary School and Sibongile Community Centre. They are assessed on a quarterly basis and supported by the foundation in any way that will help them to thrive at school. Whether that be in the provision of school shoes, reading glasses, uniforms, food, or extra lessons. “I would like to see the foundation providing a support structure and extending its hand to the disadvantaged because I believe that everybody succeeds through support.” Currently, Dineo is working on The Light For Life project, raising funds to supply matric students with rechargeable lights so that they can study during load shedding. Each light costs R300. If you would like to donate or sponsor a light, email us and we will connect you with Dineo. Next Item Previous Item Log In About Projects All Projects UDWOSA #PayTheGrants Join Us Blog Print Store Donate CART CART Log In MENU Home All Projects Join Us Blog Print Store Donate

Yolanda Dyantyi by Thom Pierce Add paragraph text. Click “Edit Text” to update the font, size and more. To change and reuse text themes, go to Site Styles. Yolanda’s story is quite well known. Whilst a second-year student she led the #RUReferenceList anti-rape culture protests at Rhodes University; and a year later was excluded from higher education for life. She did not get to finish her course, did not receive a degree and would not have been accepted into any other institute of higher education. In 2022 her right to higher education was reaffirmed by the Supreme Court of Appeals judgement when it set aside all the alleged charges instituted against her. They tried to silence her, tried to punish her for speaking out, yet she just got louder. “I aim to inspire young women with my journey, and to encourage passionate young people to find their voices…I want my story to inspire change. I want my story to contribute towards birthing new and positive realities for Africans.” Yolanda gets her fire from her Grandmother, the woman who raised her whilst working as a domestic worker in a wealthy suburb of Johannesburg. As a strong leader and preacher in the Zionist Church, she taught Yolanda to stand up for herself and gave her the confidence to know that she would always be supported. From a young age, Yolanda learned to speak up against injustice. Cut to 2016, and there she is fighting on the front lines at her own place of learning. As a survivor of rape at the university the previous year, she did what was in her blood and she led from the front, demanding accountability and justice for the numerous young women who had been victims of sexual assault at the University. “I should have been focusing on studying but I was leading a political struggle - I can’t separate the two, we weren’t safe.” From this experience, she realised the power of her story and the part that she has played in the important contribution of women activists in South Africa. And so she keeps up the fight, day in and day out, finding ways to disrupt the patriarchal violence that has been deeply sewn into the fabric of our society. She is currently an award-winning social entrepreneur building an African Feminist digital archive memorialising African women's work and their contribution towards social justice. Watch Yolanda’s Journey To Justice and follow her Instagram @archiveamabali_wethu Next Item Previous Item Log In About Projects All Projects UDWOSA #PayTheGrants Join Us Blog Print Store Donate CART CART Log In MENU Home All Projects Join Us Blog Print Store Donate

Jack Msibi by Thom Pierce Add paragraph text. Click “Edit Text” to update the font, size and more. To change and reuse text themes, go to Site Styles. In 2012 Jack Msibi was studying for a business degree from Monash University. His mother owned a building in downtown Johannesburg and the family was financially stable. Everything changed when his mother's building was hijacked and taken over by a fake landlord. Jack had to drop out of university and the family moved from room to room, unable to afford permanent accommodation. With no money and no job, Jack would go out into the park and play football every day. He was a skilled soccer player and soon a few young kids came to practice with him. With nothing else to do, they showed up every day at his door waiting for the training session to begin. Seven years later, the practice sessions in the park have grown into a community sports “ministry” called Corinthians which provides ongoing soccer, cricket and netball coaching to the community of La Rochelle in southern Johannesburg. Jack also started a soccer team there for kids who are blind. The ‘ministry’ part of the programme comes from Jack’s deep Christian faith and is central to the whole purpose of Corinthians. They are not just providing a space for people to come and play sports. They are inviting anyone who needs a refuge, even just for a couple of hours, to attend coaching sessions, and at the same time engaging them in conversations around social issues and self-development. Although it is grounded in the principles of the church, everyone is welcome. “Where else would you get drug addicts and the police playing soccer together?” If a young boy comes to play soccer, they will sign him up and engage him in conversations about his home and school life. They will check in and check up, making sure that he has the support he needs if he is struggling at school or if there are issues at home. But back to the soccer team for people with visual impairments. It started with two boys who were hassling Jack about wanting to play soccer. He didn't think it was possible but the more they hassled him, the more interested he became. He did some research and he found out that it was already an established game. He approached the local school for the blind, a boarding school that accepts learners from all around the country. They managed to put together a team of eight people who now train two times a week. One of the most exciting things for Jack is that the kids are starting to express an interest in becoming coaches and introducing blind soccer to different places around the country. This is what Corinthians is all about to Jack, bringing young people together through sport and providing them with a space where they can start to imagine a future. Next Item Previous Item Log In About Projects All Projects UDWOSA #PayTheGrants Join Us Blog Print Store Donate CART CART Log In MENU Home All Projects Join Us Blog Print Store Donate

