TWO schools in the Thaba Chweu Municipality near Lydenburg were given a new lease on life when boreholes were drilled by the Crescent of Hope organisation at the behest of Awqaf SA, a local NGO that works towards improving and empowering South African communities. Fazel Ismail from the Crescent of Hope, which does charitable work, approached Awqaf SA when he got news of several schools in dire need of support in the Moremela district, near the famous tourist area of the Blyde River Canyon and the Bourke’s Luck Potholes. “The two boreholes we dug at Sekwai High School, and its neighbouring Primary School LL Mohane, are a moving story of the status quo in our country. These schools are within a stone’s throw of luxury guesthouses and five-star tourist facilities, yet they still don’t have proper running water. “At the high school, I observed that the learners were walking behind, and not into, their toilets. When I asked them why they were doing this, they showed me that the school had pit latrines. They were so disgusting and unsafe that the learners told me the bush was a healthier option for relieving themselves. “The school had water tanks in the yard, but I was told that when filled they would only be able to supply enough water for a day,” he said. Ismail said that at the primary school he had been told by a teacher that he was grateful there was bush near the school, as the young learners ...

AboutOne Day Free WorkshopCalling all WOMEN OWNED BUSINESSES to attend a workshop to empower you with:DIGITAL MARKETING & BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT SKILLS so you may grow and enhance your business.Bring your own smartphone or laptop with. This is a joint event between Awqaf SA and Siyafunda to provide training to small and medium business enterprises. Siyafunda CTC enables Information and Community knowledge centres, where people can access computers, the internet, and other digital technologies that enable them to gather information, create, learn, and communicate with others while they develop essential digital skills. The focus is one the use of digital technologies to support community, economic, educational, and social development. Thus reducing isolation, bridging the digital divide and creating economic opportunities. Online registration is essential Select the desired City you wish to register for: Gauteng Lenasia (JHB) Western Cape Woodstock (CT) KZN Facebook #SheMeansBusiness Richards Bay KZN: click here to register Nana Memorial (JHB) event pics Site B Khayelitsha Co-Lab Training at the Woodstock Exchange, Cape Town pics coming soon

Fordsburg Clinic gets a welcome boost Dr. Goolam Omar, a veteran radiologist who practiced in Lenasia at the Lenmed Clinic for many years, decided to downsize his practice and move it to Fordsburg, where he could get closer to people who needed his services. Originally built as a home for gold miners in the 1800s, Fordsburg has enjoyed a colourful history as a centre of social awareness. Today it is a vibrant multi-cultural hub in Johannesburg. Dr. Omar’s Fordsburg practice catered for foreigners and the needy, who could not traditionally afford x-ray services. This year, after decades of service, Dr. Omar decided to retire to a life of reflection. On 1 October 2017 – coinciding with 10 Muharram, an auspicious day on the Islamic calendar – Dr. Omar decided to donate his x-ray practice as a waqf to the National Awqaf Foundation of South Africa, Awqaf SA. Waqf is an Islamic institution introduced by the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) where ethical investments and assets are bequeathed as a divine trust to benefit the community. The waqf property remains intact until the end of time, and cannot be sold or ceded. The most salient feature of a waqf trust is that it has to be sustainable, and proceeds from the core investment or asset – which cannot be touched – uses its profits to service the poor and the needy.  Haroon Kalla, Chairperson of the Board of Trustees of Awqaf SA, says the organisation gladly accepted this donation from Dr. Omar. “We ...

“The Young Business Achiever Awards (YBAA) goes as far as to say that entrepreneurship is an antidote to poverty,” said Shaakira Rahiman-Saleh, spokesperson for the YBAA. Launched in 2017 by Roshgold Investment Holdings in 2017, the awards want to help small businesses to grow through recognition and mentorship. Speaking to The Daily Vox, Rahiman-Saleh said she had just gotten back from launching the awards in Durban and Cape Town. These regional launches form part of the work the awards are trying to accomplish.  “This is not just the competition for the name and fame. It’s a very personal, it is a one-on-on experience because every business is unique. The Roshgold Team actually endeavors to go to the regional business hubs in Durban, Johannesburg, Pretoria and Cape Town to interact with each entrepreneur, they are afforded the opportunity to network and meet us as the founding organization, the sponsors and very importantly the Judges in the competition at each regional launch,” said Rahiman-Saleh.  As part of the advertising and promotion of the awards, the awards’ team have travelled to different parts of the country. There they met with entrants, spoken to them and created networks which will help entrepreneurs beyond the awards. Some of the awards’ judges accompanied the team to these launches to offer advice to entrants.  Haroun Pochee, previous chairman and current CEO of Roshgold Investments started these awards. Roshgold is a community based investment company. Leading on from that background, the awards is about investing in the community ...

THERE were scenes of joy at Mvezo, the mountainous birthplace of Nelson Mandela and the court of the area’s chiefs Wednesday 14 August 2019, when 10 cows were slaughtered as part of the Islamic Eid ul-Adha festival. The festival remembers Abraham’s sacrifice when his son was replaced by a ram. Called Qurbani, the meat is distributed to poor. Hundreds from the Mvezo community queued up to be given the sacrificial meat under the watchful eye of Inkosi (Chief) Zwelivelile Mandla Mandela.  Content hosted by iono.fm Tasneem Adams filed this report on the Chief Mandla Mandela tour of Mvezo Royal House of Mandela. The cows were donated to the local community of Mvezo, a rural district 40 kms south of Mthatha, by the NGO Awqaf South Africa and the Turkish Diyanet Vakfi as part of their # SharetheCare Qurbani programme.  Speaking to tribal elders, guests and community members, Mandela said that the Transkei had a precious resource – its land – and massive potential. There were 3.2 million cows, 6 million sheep and 7 million goats in the region, and local farmers needed to be empowered in animal husbandry. “An ox, for example, is bought for R2, 000 by a white farmer, fattened for 60 days and then resold for R17, 000. We need to break this cycle. We need to educate our farmers to benefit directly from their own resources,” he said. Mandela also said that aloes, which grew on the hillsides, were an untapped natural resource. Environmentally sustainable methods ...