Five Roses #NekNomination

At just 10 years old, Gertrude Fefoame began experiencing vision loss. Four years later, she went blind. Living in Ghana, she endured stigma and discrimination which people with disabilities are regularly subjected to. “There is a misconception in most parts of Africa that one would have a disability as a result of one's ill deeds,” Fefoame says. She internalised this prejudice, feeling gradually isolated. But after attending a school for people with blindness and meeting others with similar experiences, she gained new confidence and belief in herself. Now, Fefoame has dedicated her life to making the world more accessible for people with disabilities....

The beauty of the Garden Route area has attracted more and more holiday-makers over the years, causing guest houses to spring up everywhere. Wilderness lover, Olivia Lawrence, runs Wild Spirit Backpackers in Plettenberg Bay. She and her colleagues have chosen not to follow the trend of more is better, promoting conscious consumerism and ethical tourism. They have created an environmentally-friendly space that rewards guests for taking care of their surroundings. Travellers are encouraged to trade in a few hours spent gardening or clearing alien vegetation for a wholesome meal. Read more about Wild Spirit Backpackers...

Nadia Jonker knew something special was happening when she visited the Station Drive Precinct in 2015. The once derelict area was in the process of transformation – creative entrepreneurs in Durban had a vision for change. They were converting the empty shells of buildings and disused spaces into a place to house and grow their collective talents. Jonker, a crafter, blogger and creative consultant, wanted to be a part of it. Station Drive is now considered the creative hub of Durban. Since its revamp, the area has encouraged job creation and provided opportunities for people to pursue their craft. When Jonker moved into an office space there, she found inspiration at every corner. Read Jonker's full story...

Words can only do so much. And with 11 national languages in South Africa, communication sometimes holds people back. But our bodies have the power to express universal thoughts and emotions. That’s why actress Jennie Reznek teaches theatre that focuses on physical expression. In a country where more than 50% of our youth is unemployed, she’s committed to improving education, uplifting people, and creating understanding. Read Reznek's full story...

A squad of 20 women move with speed across the water. With individual paddles, they propel the narrow canoe forward. Merlin Osborne leads the dragon boating team, displaying power and precision. She is strong. She is fast. She is a cancer survivor. Dressed in shocking pink, Osborne and the team have all been affected in some way or another by breast cancer. “We’re all in the same boat and we’re fighting together,” she says. In 2007, Osborne found a lump in her underarm. Despite her family’s history with cancer, she waited more than a month to get it checked. When her fears were confirmed, Osborne spent four days in her room trying to figure out what to do. “The first thought that I had in mind was death,” she says. Then, Osborne realised that she was more than the diagnosis. “I decided cancer wasn’t going to define who I am,” she says....

The hall is decorated with bright streamers. Pop music fills the room, beckoning people to dance. Young students adorned in custom-made gowns take the hand of their well-dressed dates. In South Africa, a matric dance is the first time many pupils are made to feel special. But not all can afford the occasion. This was apparent to design duo Fagin Hardine and Adri Andrews of Paarl. Wanting to provide for the youth of their community, they decided to honour the final-year students in style. Read their full story...

Yaseen Salie, bio-energy analyst and DiBiCoo project lead at GreenCape, explains the latest innovations in the biogas sector as well as some of the goals and examples of the DiBiCoo project.

Ambassador Riina Kionka, the Head of the Delegation of the European Union to South Africa, Ambassador Martin Schäfer, the German Ambassador to SA, and Ambassador Aurélien Lechevallier, the French Ambassador to SA, discuss the importance of investing in a green recovery for South Africa as well as the EU’s projects in South Africa.

Kirsten Barnes, the project lead for SA Plastics Pact, GreenCape, and Kevin O'Brian, the Group Sustainability and Risk Executive for SPAR, discus the Plastics Pact and the vision for a circular economy for plastics in SA.

Mike Mulcahy, the CEO of GreenCape, and Cecelia Kok, the head of research and advocacy projects at FNF, discus “greenshoots at grassroots” in the green economy and why we should be concerned with growing the green economy in SA.

Lindiwe Johnson, the skills development project manager of GreenCape and Genesis Cleveland’s regional project officer, FNF, discusses the Green Economy Decision-Makers course and why it’s so important to develop skills for the green economy.

Produced in 1983 and taught in schools around the world, ‘My body’, a song originally developed as part of a sexual abuse prevention programme, has been given a reboot to raise funds against women abuse in South Africa. The new track features artists including Lira, Juliet Harding from GoodLuck, Mariechan, who rose to fame as one third of the girl group, Jamali, and Gigi LaMayne. All funds raised from the streaming of 'My Body' will be donated to the 1st for Women Foundation for its ongoing fight to end woman abuse....

Tine Fisker-Henriksen, the Innovative Finance Lead for Bertha Centre for Social Innovation, Graduate School of Business, and a member of the Green Outcomes Fund Advisory Committee, shares details of the Green Outcomes Fund, what it means to be a green business and how green SMMEs can apply for funding.

Babies grow rapidly. In fact, they outgrow up to seven sizes within the first two years of their lives – contributing to a mammoth amount of clothing waste. In the United Kingdom, one-third of parents throw out their baby’s clothes, which often end up in landfills. “It’s the ultimate fast fashion that no one is talking about,” entrepreneur Eve Kekeh says. A fervent advocate for the environment, she’s now created a way for people to clothe their kids while protecting the planet. Read the full story...

Grabbing a vertical pole with hands stretched wide, Johannes ‘Timo’ Gunther braces himself and lifts his body parallel to the ground, forming a perfect human flag. Somewhere above him, Phelelani Ndrakrokra is suspended upside down, loving life. Both high-flying performers know what it means to fall. Gunther, a pole acrobat, ran away from his Namibian home seeking a fresh start in Cape Town. Ndrakrokra, a wheel artist, was born to a single mother living on the streets. They both have found a home at Zip Zap Circus through its Dare to Dream project. The programme looks to help people from all walks of life realise their dreams through circus art. Read the full story...