STARTING her own non-profit organisation was always something that Izinga Ridge’s TeKayha Sukuram has envisioned, and after being crowned ZEE TV Miss India South Africa 2023, she couldn’t see a more perfect time to launch.
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The organisation is called ‘The Changemakers’, which is dedicated to assisting society in any and all ways possible while inspiring others to do the same.
“The slogan ‘Be the Change, Be a Changemaker’ aims to encourage people to step up and contribute to making a difference in their communities. Currently, I am embarking on a campaign with EnviroSpecSA (a security services company) to help combat GBV (gender-based violence) in communities.
The aim is to visit schools and conduct self-defence demonstrations for the girls so they will have some knowledge on how to protect/defend themselves if they are ever put in a compromising situation,” she said.
Sukuram said she has been involved in multiple charitable activities for years, such as volunteering at the SPCA, holding various collection and donation drives and assisting community organisations.
“I want to use the Miss India South Africa platform, which gives young ladies the opportunity to have their voices heard, to the best of my ability, and do something meaningful with my title. I want to try and make a positive impact on as many lives as I possibly can,” she added.
Later this year, Sukuram plans on hosting skills development workshops.
“This is where I will reach out to industry professionals of various professions, and we will host educational sessions online where viewers will be able to learn and engage with the professional in order to ask any questions. Other activities that I have planned include beach/river clean-ups and various collection drives,” she said.
“I’d also love for the community to reach out to me if they require any assistance or support with certain issues that they may be facing so I can find a way for my NPO to provide assistance,” she added.
Follow Sukuram on Instagram: @tekayha_s and Facebook: TeKayha Sukuram.
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