5 The Actionists About Partner With Us Contact Us FAQ ____________________ Thom Pierce Studios Menu Close Arnold Sibanda Saluting black male positivity Arnold Sibanda outside 27 boxes in Melville, Johannesburg The inspiration to create the Black Male Positivity Project came from a painful loss for Arnold Sibanda. Just before the birth of his son, Arnold’s father passed away. A principled man with strong values, who had Arnold’s best intentions at heart, his father was his role model and his greatest supporter. When he passed, Arnold realised that he needed a support system to navigate his own new journey of fatherhood, to bring up his son in a way that would make his father proud. It was from this that the Black Male Positivity Project was born. Through the project, Arnold runs a collection of programmes that serve to inspire, empower and support Black men and boys in their journey to become more positive members of society. He wants to redress the tired stereotypes and provide the tools needed to provide a more favourable example of what it means to be a Black man in South Africa. “With the increasing reporting of Black men being the victims or perpetrators of violence, we want to spotlight the positive achievements and roles of Black men in their communities. If young men continually see themselves represented in the media in a negative way, it does not give them a lot to look up to. Neither does it help to change the trajectory of their lives.” The idea is to celebrate Black men who are positive role models in society, in order to create a space for discussion and learning through honest reflection. And to facilitate healing through the unlearning of cultural or patriarchal practices that do not serve the best interests of modern life in a 21st-century society. Arnold believes that by engaging with the stories of Black men that break the prevailing narrative, whether it be through in-person discussion or through literature, he can help to change the future for young men who are trying to navigate a world that they have not been properly equipped to deal with. “In our recent support group meeting I realised that most brothers are parenting through generational trauma, and are not aware of it. It is through the understanding of issues such as the impact of the migrant labour system on Black fatherhood, that we can develop appropriate support systems for modern, young Black men.” The values of family commitment, leadership and support are achieved through several different programmes which have been developed to provide men and boys of all ages with a range of tools to facilitate growth. For the younger generations, Arnold has identified the need for opportunities and skills development that facilitate engagement with positive stories. To do this the project provides an ongoing mentorship programme which pairs young boys with positive male role models in their communities, an after-school homework programme and a school-based literacy initiative. For the adults, they host a variety of support groups that deal with issues such as sexual health, new fatherhood and paternity rights. They also have a curated online bookshop that focuses on relatable stories by Black, African, male authors. Together with the NPO Heartlines, they host an annual Father’s Day bike ride which brings a wide community of men together, to connect, celebrate and support each other on a long-term basis. Through the project, Arnold wants to support fathers to raise boys who are emotionally balanced, confident communicators, who can articulate their fears in a healthy way. Young men who can pursue their dreams safely in the knowledge that they have support. You can probably tell that Arnold is also passionate about books. He gets that from his dad. < Previous Item Next Item >

12 The Actionists About Partner With Us Contact Us FAQ ____________________ Thom Pierce Studios Menu Close Desmond D'Sa Battling air, water & land pollution Desmond D’Sa at his office in Wentworth, KZN 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.“ < Previous Item Next Item >

35 The Actionists About Partner With Us Contact Us FAQ ____________________ Thom Pierce Studios Menu Close Tarryn Johnston Reviving the Hennops river Tarryn Johnston at the Hennops River 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. < Previous Item Next Item >

