Between the 4th and 7th of March 2025—right in the heart of International Women’s Month—history was made at the Women’s Voice and Leadership South Africa (WVLSA) Learning and Sharing Summit, held at the Kopanong Hotel and Conference Centre in Boksburg, Johannesburg.
At this gathering of fierce, passionate, and dedicated women-led organizations from across the country, The Great People of South Africa stood tall, walking away with two powerful awards that affirmed the heart of our mission and the impact of our work.
We were honoured in the “Driver of Change” and “Story of Change” categories—recognitions that are more than just accolades; they are testaments to the deep, transformative work happening in the dusty streets and vibrant communities of the Eastern and Western Cape.
The “Driver of Change” award celebrated the bold leadership and unwavering resilience of our founding director, Zintle Khobeni—a woman whose journey is as layered as the very struggles she fights against.
A human rights defender, community activist, GBV survivor, political activist, and a visionary who dreams of becoming South Africa’s first woman president, Zintle embodies the soul of The Great People of South Africa. Her story is one of pain transformed into purpose, and advocacy rooted in lived experience.
It is her fierce determination to challenge gender injustice from the grassroots up that continues to guide and inspire our organization.
We also took home the “Story of Change” award for our groundbreaking GBV Legal Empowerment Programme, an initiative that trains survivors and community members in basic legal literacy.
This program doesn't just educate—it transforms victims into agents of justice and change. It equips women with tools to navigate a complex and often intimidating justice system, empowering them to take action in communities where silence once reigned.
In places where gender-based violence is both rampant and normalized, we are planting seeds of resistance and resilience.
At the heart of our work is a deep commitment to marginalized communities, where structural inequality, poverty, and harmful traditional norms often make women and girls even more vulnerable to violence. We do not walk this journey alone.
Our work thrives through collective efforts and collaboration with other grassroots organizations, because we believe that ending GBV and advancing women’s rights requires a united front.
We have also cultivated strong, respectful relationships with religious and cultural leaders, recognizing their vital role in reshaping narratives and shifting deeply rooted social attitudes.
One of our flagship initiatives is our Community-Based Paralegal Training Programme, which has empowered countless survivors and community champions with foundational legal knowledge. This program has not only allowed women to become advocates in their own communities, but has also provided essential support for navigating the often brutal and retraumatizing criminal justice system.
It is through these kinds of initiatives that we are building community power and legal awareness from the ground up.
What makes these awards even more special is the journey behind them. The Great People of South Africa is not just an organization—it is a living, breathing movement born out of grassroots pain, struggle, and hope.
When we began this journey, our very first donor was Women’s Voice and Leadership South Africa, supported by Global Affairs Canada through Gender Links. They believed in us when all we had was a vision and a voice. They have walked with us through the tears, the breakthroughs, the community dialogues, and the hard-won victories.
This recognition belongs to them too.
To Global Affairs Canada, thank you. May you always sleep better at night knowing that your contributions support life-changing work for women in South Africa. Because of your investment, women who once felt voiceless are now advocates, paralegals, community mobilizers, and fearless changemakers.
To the incredible WVLSA and Gender Links teams—you are the wind beneath our wings. Your support goes far beyond funding; it is personal, affirming, and unwavering.
Your work strengthens organizations like ours so that we can stand taller, dream bigger, and do the deep, slow work of building a just and equal society.
As we reflect on this milestone, we do so with gratitude, humility, and a fire to do even more. These awards are not the end—they are a call to action.
A reminder that change is possible when women rise, when survivors lead, and when global solidarity meets grassroots organizing.
We are The Great People of South Africa—and this is only the beginning
