April 2021 marked the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Rotary Club of Johannesburg (RCJ), the first Rotary Club on the continent of Africa. It celebrated a century of driving impactful socio-economic transformation throughout the continent. For the first time, on May 8,2021, the organisation had a cutting-edge online platform that allowed thought leaders
The Graça Machel Trust works across the continent on three issues: womenâs rights, childrenâs rights, and governance and leadership. We catalyse action, support local initiatives, lend solidarity and offer support where it is needed. We connect people and groups that should know each other and work together; and engage both publicly and behind the scenes
Photo Credit: Eye for Ebony  Thursday, August 9, 1956, might have begun like any other day but it South Africa; it marked a turning point in the countryâs history. In one of the largest protests ever held in the country, 20,000 women of all races marched to Pretoriaâs Union Buildings with a
 A conversation with Dr. Shungu Gwarinda: what NGO programmatic work will look like now. The Graça Machel Trustâs Interim CEO and Programmes Director shared some insights on what organisations that rely on donor funding can do to continue doing their programmatic work even with minimum funding during the COVID19 pandemic. This conversation took place
 "Close to 75% of women in Africa are expected to be in vulnerable employment by 2020â -The United Nations Economic Commission for Africaâs 2017.  As many governments, heads of states and social institutions continue to call for an urgent need to deal with the unprecedented and complex challenges brought by the COVID-19 pandemic,
 âIf they refuse to make space for you at the table, then create your own tableâ- Graca Machel  In any setting a table may often be furniture that is overlooked as a mundane feature of the space that it occupies, it serves as a gathering place, for both people and things. If this is
To celebrate the 16 Days of Activism against Against Gender-Based Violence, on the 7th of December 2019, Ubuma Leadership hosted the Men's Imbizo at Constitution Hill in Johannesburg which highlighted on the multiple manifestations of patriarchy and toxic masculinity in all spaces of our society. The Imbizo also unpacked the false notions and narratives which
 My first encounter with the concept of Climate Change was in 2015 as a student volunteer for an organisation that was drafting an African youth position paper on Climate Change in the build-up to COP 21 in Paris, France. Before this, the idea of global warming was something I had a limited understanding of.
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.