14 The Actionists About Partner With Us Contact Us FAQ ____________________ Thom Pierce Studios Menu Close Bridget Munnik Drama & performance for social change Bridget Munnik outside the Soweto Theatre Bridget Munnik, also known as Aunty Bree, became a qualified counsellor 11 years ago. Growing up as an orphan, she knew what it felt like to have nobody to care for her, nobody to guide her, and nobody to congratulate her when she passed her Matric. Early on in life, she made a promise to herself that through her work she would help as many children as she could. Bridget’s ambition has taken her from working at the child welfare centre and volunteering at the family life centre to eventually become the centre manager of the Westbury Youth Centre, a communal space for young people in one of the most troubled suburbs of Johannesburg. It was through an audition poster at the youth centre that Bridget first discovered acting and found her most powerful voice. Westbury is a dangerous place, run by gangs and rife with substance abuse and violence, something that Aunty Bree knows all too well having escaped from a violent and abusive marriage herself. It is through the theatre that she now finds a way to provide a lifeline to those in the community who are too fearful to ask for help, and too scared to speak up. Bridget performs regular radio and stage productions about gender-based violence (GBV), substance abuse, teenage pregnancy and bullying. The intention is to let people know that they are not alone in their struggles with their loved ones. It is a way to open up conversations and to facilitate connections with people who can help. “The use of performance is so important because Westbury is so dangerous. You know there are things happening but you cannot reach out. What I show on stage is that you are not alone. I tell the neighbours and community members not to judge others, and I tell the victims that we see them. After the show, I have to come out of character and be a counsellor.“ When audiences watch Bridget’s performances there is often a moment where they recognise themselves in the characters. This connection provides a valuable way to give advice and support, without having to put anyone at risk. They are shown that there are resources available to help them and encouraged to go to the police or seek support from a social worker. “I also run a workshop with the parents who are hurting. In a dark room, I give everyone a candle. I start with me. I talk about my son who was on drugs. After my story, the next person lights a candle and tells their story about their kid who is on drugs. Brightness comes into the room. In the midst of the dark, there is always a light at the end of the tunnel. People have the same stresses but we can support each other if we light the candles one by one.” In Westbury, where speaking up can be fatal, silence is also one of the biggest dangers. Through performance, Aunty Bree has found a powerful way to heal herself whilst also reaching the people who need her. Her voice is loud and her message is clear: “You are not alone and there is help if you need it.” < Previous Item Next Item >

62 The Actionists About Partner With Us Contact Us FAQ ____________________ Thom Pierce Studios Menu Close Linda Twala Building a legacy of altruism Linda Twala at home in Alexandra Linda Twala is the opposite of what he calls a “what’s in it for me” person. When you walk into his house it’s clearly a place of work. People are milling around outside, sorting through donated items and big bowls of onions and potatoes sit on the floor inside. Upstairs is his living space which is crammed full of photographs, newspaper cuttings, awards and memorabilia; a museum of artefacts documenting a lifetime of dedicated work in the community. Linda is the grandson of John Hey Ka Nxele, one of the first residents of Alexandra, a township in Johannesburg that is now home to over one million people in a single square mile. Many of its residents have no work, little food and inadequate accommodation. Linda has lived in Alexandra all of his life. In the 1960s a woman by the name of Rosie Tshabalala would often come by the house, asking for food. Inspired by his own mother’s generosity, he decided to help her. She was so grateful to him that she would wave her stick and say “one day I want you to be the person who buries me”. In 1967 she passed away and Linda honoured her request by organising for her to be taken from the government mortuary and given a dignified burial at the church across the road from his house. This, he says, is how it all began. “From that time I continued to help the destitute…I was born to serve, not to destruct” Over the last 55 years, more and more people have come to Linda for help. He is unable to say no, it is deeply instilled in him to help people. He is passionate about Alexandra and passionate about the people that live there. His work has covered everything from feeding schemes to building houses and planting thousands of trees; providing support to single mothers, people with disabilities and over five thousand senior citizens. It’s not that there is any grand plan, he just tries to help everyone that comes to him asking for support. And with that has earned himself legendary status, which explains the photographs with Madiba, the relationship with Oprah Winfrey and the Mahatma Gandhi award. This year Linda wants to raise enough money to pay for 600 young children from Alexandra to have a helicopter ride, to inspire them to achieve more, and to let them know that they can be pilots, doctors and lawyers. < Previous Item Next Item >

