Sakhisizwe -Building the Nation - Bou Die Nasie

Mental Health is slowly becoming a pandemic in this country as well as in the world at large. Statistics for anxiety, depression and suicide are at an all-time high and it has affect both young and old alike. The Sakhisizwe team spoke to Renewho works at The Daffodil Foundation, a foundation that has recognized an absence of awareness and support for Mental Health related issues in the community. She spoke to us about how important it is for the community and for schools to get involved in providing mental health resources and access to young people across the country -- especially those from areas where such concepts still remain a taboo. They connect their benefactors with mental health professionals and guide them regarding what the most suitable course of healing may be. It is very important for us to understand that everyone’s mental health journey is different, and what works for one person may not work for everyone else.

You might not know it from watching the news or listening to lawmakers, but AIDS is still a crisis. Nearly 37 million people are living with HIV today, and more than 15 million of them still can’t get life-saving treatment. Within South Africa, 50,000 people die of AIDS related complications every year, and the country has an 18% Adult HIV prevelance. Just playing a numbers game, each of you listening right now knows someone who has been infected with the HIV virus or is suffering from AIDS. The SakhiSizwe team spoke with Ms Barbara Kingsley an HIV+ Activist and Educator whose own journey battling the virus has inspired many through her talks, and more recently her book ‘I am Human’. She spoke to us about a variety of cultural stereotypes about people living with HIV/AIDS and also what the appropriate terminology to use is. Her own story was inspiring, as she lived in denial for years after her diagnosis before going on ARV treatment. She also talked about the important role long dista

On Sakhisizwe, we had the pleasure of speaking to Refiloe Seseane who is the Founder of  18twenty8.   18twenty8 is an award-winning, women-led Non-Profit Organization  that empowers young women by developing strategies for their educational and personal development. They encourage young women, between the ages of 18 and 28, to pursue higher education as a necessary tool for their empowerment. Their approach is very empathetic, skills-enhancing and relevant to the young women we serve since we have experienced some of their challenges first-hand. They provide young girls and woman with the necessary tools and equipment to educate and up skill themselves in becoming empowered and lead. These are some of the programmes that they provide: Life-skills Workshops: For girls in Grade 11 and Grade 12 at high schools in marginalised communities. Financial Assistance: Covers young women's higher education expenses at accredited higher education institutions across South Africa. Big Sister Net

  The SakhiSizwe team spoke with Ayanda Nvandaba, the 10X Managing partner at Christel House. She discussed their newest employment initiative called ‘Youth Bridge’. Youth Bridge supports unemployed youth (15 to 35-years of age) and helps them bridge the gap between their undiscovered ambitions and abilities and the career opportunities that await them. It draws on lessons learnt from Christel House SA’s successful efforts over the past 22 years to support vulnerable youth to secure gainful employment. Key to the programme’s success is addressing the barriers to stable, successful employment through a character-based, career-focused readiness programme and then continuing to support candidates through their first periods of placement. Given the backdrop of South Africa’s high youth unemployment rate, the school engaged with experts on how to create sustainable and viable solutions around their new Youth Bridge Initiative. She shared with us the research and design that went into asset