Bringing hope to the community
The Education of Hope Africa wants to help the most vulnerable members of their communities and they are uplifting young girls and women to help them have their voices heard and live a better life.
The Education of Hope Africa is a non-profit organisation in Kagiso which has made it its mission to prioritise the needs of the most vulnerable women and girls in the community.
The organisation focuses on educating the youth about issues like HIV, sexually transmitted diseases, gender-based violence as well as the recently added Covid-19. They focus on females between the ages of 10 and 24, and Portia Mmbidi, the organisation’s founder and executive director, said they wanted to teach girls that her voice matters.
She explained these girls and young women should be aware that they have a say in their lives and in their society, adding that growing up in black households these girls are often taught they are not allowed to speak, especially talk back to grownups.
Education of Hope Africa teaches them that they deserve to be treated as equals in the job environment, in relationships and everything else.
“We want to make sure a better person comes out on the other side,” Portia explained.
Apart from strengthening the girls’ and women’s minds, they also help them with the problems they face every day. They teach them about their bodies, provide them with sanitary items and they ensure these girls are healthy and supported enough to continue their education.
Portia explained that some girls miss up to seven days of school a month, just because they do not have access to sanitary items.
The organisation held another one of their outreaches on 6 February and distributed sanitary packs and groceries to the most needy in the community.
Education of Hope Africa is supported by the Jewish Board of Deputies as well as the Angel Network and HER Voice Fund.
Portia said they were always in need of donations and are currently struggling with transportation to get the donations to the communities they help. If you would like to donate or assist them, you can WhatsApp Portia on 073 885 2437 or send an email to office@educationofhopeafrica.org.za
The girls and youth that the organisation works with are sometimes abused, poor, struggling and have faced the most violent of crimes. The organisation not only educates them, but also assists them with counselling and enrolling them at schools as well.
Portia believes a girl without an education is a girl who is doomed and they try to teach these girls that if you have an education and knowledge you can achieve anything.
