‘Imagine with me towns where people are not just surviving, but flourishing. Where dignity is restored. Where every child sees a future. That is what we pursue. That is what we build. That is what we call THRIVE.’ – Sithembiso Malevu, Chief Executive Officer, Ranyaka
EACH TABLE BROUGHT TOGETHER WOMEN FROM DIFFERENT SECTORS AND WALKS OF LIFE, AND WHAT UNFOLDED WAS A ROOM FULL OF CONVERSATION. DURING AN INTERACTIVE ROUNDTABLE SESSION, WOMEN SHARED PERSONAL STORIES, INSIGHTS, CHALLENGES AND RESOURCES.
Last week, on Tuesday, 14 October, we hosted our very first Thrive Women’s Summit in Stellenbosch in partnership with Nedbank. What a joy to see one hundred women changemakers together in one room for a day of connection, learning and shared purpose.
“OUR JOURNEY BEGAN IN A SMALL COMMUNITY CALLED MAGALIESBURG IN 2012. WE ARRIVED WITH EARS TO LISTEN AND OPEN HANDS, BELIEVING THAT TRANSFORMATION BEGINS WHEN PEOPLE THEMSELVES ARE AT THE CENTRE OF THEIR OWN STORY. FROM THAT SEED, THRIVE WAS BORN, A WAY OF REIMAGINING OUR TOWNS AND CITIES AS PLACES WHERE PEOPLE DO NOT JUST SURVIVE, BUT THRIVE.”
NEDBANK REPRESENTATIVES
Many of these incredible women have been part of our journey since 2017, working alongside Ranyaka Community Transformation and Nedbank through the Proud of My Town programme. From small business owners, non-profit leaders, faith-based partners and local government representatives to corporates and women running projects in their respective communities, these are women who show up every day to make a difference where they live and work.
THE PROGRAMME INCLUDED A DYNAMIC PANEL DISCUSSION FACILITATED BY RANYAKA MARKETING DIRECTOR, LESEGO MASETHE, AND FEATURING FUNEKA MAYEMBANA HERMANS (STELLENBOSCH MUNICIPALITY), JUDITH BALIE (GENADENDAL MISSION MUSEUM), BULELWA TITO (ENTREPRENEUR AND FASHION DESIGNER, YEGEKA DESIGNER STUDIO) AND DR MÉLANI PRINSLOO (DATA INNOVATION STRATEGIST, WAKAMOSO). THEIR DISCUSSION EXPLORED HOW WOMEN ARE LEADING TRANSFORMATION IN THEIR OWN CONTEXTS AND THE MANY WAYS THEY ARE CREATING OPPORTUNITIES IN THEIR COMMUNITIES.
“IN A WORLD THAT SOMETIMES FEELS FRACTURED AND UNKEPT, IT IS VITAL THAT WE SHIFT OUR FOCUS FROM SURVIVAL TO COLLABORATION. AS WOMEN, WE HAVE INCREDIBLE STRENGTH AND RESILIENCE, BUT OFTEN WE INTERNALISE PRESSURES THAT TELL US WE MUST DO IT ALL ALONE. YET THE TRUTH IS, WE RISE HIGHER WHEN WE SUPPORT ONE ANOTHER.” – ASHRINEE GOPI, REGIONAL MANAGER: SMALL BUSINESS AND PRIVATE CLIENTS, WESTERN CAPE, NEDBANK.
DURING THE FEEDBACK SESSION, REPRESENTATIVES FROM SEVERAL TABLES SHARED SOME OF THE INSIGHTS GAINED THROUGHOUT THE DAY.
The Thrive Women’s Summit was all about celebrating these women and what becomes possible when changemakers who share common ground join forces. It was a space to honour their stories and share ideas that could translate into real, on-the-ground action.
“THERE ARE COUNTLESS EXAMPLES OF RESILIENCE, TENACITY AND TRANSFORMATION BUILT THROUGH THE PROUD OF MY TOWN JOURNEY. AS A PURPOSE-LED BANK, WE USE OUR FINANCIAL EXPERTISE TO DO GOOD, BECAUSE OUR REAL VALUE ISN’T IN THE MONEY ITSELF, BUT IN HOW IT ENABLES DIGNITY, JUSTICE AND OPPORTUNITY.” – NINA WELLSTED FROM NEDBANK’S SOCIAL IMPACT UNIT AND PROUD OF MY TOWN PROGRAMME CHAMPION.
For Ranyaka, the summit also marked an important step in the rollout of the Thrive Movement, a growing network of people, places and partnerships working together to co-create thriving communities.
POETRY AND MUSIC ADDED TO THE FESTIVE SPIRIT OF THE DAY. THE TALENTED SIXTEEN-YEAR-OLD SINGER KWAKHO SWARTBOOI FROM KAYAMANDI TOWNSHIP DREAMS OF BECOMING A PROFESSIONAL MUSICIAN ONE DAY AND HAD ALL THE WOMEN IN THE ROOM JOIN HER IN SONG.
EACH GUEST RECEIVED A SUSTAINABLY CRAFTED GOODIE BAG MADE BY LILLY LOOMPA UPCYCLED HOMEWARE. AMONGST THE ITEMS WERE GIFTS FROM ENTREPRENEURS WHO ARE ALUMNI OF RANYAKA’S BUILDING BUSINESS PROGRAMME, INCLUDING CONTRIBUTORS FROM AS FAR AS MAMELODI TOWNSHIP IN GAUTENG. THE BIODEGRADABLE POTS AND UPCYCLED BAGS REFLECTED RANYAKA AND NEDBANK’S SHARED COMMITMENT TO SUSTAINABILITY, LOCAL ENTERPRISE AND CIRCULAR DESIGN.
AT THE END OF THE EVENT, EACH GUEST RECEIVED A SEEDLING DONATED BY HERBALVIEW HYDROPONICS. EARLIER THAT MORNING, PARTICIPANTS HAD POURED SACHETS OF SOIL BROUGHT FROM HOME INTO A SHARED GLASS BOWL. TOGETHER THE SOIL WAS MIXED AND SPRINKLED INTO THE POTS AS A SYMBOL OF SHARED PURPOSE AND COMMON GROUND.
“EVERYONE HAD BEAUTIFUL STORIES AND IDEAS. WE’RE WALKING AWAY WITH SOLUTIONS, OPTIONS AND RESOURCES THAT WERE MOBILISED AT THIS TABLE. I FEEL VERY ENCOURAGED.”
Thank you to the women changemakers who are leading, inspiring and building. And thank you also to our summit sponsor, Nedbank. The Thrive Women’s Summit forms part of the ongoing rollout of the Nedbank-funded Proud of My Town (PoMT) programme across South Africa. Mobilising, equipping and collaborating with changemakers is a key part of our Thrive model and a core principle underpinning the PoMT journey for which Ranyaka has the privilege of being the official implementation agent.
Images: Lizelle Lötter Photography