On March 10, @teampata hit us with a heart-melter: “Welcoming Baby James to the world!” It’d like to believe it was a shoutout to World Birth Defects Day, to spotlight their Birth Defects Initiative with Zambia’s Ministry of Health and partners @ZAMMSA_Official
and @GlobalFundHIV
. They’re pushing to prevent defects in babies born to moms with HIV, a huge nod to their Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission (PMTCT) work.
How's baby James doing, did James’ mom get the care she needed?. PATA’s network spans over 230 clinics in 19 countries. They're basically a cog in a massive wheel considering that Sub-Saharan Africa’s got over 1.8 million kids living with HIV, 90% of the global total, and they’re tackling a beast: late diagnoses, patchy treatment, kids slipping through cracks.
it’s been a refreshing glimpse into an organization that’s all about giving kids a shot at a decent future. @SaveChildrenSA has been fighting for kids’ rights across Gauteng, Free State, KwaZulu-Natal, Mpumalanga, and Limpopo for years.
Their work’s got layers. They're super big on child protection, for migrants as well. They recently held a “game-changing” workshop they hosted with the Department of Social Development (@The_DSD). They teamed up with pros from Lawyers for Human Rights (@LHR_SA), the Centre for Child Law at the University of Pretoria (@UPChildLaw), and Home Affairs to tackle support for unaccompanied and separated migrant children. That’s a mouthful, but it’s huge because this feels like a concrete step, training people who can actually shift the system. I wonder what “game-changing impact” they’re hinting at, new policies, maybe?
South Africa’s a hub for kids fleeing tough spots, and they’re not shying away from that messiness.
I’ve been mulling over the Collen Mashawana Foundation @CollenMashFound. They've got me reflecting on their quiet, steady impact. This African-based NGO, founded by Collen Mashawana back in 2012, has been a lifeline for the vulnerable(elderly folks, people with disabilities, child-headed families) and they're still at it, heart and soul. March has been a slow burn so far, but what’s come through feels meaningful. The standout moment hit on March 11, when they
visited Adelaide Tambo Special School.
The foundation’s all about restoring dignity, and this feels like that in action, reaching out to a special needs school named after a struggle icon. Back in 2020, they stretched out their resources and handed over 28 toilets to Morris Isaacson Secondary in Soweto, a big deal for a school that’d been struggling. They Show time and time again their commitment to timeous response to urgent needs.
@CIVICUSalliance
’s feed is like peering into a whirlwind of global advocacy. CIVICUS, this alliance I’ve come to see as a watchdog for civic space, those precious freedoms to speak, gather, and act has been lighting up my timeline with updates that seem both urgent and hopeful. Based in South Africa but with eyes everywhere, they’re all about defending civil society, and they’re really really in the thick of it. They’re diving into the 69th Commission on the Status of Women, happening right now, and they’ve lined up events to push for change. I imagine it’s all about gender equality, a big piece of their “protecting the vulnerable” ethos. It’s not just talk either, just yesterday March 14 they were at it, proving a packed schedule. It’s a global stage, and they’re not wasting it.
@CIVICUSalliance
’s feed is like peering into a whirlwind of global advocacy. CIVICUS, this alliance I’ve come to see as a watchdog for civic space, those precious freedoms to speak, gather, and act, has been lighting up my timeline with updates that look both urgent and hopeful. Based in South Africa but with eyes everywhere, they’re all about defending civil society, and they're really really in the thick of it. They’re diving into the 69th Commission on the Status of Women, yes happening right now! and they’ve lined up events to push for change. I imagine it’s all about gender equality, a big piece of their “protecting the vulnerable” ethos. It’s not just talk either, just yesterday(March 14) they were at it, hinting at a packed schedule. It’s a global stage, and they’re not wasting it.
I’m curious where they’re headed now. That Arua training wrapped up nicely, maybe they’re debriefing, planning the next move with those new peace networks. The symposium might’ve left them with partnerships to chase. They’re small, from what I can tell, but they punch above their weight. Challenges are there yes, funding, reach, the sheer scale of Uganda’s issues but they show to be a team that’s not backing down. I’ll keep an eye on @Selflesscomp23
, hoping for more glimpses into their work. For now, I’m just inspired by how they’re showing up for Uganda’s women and girls
On March 14, when @Selflesscomp23
shared about a three-day training in Arua City and District, organized by the Women’s International Peace Centre, it brought together women peace mediators to learn conflict prevention and resolution. They got introduced to the Women’s Situation Room mechanism, something I hadn’t heard of, but it sounds like a way to monitor and respond to violence, especially around elections or crises. Seems they're creating “networks of women peace advocates,” and I can see why that’s huge. After the symposium and Women’s Day, this feels like SCI doubling down on empowerment, but through a peace lens. They're practical hands-on, and so needed in a region that’s seen its share of tension.
