A widow and her two young children seeking shelter at her gate on a rainy day led Dianne Lehy to establish Greensleeves, a community initiative that has grown to support vulnerable families and children through feeding programmes and…
Robyn Brown — Nyara Youth Development Growing up in the Nyara villages, in the Haga Haga area, outside KuGompo City, Robyn Brown remembers a close connection with the community, where her grandparents ran a store. When she returned to the…
Growing up in a poor household raised by a single mother who ran a tavern shaped Constance Zziwa's determination to help unemployed people find opportunities to improve their lives. Through Work 4 A Living, Zziwa works with jobless…
Dr Gigi Ranjana — iThemba Children’s Home Children with complex medical and special needs often require more than a safe place to stay, with a need for specialised care and support that many families struggle to access. Dr Gigi Ranjana…
A counselling initiative inspired by a mother's concern about children growing up without adequate counselling support has expanded from one school to 12 public schools in KuGompo City since it started in 2022. Thetha Nathi, meaning “talk…
For children who come from difficult home circumstances, Daily Bread Children's Home provides more than shelter, offering a place where they can receive an education, care and support while growing up. The organisation, which started in…
A group of animals being poisoned more than 30 years ago motivated Tracy Taylor and a friend to start the Starfish Project, an initiative built around helping wherever there is a need, even if they can only save one animal at a time.…
Satish Nair — Quigney Ratepayers Association A tourist taking photographs at Heroes Park in KuGompo City prompted Satish Nair to question the state of one of the city's historic landmarks, leading him to start a community cleanup…
For more than two decades, Buyile Geza has used drama, dance and music to give children in Duncan Village an opportunity to develop their artistic abilities while keeping them away from drugs and other social challenges. Geza co-founded…
A lack of interest in local libraries among children in Mdantsane prompted Sisanda Kopolo to start an initiative aimed at introducing young people to the resources and learning opportunities available at their neighbourhood library.…
For Nathanael Padayachee, success is not measured by how much money has passed through his hands, but by the number of lives he has been able to change through giving back to his community. The businessman, who has been nominated for the…
A lack of preschools and early learning opportunities in rural Eastern Cape communities prompted Asekho Motabene to co-found Sikhula Sonke in 2020, an initiative aimed at helping children build a strong foundation before entering formal…
Twelve selfless community champions who work tirelessly to uplift others have been honoured at the glamorous Daily Dispatch Local Heroes Awards held in East London.
The Daily Dispatch Local Heroes Awards, in partnership with Johnson’s, will recognise 12 individuals whose work has made a difference in communities across the Eastern Cape at an annual gala dinner. The awards celebrate people who…
Zolisa Madikizela, a former student support liaison officer, leverages her experience in student affairs to mentor and uplift communities in King Sabata Dalindyebo through two non-profit organisations.
A simple question from her daughters about children living on the streets forced social worker Athalia Flanagan to confront one of her own.
For more than a decade, Constance Zziwa has regularly visited prisons and juvenile detention centres, offering spiritual support, counselling and a listening ear to inmates who often have little support beyond the prison walls.
Growing up in Duncan Village, Pastor Lusizo Mathafeni saw first-hand how difficult circumstances could shape the lives of young people.
Having gone to school hungry without having breakfast and relying on the school nutrition programme for a meal, Athenkosi Kinana knows what it feels like to go hungry.
From paying for equipment and transport to opening his family home to young fighters, Andile Mshumpela has made developing the next generation of Mdantsane boxers a personal commitment.
