August is Women’s Month in South Africa, and each year, Women’s Day is celebrated on the 9th of August. On this day, South Africans celebrate the strength and resilience of women and their contribution to society and country. 

Uzwela also celebrated International Women’s Day in March 2021. With three female Directors and wonderful corporate donors based outside of South Africa, it is inevitable that we would mark both Women Days. (Read about our visit to John Wesley Children’s Home on International Women’s Day here.) 

To celebrate South African Women’s Month 2021, we visited the Uitkoms Home for Girls in Observatory, Johannesburg.  “Uitkoms” is an Afrikaans word that can be translated as “having a way out”.

The home is a registered Child and Youth Care Centre that has the precious undertaking of offering shelter, protection, counselling and life guidance to young women from disadvantaged backgrounds. Many of the girls in their care are victims of rape, abuse, abandonment, and neglect, and some are referred during pregnancy. There are currently 26 girls at Uitkoms. The mission of Uitkoms is to “give back our girls their lives”, and Uzwela is very proud to be a supporter of the fantastic work they do. 

Uzwela Foundation donated baby clothes, blankets, toiletries and 100 packets of sanitary ware. Each girl also received a gift bag with a selection of personal care items and an additional treat packet. Due to COVID restrictions, we unfortunately weren’t allowed to enter the home.