The first Centre for Women’s Independence in the world
The Centre for Women’s Independence was opened in October 2022. It is the first Centre for Women’s Independence in the world. We built it as a safe haven for women and girls. The centre includes a women’s gym, classroom and community meeting space embedded in a model permaculture food and medicine forest.
"Development is a means of achieving a quality of life that is sustainable, and allowing the expression of the full range of creativity and humanity."
Wangari Maathai
Our Projects
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10 Trees
10 Trees was born out of a collaboration with Project Biome, a Zach Bush initiative. Zach said, “if every household had 10 productive trees and plants, it would end food insecurity”. And so we began, mid- 2023, to create a pilot project that could be scaled up across Africa and the globe. Initially 153 households in Orpen Gate Village in rural South Africa, participated in more than 20 hours of Permaculture Education, and then selected 10 trees/plants for their yards. Today we have 210 households enrolled in the program.
Permaculture Explorers
Permaculture Explorers (PE) is a program synthesising permaculture education, small business development training, and stress reduction techniques, for rural South African women who wish to lift themselves above the international extreme poverty line. The first class in Orpen Gate Village graduated in March 2020, and since then we have had 124 women from 2 villages complete the year long program. Permaculture Explorers is now integrated with 10 Trees and those women who are highly successful with their trees are eligible to apply for PE, and receive 6 months of advanced permaculture education focusing on annual vegetables.
Sekwanele
Sekwanele was launched in November 2020 by a group of women in rural Orpen Gate Village, Mpumalanga, in response to rampant violence against women and girls, unrelenting sexual assault, and the belief that a lot of men have, that women exist for their use and abuse.
We say “Sekwanele: No more. It’s OVER. Enough is enough!”
Zingela Ulwazi stands with these women who are doing the hard work of trying to change culture and the dominant mindset, by facilitating weekly self-defence classes for women and girls, many of whom are survivors of sexual assault, some of multiple attacks.
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Our Vision
Our Vision is a world where women are independent, connected, healthy, joyful, respected and have full participation in the regeneration of communities, their economies and futures, as well as full access to information and technology. We envision a just world, where women’s rights are honoured, their lives, bodily integrity and safety treasured; where women’s unique gifts, talents, skills and contribution to healthy, vital communities is valued and held in the highest esteem.
Seeds of light
Project Biome
Ackermans
NLC
A spring of hope
SIETA
DGMT