Traditional Healers and Mental Health

By: Othandwa Lidlozi “Mental illness is nothing to be ashamed of, but stigma and bias shame us all”. I read this off a Facebook status,…

Mental Health. Providing support for those who don't have any.

By: Anele Gcwabe We don’t need to explain the importance of investing in mental health and mental health care. The high number of suicide among…

Uyanqwakuza – The IsiXhosa ridicule for mental illness.

By: Zilungile Zimela The issue pertaining to mental illness always leaves a bitter taste in my mouth for a number of reasons. As a black…

On mental health- We’ve grown, but we can do more.

By: N.S.D A large number of South Africans are dealing with mental health issues. Fortunately, the conversation is shifting from being unmentionable and off limits…

Demolishing the stigma around mental illness

By: Anele Gcwabe When faced with issues of mental health, we often overlook the value of a strong support system. We are quick to find…

Making mental health and healing available to the African child

By: Anele Gcwabe “I started this project because of my passion for mental health. In 2015 I dropped out of College while doing my 4th…

What can we do about the issue of unemployment in the country?

By: Aphelele Mtwecu I recently read a post by the Funny Chef where she asked what we can do about the issue of unemployment in…

Catering to the basic needs of the community with compassion

By: N.S.D It is not every day that you meet a young person who, when they identify a problem in their community, takes charge and…

Kgothatso Mokgophi: Putting people before assets

By: Lwazi Nongauza “Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about the things that matter.” This quote by Dr Martin Luther King…

Matshidiso Matlotlo Mabe: A social entrepreneur who seeks social justice

By: N.S.D Capacity development has been defined as the process through which individuals, organisations and societies obtain, strengthen and maintain the capabilities to set and…

A Facebook community group aimed at reforming the socioeconomic status in communities around South Africa

By: Lwazi Nongauza Many people have recommended the creation of a social media group to help market a business or an organisation. In his blog,…

Data age, is your confidential information protected?

By: Bongekile Filana (A Certified Data Scientist) “Data is now a new oil of the digital economy” says Honourable Minister Stella -Ndabeni Abrahams in her…

Hlengiwe Phoswa: influence that will carve footprints on solid rocks

By N.S.D We live in a society that functions on a system that is conducive to the erasure of women and their influence, because of…

The ACTIVATE! Network Covid-19 relief application terms and conditions

The ACTIVATE! Network COVID-19 relief fund aims to target 255 Activators and 10 Youth Hubs across the country. There are limited funds available. Activators are…

Paving the way for womxn to take leadership roles as they are, not as imitations of men.

By: Lwazi Nongauza “We must pave the way for other women to join us, not to become like men. We should have the balls to…

From being trapped in prostitution, to freeing those who are trapped in prostitution

By: Anele Gcwabe There is a significant difference between choosing to be a sex worker, and being forced into prostitution. The former- though not yet…

Putting a smile on a child’s face

By: Anele Gcwabe Smiling not only offers a mood boost but helps our bodies release cortisol and endorphins that provide numerous health benefits, including: Reduced blood pressure.…

Volunteering to bring hope

By: Anele Gcwabe In the time that we live in, a lot of people are concerned about themselves, their own growth and development and the…

Phillipi CAN, a Cape Town Together initiative

By: Anele Gcwabe Covid-19 came with many challenges for many South Africans, especially those living hand to mouth and under the poverty line. Putting food…

Nkosinathi Ndlovu serving those who are living hand to mouth.

By: Anele Gcwabe The outbreak of Covid19 lead to a difficult four months for a lot of people in South Africa. Having to go under…

Leading Gender Equity

By: Lwazi Nongauza ‘’All of us must take this on board, that the objectives of our country will not have been realized unless we see…

KFW Development Bank donates office furniture to Activator Youth Hubs around the country

By Paul Mabote  On Thursday the 20th of August, KFW generously donated the furniture from their office in Hatfield, Pretoria to ACTIVATE! who in turn…

Leading on the ground. A different kind of power.

By: Lwazi Nongauza Lousia Thwesa’s quest to end gender based violence leads her to adopt orphaned victims. 2018 ACTIVATE! Change Drivers alumni and professional counselor,…

Reviving Africa through story telling

By: Anele Gcwabe If you believe that “a reading nation is a growing nation”, you’ll understand the power that is held by Revived Literature Fair…

Here’s to a World with Better Men. A male perspective.

By: Liza Asavela Mfana Many men across the world have raised their concerns surrounding women empowerment and emancipation movements and organizations. Citing that the discourse…

Penester Tjale, a leader who sees womxn in leadership as examples, not exceptions.