Vhahangwele Tsotetsi by Thom Pierce Add paragraph text. Click “Edit Text” to update the font, size and more. To change and reuse text themes, go to Site Styles. In 2029 Vhahangwele is going to run for president of South Africa. In the meantime, he wants to get the youth engaged in politics and turning up at the polling booths. With a degree in political sciences from the University of Johannesburg, he is in an excellent position to do so. His passion for uplifting young people comes through in every word he says and through his NGO, Project Youth South Africa, he is making it a reality. “As a young man, I grew up in a township called Orange Farm. I realised that there wasn’t anything for the youth there, even sports were diminishing. Now there are no facilities, there is nothing for young people to lean on. Instead, they are leaning on drugs, alcohol and gangsterism.” — Vhahangwele Tsotetsi It’s not just about getting the youth of South Africa to walk in and vote, it’s about getting them motivated and engaged enough to care about politics. Vhahangwele believes that this means dealing with all aspects of their lives that are stopping them from being politically engaged both now and in the future. This includes but is not limited to, issues to do with climate change, poverty and health. He is very aware that young people will distance themselves from the democratic process because they are just trying to survive in a world in which they don’t have the tools to navigate and thrive in. “I love this country. It has a lot of potential. I cannot allow it to be destroyed. Young people are the agents of change. I wake up every day and try to think of one big idea that will uplift young people and put them at the forefront of society” — Vhahangwele Tsotetsi Through events, community engagements and partnerships with the Youth Business Expo and Youth Coalition; Project Youth South Africa is on a mission. Next Item Previous Item Log In About Projects All Projects UDWOSA #PayTheGrants Join Us Blog Print Store Donate CART CART Log In MENU Home All Projects Join Us Blog Print Store Donate

Sipho & Bianca Mabusela by Thom Pierce Add paragraph text. Click “Edit Text” to update the font, size and more. To change and reuse text themes, go to Site Styles. In 2018, Sipho and Bianca both attended the One Young World summit in The Hague, a gathering of young leaders from around the world. They did not know each other but had each been nominated for the event by their employers. They were both lucky enough to work for large multinational companies that were willing to invest in the young people who they employed, giving them the platform, at work, to explore their passion for positive change. The Hague is where they met and where they decided that, when they got home to South Africa, they would start an organisation to deal with waste management, food security and environmental sustainability. Starting with cleanups, tree planting and food gardens, they went to communities to find areas that needed regenerating and schools with the capacity for food gardens. The weekends were spent planting and cleaning, and the weekdays were spent at the office. The idea was never to plant and leave, they wanted to teach long-term habits around sustainability, and food resilience; habits that would eventually leave the community with a sense of agency in their futures. Up until now, they have planted over 3000 trees and around 20 vegetable gardens at schools, creches and churches throughout Gauteng, one of which feeds up to 80 schoolchildren a day. But while the food is important, they also believe that a garden transforms the space and the community around it, providing a living example to the next generation. In 2020 Bianca and Sipho moved to Springs to start their own farm, a place where they could be self-sustainable whilst also teaching basic principles of sustainability to the community around them. Actionism comes with all sorts of challenges and for Bianca and Sipho it hasn’t all been plain sailing. Due to issues outside of their control, the Springs farm folded and they had to move to a new location in Meyerton where they are rebuilding the dream of providing an educational space for people to learn about organic farming. On Saturdays, from their home, they provide on-farm training in a variety of skills related to food security, including composting, bee keeping and farming organic vegetables. They also offer an ongoing volunteering programme for people to come and learn as they get hands on experience. Six years after they first met, on the other side of the world, connecting over the shared dream of creating a more responsible and self-sustainable society back home, Sipho and Bianca have never lost sight of that goal. Now married and with a young daughter, they have a new incentive to keep their values at the forefront of their approach. An approach which is grounded in the importance of learning new skills and then passing them on to others. Find out more on their Instagram: @khuthazafoundation or email for more information: embofarmstead@gmail.com . Next Item Previous Item Log In About Projects All Projects UDWOSA #PayTheGrants Join Us Blog Print Store Donate CART CART Log In MENU Home All Projects Join Us Blog Print Store Donate

Tarryn Johnston by Thom Pierce Add paragraph text. Click “Edit Text” to update the font, size and more. To change and reuse text themes, go to Site Styles. The way that other people talk about Tarryn Johnston is a better indication than any other of her passion for cleaning up the Hennops River. Their faces crease into a smile and they say something like “That woman is incredible”. It is Tarryn’s focused intention about her mission to clean up the waterways and the generosity with which she encourages others along on that journey, that brings people to this conclusion. “We don’t have time to sit around and point fingers…I clean rivers. It’s a popular misconception that it is someone else's job.” In 2018, Tarryn’s life was in a very different place. She was on a mission to end the abusive relationships that had shaped her life, embarking on an introspective journey through prayer and meditation. During one of the workshops that she attended, the facilitator identified that she owed a debt to the ocean and this started her on the journey to the realisation of her responsibility towards the environment, specifically water. In 2019 her twelve-year-old daughter asked her if she could help with a river cleanup project and she jumped at the chance. Tarryn had no idea that this was just the beginning of her healing. On seeing the black, sludgy water she was horrified by the dangerous levels of pollution in the rivers near her home in Centurian, Gauteng. She committed to organising a river cleanup every two weeks and, once she realised that she needed money to do so, she started a not-for-profit company. Over the next few years, extreme weather and Covid 19 distracted from the river clean-up operation, and Tarryn busied herself with emergency flood responses and the sheltering of homeless people during the pandemic. But the Hennops River Revival has continued to grow, and through Tarryns positive determination she now has funding, and a team of 12 people who clean up the river 3 days a week. It’s her ability to bring people together that is so enviable. She has a good relationship with the local government, something that she says comes from not pointing fingers of blame but from offering partnerships and solutions. She also has several big corporates that fund small projects through their CSI initiatives which means that she is single-handedly doing the work of several corporate departments. There is also the acknowledgement that this job will never end and that she will never clean up the Hennops in her lifetime. But that’s all part of being an Actionist for Tarryn, taking on the work for the benefit of future generations. Next Item Previous Item Log In About Projects All Projects UDWOSA #PayTheGrants Join Us Blog Print Store Donate CART CART Log In MENU Home All Projects Join Us Blog Print Store Donate