To overcome market entry barriers and enhance women entrepreneursâ s access to local markets, the Trust has actively developed strategic partnerships, orchestrated convenings, and connected women to exhibitions and forums to advance them in the agricultural value chains. The Trust supported three women entrepreneurs from our Women Creating Wealth’s Agricultural Value Chains and Fair for All projects to participate in this year’s Proudly South African Annual Wine Expo, held in Johannesburg, South Africa, from 25 to 28 July 2024. This event has historically provided significant market access opportunities and a networking platform for South African winemakers, connecting them with potential buyers, distributors, and consumers.
Vivian Klenyhans (2nd from the left), the visionary behind African Roots Wines, famously known as Seven Sisters, was one of the entrepreneurs at the expo. A self-taught winemaker, she started from humble beginnings to leading one of South Africa’s emerging wine brands. “I was super surprised by the outcome of the expo. The quality of the buyers and the consumers was of a high level” Vivian shared. Her mission at the expo was to introduce her products to new consumers and secure their presence in grocery stores and restaurants and we are proud to support her on this journey.
Nolunthando Pikashe (in the middle), the founder of Ses’Fikile  Wines, transitioned from being a high school teacher to the vineyards of South Africa’s Winelands in 2006. Her wines celebrate South African culture, with a deep respect for the traditions that have shaped the region, yet they carry a contemporary flair that appeals to modern palates. “This was such a great experience and my first time to sell stock of R18 000 at one event. It was great for brand exposure and customer engagement, and I was also able to connect with potential buyers,” Nolunthando recounted.
Elizabeth Peterson (second from the right), the driving force behind Libby’s Pride Wines, took a leap of faith and started her own wine company in 2009. Elizabeth’s wines are recognised not only for their quality but also for their role in promoting transformation and inclusivity within the industry. The expo provided Elizabeth with a platform to share her story and her wines, a testament to her dedication and the potential of transformative support in the wine industry.
As we continue to champion and support  our women entrepreneurs, we anticipate more opportunities to help them showcase their products and expand their market reach.
The Trust supports and mobilises civil society networks on issues of ending child marriage, ending violence against children, ending female genital mutilation and promoting childrenâs rights, to carry out advocacy and action across Africa. Special focus is placed on Malawi, Mozambique, Tanzania and Zambia where child marriage continues to be a problem largely driven by poverty, gender inequality, harmful traditional practices, conflict, low levels of literacy, limited opportunities for girls and weak or non-existent protective and preventive legal frameworks.
Education is a fundamental right for all children, which is also a vehicle for social, economic and political transformation in communities, countries and the African continent at large. Recent studies indicate a lack of progress in some of the critical commitments aimed at improving education quality, access, retention and achievement, particularly for girls. In most African countries, girls may face barriers to learning, especially when they reach post-primary levels of education. By implementing multi-dimensional approaches to education which includes core education, personal development, life skills and economic competencies, the Trust partners with funding partners, governments, civil societies and the private sector to improve education access.
The Nutrition and Reproductive, Maternal, New-born, Child and Adolescent Health and Nutrition, (RMNCAH+N) of the Childrenâs Rights and Development Programme aims at promoting the Global Strategy for women, children and adolescentsâ health within the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) agenda. The strategy emphasises on the importance of effective country leadership as a common factor across countries making progress in improving the health of women, children and adolescents.
Through its Early Childhood Development (ECD) plan, The Trust will seek to put into action the new science and evidence Report that was presented by Lancet Series on Good and early development – the right of every child. This will be achieved by mobilising like-minded partners to contribute in the new science and evidence to reach all young children with ECD. The Trustâs goal is to be a catalyst for doing things differently, in particular, to rid fragmentation and lack of coordination across ECD sectors. In response to evidence showing the importance of political will in turning the tide against the current poor access and quality of ECD. Even before conception, starting with a motherâs health and social economic conditions, the early years of a childâs life form a fundamental foundation that determines whether a child will survive and thrive optimally.