Articles
I hope to invest in myself
Thabo Mashapa has had to fight to get an education, and although he has not received a ‘conventional’ education, he is gaining knowledge in other valuable ways. Read more about I hope to invest in myself
They Sold Us Dreams: Mzansi’s Youth Tell their Stories
Life is rough! Millennials have a unique term for it – “adulting”. This June, social change NGO Heartlines wants to hear the honest, raw, unfiltered side of their adulting stories. Read more about They Sold Us Dreams: Mzansi’s Youth Tell their Stories
I do not know where to place myself
Joao Pedro was born in South Africa to parents who are immigrants, and although he is proud of his Angolan-South African heritage, he still finds it hard to define his identity. Read more about I do not know where to place myself
Continuing her father’s legacy
Mokgadi started beekeeping almost by accident – she used to get some honey from her father’s supply until one day he said to her, “You’re finishing my supply. I’m not working for you.” She got a few beehives to harvest her own supply on her father’s farm. Being a Black woman in a white male dominated industry has not been easy, but Mokgadi is determined to make it work. Read more about Continuing her father’s legacy
I could have been trafficked that day
A narrow escape from being trafficked twenty-four years ago changed Blessing’s life forever. As an anti-human trafficking activist, she is now directly involved in making sure other girls and women are able to return to their homes safely. Read more about I could have been trafficked that day
I did not think of it as prostitution
Growing up, Hilda’s family struggled financially, but when she fell pregnant in high school, things became harder. After dropping out of school, she decided to become a sex worker to provide for her family. Read more about I did not think of it as prostitution
They called me the little bastard
Blackie’s identity has been questioned from the moment he was born. He was born to white parents in apartheid South Africa, but he appeared coloured. The appearance of his skin made him a target for ridicule and cruelty for years, even from his own father, who questioned his paternity. Here is a snippet from his story. Read more about They called me the little bastard
My mother made it look easy
Many of us grow up thinking our mothers are supermoms, but it’s only when you become a parent yourself that you begin to really understand the sacrifices that make mothers real-life heroes. Read more about My mother made it look easy
My mother gave me up for adoption
Mmashikwane’s view and experience of family changed radically when she was ten. Hers is a story of learning the value of family and community. Read more about My mother gave me up for adoption
Motherhood brought me home
Motherhood brought with it a gift of love, but it also brought Morongoa necessary, tough lessons about life. When she became a mother, she began to understand her mother’s perspective. Read more about Motherhood brought me home
Pregnant at 17: all I wanted was to be free
Falling pregnant at age seventeen seemed to be the end of Nontokozo’s world. Her dreams had to be put on hold, and a degree seemed like a distant possibility. Read more about Pregnant at 17: all I wanted was to be free