On August 14, Rata, in collaboration with Ubuntu Love, celebrated the women of Brakpan, particularly those in need and clients of Rata Social Services. This organisation focuses on helping abused women and children.

The morning was kicked off with 50 women receiving coffee and cake, before speakers uplifted them with messages of hope and empowerment.

The first speaker for the day was Constable Audrey Buthelezi, Brakpan SAPS social crime prevention and communications officer.

She spoke to the women about strength and hope when faced with abuse. She told them that Women’s Month celebrates women’s resilience, determination and love.

“In a home without a woman, the home is not complete. Kids are kids because of their mothers. Men are husbands because of their wives,” she said.

She explained that a functioning community needs strong, resilient and enduring women to be stronger.

“Celebrate yourselves; you are worthy of all the love and respect, of everything good. Know that, celebrate that, and celebrate yourselves as women.”

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The main speaker, Ubuntu Love chairperson Yolandi Wheeler, introduced the day’s theme: Migration of Strength.

It referred to the migration of large flocks of swallows, who are tiny on their own but massive when they come together to move to warmer climates for the winter.

These migration flocks are what make them strong, and so too women become strong when they stand together and lean on each other. After the talks, the women each received a gift bag containing self-care items and a warm plate of food.