Stories
When we share our stories, understanding, empathy and trust grow. Our relationships improve and we get a stronger sense of community. At Heartlines, we’ve seen how story-sharing has impacted and connected thousands of people beyond anything we could have imagined. Here are some of those stories.
Do you have a story that everyone needs to hear? We want to hear it! Share your story here.
All stories
My career looks different to what I'd imagined
Using the skills she learned in the corporate world, Koinonia Baloyi found a way to live out her passion for community development and begin something that is not only changing her community, but her too, for the better.
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Failure made me a better person
Harrington’s desire for a better life has been fight after fight, but he has hope that his future will be different. Read more about Failure made me a better person
Our kids need our voices
As a single father, Gosiame sees raising his daughter as a privilege.
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I hope to invest in myself
Thabo 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.
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It's not just a man's world
Sarah’s journey to embracing womanhood has taught her that she is free to be unique – and to make choices that empower not only her, but her family as well.
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I don't 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.
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Residences were only for white students
When I applied to Rhodes University I was told there was no accommodation for me – their residences were for white students only. Read more about Residences were only for white students
Continuing her father’s legacy
Mokgadi started beekeeping almost by accident. Being a black woman in a white male-dominated industry has not been easy, but she is determined to make it work.
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I could have been trafficked that day
A narrow escape from being trafficked 24 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.
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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.
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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. His appearance made him a target for ridicule and cruelty.
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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.
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