By: Lwazi Nongauza                                                                                 Have you ever been asked the question “what do people say when they gossip about you?” Penester Tjale knows exactly what her…

The short-end of the stick

By: Zilungile Zimela Women’s Day does not appeal to me. I suppose this feeling is becoming more pronounced as I get older and more aware…

#ZimbabweanLiveMatter the same way that #BlackLivesMatter, the only difference is lack of knowledge

By Kay-Dee Mashile It wasn’t until a few days ago that I first heard about the current events that are taking place in Zimbabwe. Upon…

A womxn who is showing the world that womxn know how to handle power.

By: Lwazi Nongauza “I work really hard at trying to see the big picture and not getting stuck in ego. I believe we’re all put…

RE: CELEBRATING POWERFUL WOMEN DURING WOMENS MONTH #IAMAPOWERFULWOMXN    #AWOMXN

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                             …

Free State’s GBV Activists’ Work Liberate Many Women

By: Lwazi Nongauza Free State citizens have applauded Minister in the Presidency for Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities, Maite Nkoana-Mashabane, for finally conceding to…

Remember Raynecia Korjie

By: Anele Gcwabe Age: 7 Province: Western Cape Died: 12 June 2020 Drowned to death with her mother, Altecia Korjie, in the next room, at…

Remember Anene Boysen

By: Anele Gcwabe Age: 17 Province: Western Cape Died: 02 February 2013 Anene Boysen died a few hours after her mutilated body was found. She…

GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE SURVIVOR, HILDAH TLOU, STANDS UP AND SPEAKS OUT

By: Lwazi Nongauza “We need to reshape our own perception of how we view ourselves. We have to step up as women and take the…

Remember Jolandre Tolli

By: Anele Gcwabe Age: 16 Province: Northern Cape Died: 06 June 2019 02 June 2019 Jolandre Tolli does not make it home tonight. 16 year…

Humanising Masculinity to Combat Gender-Based Violence (GBV)

By: Liza Mfana Judging from the escalating number of cases and deaths that are as a result of men’s violence against women, it is safe…

Remember Naledi Phangindawo

By: L Gobozi Even at the peak of gender-based-violence, there remains a social stigma of GBV, which further victimises the victims of gender-based-violence. It is…

RE: UNESCO MGIEP, LAUNCHES THE RETHINKING LEARNING PUBLICATION ON MANDELA DAY.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 17 July 2020 RE: UNESCO MGIEP, LAUNCHES THE RETHINKING LEARNING PUBLICATION ON MANDELA DAY. Nelson Mandela once said, “Education is the most…

Empowering other women so that they don't fall into the trap of abusive relationships

By: Lwazi Nongauza In 2019, Fashion designer and Activator, Ditiro Mashigo was tasked with the project to design costumes for the Soweto Gospel Choir, she…

Remember Liyabona Mabishi #RemeberHer

By: Nelisiwe Dlamini There is a scourge among us that is Gender-Based-Violence. It is attacking the very backbone of this nation-  womxn and children. It…

How many women and children must die for the government to act?

By: Nomvuyo Sebeko We were only halfway through the month of June, with the world fighting a pandemic- the invincible coronavirus increasingly killing millions of…

#RememberHer Remember Uyinene Mrwetyana

By: Anele Gcwabe Age: 20 years old Province: Western Cape Died: 24 August 2019 Killed in broad daylight, at a place no one would have…

ACTIVATE! Change Drivers launches a #RememberHer campaign in remembrance of all the womxn who lost their lives due to gender-based-violence.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE       09 July 2020  RE: ACTIVATE! Change Drivers launches a #RememberHer campaign in remembrance of all the womxn who lost their lives due…

The Barefoot Campaign. Let’s celebrate rape survivors.

By: Anele Gcwabe Some people find jobs, and they proceed to make an income, provide for their families, and think little or nothing of the…

Shining light on the things we take for granted. A story of influence.

By: BeeKay Mental health has been the most under-addressed, overlooked and undeserved illness in the history of all human illnesses. A lot of medical practitioners…

Economic Activism, a story of influence.

By: BeeKay Economic activism involves using economic power for change. This is especially true, when an Activist is on a quest to develop his/her community…

Lending a hand wherever help is needed.

By: Anele Gcwabe Sometimes, people just need help. Sometimes, these people encounter people who are willing to help, and the world is a better place…

Online activism: South Africa and #BlackLivesMatter

By: Marthinus Conradie An opinion from The University of Freestate Anti-racist protests are flourishing across the United States, as protestors oppose the systemic racism that…

Using the arts to instill hope in his rural community

By: N.S.D For as far back as history can trace, the arts have been used as a form of ‘play’. It is what people turn…

Doing his part for the economy. Lwazi Mase’s story of influence.

By Anele Gcwabe When he started the ACTIVATE! Change Drivers’ (ACD) training programme in 2018, Lwazi Mase was already a member of the Namakwa Youth…