77 The Actionists About Partner With Us Contact Us FAQ ____________________ Thom Pierce Studios Menu Close Sethembiso Promise Mthembu A voice for the victims of forced sterilisation Sethembiso Promise Mthembu at her home in KZN In 1997 Sethembiso had to have a routine gynaecological operation. She was in her green hospital gown, on the operating bed, waiting to go into theatre, when the senior doctor came to her and, in front of the other patients and staff in the ward, told her that because she was HIV positive he would not operate unless she consented to be sterilised. The need for the operation, the vulnerability of her situation, the power dynamic of the patient-doctor relationship and the shame of being judged for her HIV status in front of a room full of nurses, patients and hospital staff, all contributed towards her signing the necessary documents. To this day she does not know if her sterilisation was an ideological decision by the doctor, or a position decided at hospital management or even government level. What she does know is that many other HIV-positive women around the country have been through a similar experience. In an HSRC study on stigma in 2014, it was found that of the 6,849 participants who were HIV-positive women, 7.4% reported being forced into sterilisation. That’s over 500 women. A further 5% reported being forced into abortion and 37% said that they were forced into medical contraception. It is an issue, Sethembiso says, that came to light during the tea breaks of HIV support meetings, whispered in confidence, once personal trust had been gained. For many Black women, their ability to bear children affects their standing in society so being sterile can be a very shameful secret that many women carry with them. “Women are more likely to disclose their HIV status than to disclose the fact that they were sterilised. You are still a woman even if you have HIV, if you are infertile, you are only half a woman - UyiNyumba (barren) – the worst derogatory label a woman can have.” In the support sessions forced sterilisation was not mentioned but, over time, victims would open up to each other in private about their experiences. These ranged from medical complications to cultural, social and financial issues. A sterilised woman loses her ability to build a family which can bring social and financial security, the traditional right to land, lobola and worthiness within relationships. Sethembiso realised that there was a need for more profound, formal action to be taken to support and seek justice for the inhumane treatment of these many women who are living with the repercussions of this injustice. In 2009 she started “Her Rights Initiative” (HRI) along with two other women who were victims of forced sterilisation, a feminist academic and a lawyer. For the past fourteen years, they have been building their networks of victims and working with legal teams to put together a plan of action. They are currently working together with a private international law firm on a class action lawsuit that seeks justice in the form of compensation for 96 women from five provinces around South Africa. Forced sterilisation is mostly played out through coercion via the dynamics of power and vulnerability rather than physical force, targeting women at a time when they have very little agency in their decisions. However, Sethembiso says, there have been many instances where women did not even know that they had been sterilised and others where women were told after giving birth that suggest even more forceful, violent practices. The sterilisation mostly happened around pregnancy. It is standard procedure to take full blood tests in the early stages of pregnancy and many HIV-positive women will discover their status at this time. Up until the early 2000s, it was a policy that anyone giving birth who is HIV positive should do so through cesarean section, as the risk of mother-to-child transmission could be mitigated. It was at this point, during this operation that the sterilisation process would take place, either by informed consent, coercive consent or without consent at all. And according to Sethembiso, it is still occurring today. There is a case, she says, of a young black woman in the Western Cape who was pregnant, HIV positive and suffering from depression who was forcibly sterilised in 2021. “Let’s talk about it at the beginning of pregnancy rather than initiating the conversation when I am in labour, in a very vulnerable situation. It should be ME who initiates the conversation about contraception and ending my fertility. My Body, My Womb, My Rights and My Decisions.” Sethembiso herself grew up in uMlazi township outside Durban. She found out her HIV status when she was 20 and, now 49, is considered a long-term survivor, living a healthy life on ARVs for over 20 years. Having started as an “angry activist” in the early 90s, Dr Sethembiso Promise Mthembu completed her PhD in 2022 through UKZN, an accreditation that she says forces people to take her more seriously in her lifelong quest for justice. This story was created in partnership with Heinrich Böll Foundation < Previous Item Next Item >

