Winnie Radebe Foundation transforms lives
From helping school children to supporting the elderly, a Soweto woman is proving how far compassion can go.
Winnie Radebe (53) from Lufhereng has emerged as a beacon of hope in her community, leading impactful initiatives that uplift vulnerable families.
She has played a crucial role in providing essential necessities and offering support to those in need, while continuously advocating for youth empowerment and educational support, as well as community dignity and well-being.
Radebe is the founder and chairperson of the Winnie Radebe Foundation, a NPO established in January 2022, dedicated to supporting and uplifting communities across Soweto.
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In 2025, Soweto Urban News highlighted the Winnie Radebe Foundation’s efforts, which include distributing school uniforms to underprivileged learners, providing baby clothes to new mothers, covering school books, leading cheerful programmes for orphans, supplying food to the elderly, and hosting soccer tournaments for local young players, among other community-support initiatives.
Radebe said she is proud of the work she has accomplished and hopes to do even more by continuing to spread her wings and extend the foundation’s impact across all of Soweto.
“There’s so much we want to do as a foundation, but money makes it hard to bring every idea to life. Right now, everything we give comes from our own pockets since we don’t have a sponsor.
“Even so, it warms our hearts to see that the little we provide makes a real difference in helping to close gaps in underprivileged communities,” said Radebe.
Radebe said her commitment to the community is what drives her work. She wants those living in underprivileged conditions to know they are not forgotten.
Having grown up in similar circumstances, she has a firsthand understanding of the challenges they face daily.
She explained that this year, the foundation has mainly focused on supporting school learners.
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“We want our children to know that their home circumstances don’t define them. By giving them school uniforms, sanitary towels, helping cover their books, and providing fresh vegetables each week, we hope to show them that they can achieve anything.
“The children we help today could one day become doctors, lawyers, or leaders. We want them to dream big, believe in themselves, and know that their community believes in them too.”
Radebe shared that the foundation still has plenty to donate to the elderly and children this festive season, and their efforts won’t stop here; they plan to continue doing their best throughout 2026.
