Elevate HER | Thank you for helping us make a difference
Our Durban team members at the Elevate HER handover of goods to Kerr House.
Image: IOL
The generosity of South Africans is storied.
No matter how dark or depressed our world can be, when people need a helping hand, South Africans are always willing to dig deep.
And it was no different with this year's Elevate HER campaign, IOL and Independent Media's Women's Month drive.
Last year we managed to distribute more than 300 Dignity Packs to homeless women in Durban, Cape Town and Johannesburg. This year, I wanted to go bigger. I said I wanted a thousand.
And our readers, partners and sponsors responded beautifully.
IOL and Independent Media would like to thank those who came forward to make our dream a reality.
China Town's generous donation allowed IOL to impact even more lives in 2025.
Image: IOL
We are so grateful to our partners in our 2025 Elevate HER collection drive:
- China Town
- Against Period Poverty
- loot.co.za
- VOLT Africa
- The staff of Premier Fishing
- MIAS Wellness & Beauty Bar
- Nappy Warehouse
Lindsay Adams' Against Period Poverty campaign donated nearly 2,000 packs of sanitary towels.
Image: IOL
To the readers who attended the Cape Argus wellness event and the Daily Voice's Diamond and Divas event, and contributed goods, we extend our thanks.
Thanks to these generous donations of soap, sanitary towels and toiletries, we were able to impact the lives of hundreds of homeless women across the country.
Boxes of soap were donated as part the collection in Johannesburg.
Image: IOL
In Cape Town, IOL partnered with the Haven Night Shelter, donating some 1,000 packs of sanitary towels. We were honoured to be invited as guests to their Women's Day conference, and were touched by the impact they have on the lives of homeless, housing insecure, and destitute women.
Through generous donations we were also able to assist with donations of goods to:
- Sisters Incorporated (Cape Town)
- Saartjie Baartman Centre (Cape Town)
- New Life Centre (Cape Town)
- Parow Centre of Hope - A homeless shelter run by MES (Cape Town)
- Kerr House (Durban)
- Focus Mamelodi Community NGO (Pretoria)
The Saartjie Baartman Centre in Cape Town also received donations as part of the 2025 Elevate HER campaign.
Image: IOL
Sisters Incorporated was one of the 17 organisations that benefited from the Elevate HER collection drive.
Image: IOL
Our collection drive directly impacted the lives of women catered to by no fewer than 17 organisations nationwide.
And for this, we thank you. Thank you for allowing us to effect change in the lives of the most vulnerable South Africans.
* Lance Witten is the Editor of IOL.