7 The Actionists About Partner With Us Contact Us FAQ ____________________ Thom Pierce Studios Menu Close Simon Mphela Taking mental health to the streets Simon Mphela, Minene Baloi and Ernest Mocumi “Talk to someone.” With this simple message, Simon Mphela and his team are trying to save lives. They want you to know that they are available to listen and point you in the right direction if you need help. In 2020, Simon’s close friend and neighbour took his own life. This was not the first time that he had experienced the death, by suicide, of someone close to him, but it was then that he realised that he could not sit around and do nothing. He wanted to do whatever he could, in whatever capacity he had, to offer help to anyone who needed it. A graphic designer by trade, Simon decided to use his creative skills to design a series of T-shirts and a bold information pamphlet aimed at raising awareness about suicide and mental health issues. He sent digital copies out to everyone he knew, printed the pamphlets and started to distribute them around the community. This simple act of outreach brought him to the attention of others in the community and motivated Simon to start a suicide prevention movement, which he later registered as an NPO called SMAF (Save Men and Flowers). He then recruited a team of dedicated, selfless individuals from around Kagiso township to join him. SMAF runs a simple but effective programme utilising two weekly social media campaigns and an ongoing public engagement initiative using fashion as a means of activism and connection. The Monday campaign is called “O grand jo?” (are you fine?), and it encourages people to check in on each other more often and to show love, care and support. “The weekend is a hectic time. We all think we are happy and excited and doing well. Monday is back to reality. All your anxieties come back. We specifically choose Monday to say ‘Are you okay?’” Every Thursday they run the “Anti Suicide Campaign” which focuses on mental health awareness and education. Through Facebook, WhatsApp and Instagram they provide well-researched mental health tips, suicide prevention and referrals. This may not be anything new, but their real Actionism happens in the space between these messages. All five volunteers have a range of SMAF-branded T-shirts which they commit to wearing whenever they are in public. These carry simple messages; “Depression Is Real”, “We Don’t Hide, We Confide” and “Choose To Live”, together with the telephone numbers for SADAG (South African Depression and Anxiety Group) and the suicide crisis hotline. Together with their two cars, branded “Anti-Suicide Campaign”, you would be forgiven for thinking that this is simply a promotional exercise, but the objective is not to advertise their NPO. The objective is to offer a first point of contact to anyone who needs help with depression, anxiety and suicidal thoughts. To be available, on an ongoing basis, for anyone to approach. To talk, listen and if necessary, pass on the contact details that they need to get help from professionals. And, this gentle invite to talk, is incredibly effective. Every day strangers will approach them, take photographs of the car or make a comment about the T-shirts. This often turns into a longer conversation which invariably offers a valuable space for help, advice and referral, if needed. “Just by listening you have helped people. We cannot diagnose, we can suggest to people that if they feel like they need help here is someone to talk to.” Two other members of the team are Minene Baloi, a fitness instructor, and Ernest Mocumi, a musician. Both of them use their work as an opportunity to talk to people about mental health and, by wearing the T-shirts, they start conversations more easily - and without having to probe. The T-shirt is, in essence, a sign that says ‘I am open to talk about mental health if you need to’. “For me it was easy, I’m a fitness trainer. People come to me with issues and with physical wellness; it's so connected to the mind. There is no way to take away the physical part of things. I don't have to go anywhere, I bring the message to my place of expertise. I get to do what I love but now on a greater scale.” Simple ideas can often have the most impact. A social media post and a selection of T-shirts may not seem like much, but to be on hand to help anyone in the community who needs you is a generous gesture that can change a life. SMAF is increasing its reach with a growing radio presence and a series of mental health workshops at local churches. They are looking to broaden their impact by offering their services to schools, workplaces, gyms and government departments around the country. < 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 >