On March 14, when @Selflesscomp23
shared about a three-day training in Arua City and District, organized by the Women’s International Peace Centre, it brought together women peace mediators to learn conflict prevention and resolution. They got introduced to the Women’s Situation Room mechanism, something I hadn’t heard of, but it sounds like a way to monitor and respond to violence, especially around elections or crises. Seems they're creating “networks of women peace advocates,” and I can see why that’s huge. After the symposium and Women’s Day, this feels like SCI doubling down on empowerment, but through a peace lens. They're practical hands-on, and so needed in a region that’s seen its share of tension.
The big highlight hit just two days ago, on March 13, when @mbabazi_faith1
announced @RaisingTeenUg2 presence at the 69th Commission on the Status of Women (CSW69). @nankunda20
was there too, RTU doing what they’ve always done, just louder. Their whole deal is empowering teens, especially girls, with skills like assertiveness and reproductive health know-how, while fighting stuff like teenage pregnancy and child marriage. Uganda’s stats are rough; 25% of girls pregnant by 19, half married before 18, and RTU’s been in the trenches, running workshops and counseling sessions to flip that script. Seeing them at CSW69 feels like a megaphone moment, taking those local battles global.
Recent Highlight
Just last week, on March 8, 2025, Msichana Uganda marked International Women’s Day with a boost that caught attention. @WinifredNakandi
, posted that the organization received a donation from @Tika_kampala
sewing machines, fabric, and accessories for their reusable pads project. The Republic of Türkiye, represented by H.E. @fatihak1
, was behind this, which adds an international angle to their story. I can picture the excitement, new equipment humming, more pads being made, more girls reached. It’s a reminder that their work isn’t going unnoticed, even beyond Uganda’s borders.
6,221 NPOs axed in SA by Feb ‘25 for “non-compliance.” Gauteng’s chaos proves it; R554M unspent as orgs die. RT if you agree: stop punishing the helpers! #SaveNPOs
"Many education systems and training programs in Southern Africa do not adequately integrate sustainability principles into curricula, leaving gaps in skills and knowledge necessary for sustainable growth. As a result, industries, communities, and policymakers face challenges in addressing environmental concerns, economic disparities, and social inequalities. There is a need for a comprehensive approach to education and skill development that aligns with sustainability goals."
#SouthernAfricaYouthParliament #SouthernAfricaYouth
Today, we appeared in the SCA to compel @WCEDnews to provide us with a record of info relating to the allocation of resources in the MEED, school capacity in MEED, & a report of an investigation they allege to have undertaken regarding failures to place learners. #SofundaSonke
[Save the date]: Join Winners Without Gambling Int. on 22 March between 10 and 11:30 a.m. for the Human Rights Festival at Constitution Hill in Braamfontein (Education Room).
Winners Without Gambling Int. will explore eye-opening discussions on the intersection of gambling and feminism. They will explore how gambling affects women and marginalised communities and why it's essential to address this issue through a feminist lens.
For more information on this discussion, you can contact them directly through their page Winners Without Gambling Int. They also offer counselling for victims of gambling addiction through their program. To enquire, send them an email here: [email protected].
You can access the full Human Rights Festival Programme here: https://t.co/tJXLdm3diV.
cc: Constitution Hill SA
#TogetherForJustice ✊🏾
📣#CallForApplication: Are you a young African leader, ready to act for #sustainabledevelopment?
Apply to #AfrikaKommt & win a one-year scholarship at enterprises🇩🇪!
🗓️Deadline: 23.03.2025
✅Open to all Africans within the age limit
✅Criteria: proficiency in English, ≤ 35 years old
👉🏽Candidature & info: https://t.co/aimFnBxD7V
Join the #WOSSOFellows#CSW69 side event, where they will reflect on their fellowship experiences & look to their future. You will also get exclusive info on the next fellowship call. Scan the QR code in the invitation below and join us.
#ForAllWomenAndGirls#WOSSO
The 15th International Workshop on Women & HIV 2025 will take place at the in Barcelona, Spain, from 4-5 April 2025.
Registrations are still open. 👉https://t.co/AsjGFNw5Z1