8 The Actionists About Partner With Us Contact Us FAQ ____________________ Thom Pierce Studios Menu Close Jess Robus Mental wellness for kids and teens Jess Robus , Pretoria It is not often that you meet someone who is so clearly walking their own path through life, and exuding generosity and compassion with almost every step. Especially if they are only 17. Within the first five minutes of my whirlwind of a conversation with Jess Robus, she had taken me through the provenance of some of her favourite Afrikaans words, all told with the delight of someone who clearly enjoys the idiosyncratic development of language. She also told me of her recent diagnosis with autism which in her own words “made a lot of things make sense”. At 12, Jess wrote a children's book called “Arnold The Not Dinosaur”. It is a story about panic attacks, identity, self-acceptance and being unique, that may well help children to grow up feeling less alone. A “Few Slivers of Light” is a collection of poems that Jess wrote between the ages of 11 and 14. It is a journey from despair to hope in three parts; The Darkness, The Dawn and The Day. “As scary as it can be to put some things out, I knew I could help others and I wanted to do that. I felt a responsibility to help people feel validated in their struggles.” She isn’t concerned about selling a lot of books. Her goal is to communicate a message of understanding and unity. “I was inspired by a musician called Dodi, who wrote about panic attacks and depression. It was so wonderful to hear something so poetic and candid about these things. I saw mental health issues in my friends’ lives and the extreme toll that it took on themselves and their families. I wanted to tell teenagers that they weren’t alone and that their struggles were shared.” Jess is busy studying for her Matric but in her spare time, she does motivational talks at schools around Gauteng aimed at children, high school students, neurodiverse learners and parents. “The first school talk I ever did was at Kingsmead. A girl came and gave me a hug and said ‘I have never felt more seen’. I realised that by helping just one person, everything I wanted to do with the book, I had done.” Both of Jess’s books can be purchased through select bookstores, online retailers or directly from her website www.jessrobus.com . < Previous Item Next Item >

32 The Actionists About Partner With Us Contact Us FAQ ____________________ Thom Pierce Studios Menu Close Kim Houston Breaking the stigma around mental health Kim Houston at home in Durban You don't have to be changing the world every day to be an Actionist. Even just once a year is enough. And the world doesn’t have to be the whole world, it can just be the world around you, and the lives of people in your own community. In 2016 Kim Houston lost her baby when she was 6 months pregnant. She had struggled with depression and anxiety before, but the loss pushed her to a whole new depth. “My actual journey started when I lost my baby. That was the most horrific and dark time of my life. Nobody knew how to comfort me.” On her road to recovery, she experienced the inevitable ups and downs. For years she battled to come to terms with what happened until, in 2020, she had a nervous breakdown and was hospitalised for 2 weeks. That was 3 years ago and these days Kim will be completely open about the fact that things are not always easy. She still struggles and still has bouts of terrible depression, but now she has decided to talk about it. The one thing that concerned her the most was that in her community in Durban, people didn’t talk about mental health. It was a subject that was swept under the rug and left for each person to deal with on their own. Kim could see people in her community battling, with no way to find help and nobody to talk to. At 3 am one September morning, Kim woke up with an idea. Not just a fragment of an idea but a fully formed, intricate vision of what she needed to do. In her mind, she saw an event in the community hall with guest speakers, music, fancy tableware and a large crowd of people sitting around talking openly about mental health. It was called “The Tea of Hope”. Within two weeks she had planned and organised the entire event, reaching out to friends and family for help, and asking the community for donations of food and equipment. She had guest speakers and musical acts. She put the tickets up for sale to cover some of her own costs, advertising them on Facebook. They sold out in 5 days. “People's lives and eyes were opened to their mental health journey and wellness. That was the end goal. If I could just change one person's perspective on how they view mental health. I wanted to be that person.” The first two Teas of Hope were major successes by anyone's standards, sold-out events that got a community talking openly about mental health issues. So this year Kim will be hosting her third annual Tea of Hope, this time only for Women, on the 29th of October, with a Men’s event in November. She may not have changed the whole world, but Kim Houston has, for one day a year, reached out and offered a safe space to talk, for a community that desperately needs it. < Previous Item Next Item >