Join IOL's Elevate Her Campaign: How you can make a difference
Following the success of our Elevate Her campaign in 2024 which received an Honourable Mention at the 2025 INMA Global Media Awards, we are proud to relaunch the initiative for Women's Month this August, with a renewed commitment and expanded objectives.
We are currently appealing for support in the form of donations and contributions towards our dignity packs, which will include:
All donations can be dropped off at IOL offices nationwide. The campaign will run from August 1 to 31, 2025, with community activations scheduled in each region at the end of the month.
This year, we want to collect 1,000 dignity packs. And with your help, we know we can do it.
We are again asking for donations of new underwear, socks, soap, sanitary towels, toothbrushes, razors and roll-on. We will pack and distribute them in Cape Town, Durban and Johannesburg.
But we can't do it alone.
If last year taught us anything, it's that people are generous, people care, and people just need to be asked.
So, here we are. Asking. Let's Elevate Her again. Let's bring dignity where there is none. Let's listen to the women society has silenced. And this time, let's go even further.
IOL

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles

IOL News
a day ago
- IOL News
Cheetahs have ‘safe space' in Sievert's heart
Olivia Sivert (right), Cheetah Range Expansion project coordinator and coordinator of the Cheetah Advisory Group at the Endangered Wildlife Trust (EWT), says Women's Month serves as an important reminder for organisations to reflect on how they can support long-term career growth for women in conservation. Image: Supplied Getting more women into conservation is only the first step, keeping them there is the real challenge. A 2019 World Wildlife Fund report titled Life on the Frontline found that in Africa, men made up the overwhelming majority of the wildlife ranger workforce - 88.8%, compared to just 11.2% women. This imbalance persists beyond field roles. While women now represent more than half of all conservation science graduates, many say they rarely see people who look like them in leadership positions. Olivia Sievert, Cheetah Range Expansion project coordinator and coordinator of the Cheetah Advisory Group at the Endangered Wildlife Trust (EWT), says Women's Month serves as an important reminder for organisations to reflect on how they can support long-term career growth for women in conservation. 'Conservation is a male-dominated field, especially at the top levels and this is even more the case with large carnivore conservation. As a result, I have experienced people underestimating my capabilities as a woman especially when it comes to working remotely in the bush. Even though I have led successful projects in some incredibly remote areas, I continued to be underestimated and at times undermined by men in the industry. "Early in my career, breaking into certain opportunities felt harder because I wasn't part of the 'boys club' with many decisions happening informally over a weekend braai. I had to push myself to speak up, back my ideas, and not compromise on my values or knowledge. It was outside my comfort zone, but it was necessary to progress and be taken seriously,' she said. Olivia Sivert with captured cheetah for translocation. Image: Supplied Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Sievert emphasised that beyond getting women into conservation, 'we also need to focus on retaining them. That means creating safe, supportive, and inclusive work environments'. The 33-year-old originally from Halifax, Canada said that while she grew up in love with wildlife, her path to conservation was 'anything but strategically planned'. 'I loved being in nature and working with wildlife, so I took any opportunities I could, often balancing them with university studies and waiting tables at two different restaurant jobs. At university, I volunteered with a conservation lab that used detection dogs to find hibernation sites for endangered reptiles, and I worked at a wildlife rehabilitation centre once a week. 'After graduating, I was lucky enough to get an opportunity working for three months at a wildlife rehab centre in Malawi. It was a case of being in the right place at the right time, Malawi was experiencing a conservation boom, and opportunities kept opening up. Before I knew it, three years had passed, and I was working as a monitor for a cheetah reintroduction project in Liwonde National Park. That's where my love for cheetahs began. I went on to complete a master's in Conservation Ecology on that very project, and in 2023, after over eight years of working in Malawi on everything from vervet monkeys to vultures to pangolins, I was fortunate to join the Endangered Wildlife Trust, coordinating their cheetah conservation work.' Olivia involved in a translocation project. Image: Supplied This is also one of the standout projects in Sievert's career where in 2017 she was part of the reintroduction of cheetahs to Malawi's Liwonde National Park, a collaborative effort between the Endangered Wildlife Trust (EWT), African Parks, and Malawi's Department of National Parks and Wildlife. As the project's monitor, she tracked each individual cheetah daily, observing how they adapted to their new environment, successfully raised cubs, and ultimately established a second generation. Today, the population has grown to over 21 individuals, ' a real conservation success', she said. Later, in her role at EWT, Sievert was invited by the park to help strengthen the genetic diversity of the population by sourcing and relocating new female cheetahs from South Africa to Malawi. From identifying suitable individuals to overseeing their translocation, the project marked a 'full-circle moment' in her conservation journey. She explained cheetahs play a vital role in their ecosystems, but like many species, are disappearing quietly. 'It's surprising that such an iconic African species, a symbol for teams, companies, and culture, could be on the brink without many realising it. Protecting cheetahs means protecting their habitat, which also safeguards countless other species and entire ecosystems. 'In conservation we are constantly responding to human caused threats to our natural world whether intentional or not. For cheetah, one of the biggest threats faced globally is the low population size and major loss of their historic habitat and range (they exist in less than 9% of their historic range). While we are fortunate to have major restoration work being undertaken in protected areas across the continent, growing cheetah populations are few and far between and often too far away to allow any natural recolonisation of these areas. This means, it is unlikely that we will see an impactful growth of cheetah population and range without massive human intervention. This is what our work aims to address through relocations and reintroductions of cheetah populations into viable safe spaces to help reestablish populations to where they once roamed freely.' In a conservation job, no two days are the same, Sievert said. 'As you move up in your career you will find yourself behind a computer more, doing the things you didn't think you signed up for (answering loads of emails, inputting payment requisitions and writing reports). But with no two days being the same, I can find myself behind the computer on a Monday, assisting a reserve catch a cheetah that has wandered past its boundaries on a Tuesday, hosting a stakeholder meeting of 100+ people to discuss the latest issues in cheetah conservation on a Wednesday and then relocating cheetah across the country to their new homes on the weekend.' She encouraged women and girls who want to get into the conservation field to find mentors and role models 'to guide you through your early career, it's invaluable'. 'It won't always be easy, and sadly, statistically you are likely to face discrimination, but never let anyone else define your worth. You can achieve whatever you set your mind to and are capable of great things.' Cape Times


The South African
a day ago
- The South African
Another Durban beach closed after deadly plane crash
Durban's popular North Beach area has been closed to the public after the horrific plane crash left a veteran pilot missing and prompted a large-scale rescue operation. The crash happened just before 14:00 on Thursday, 14 August, when the ZS-AEC Extra 300 aircraft, performing its final display at an airshow, plunged into the sea in full view of onlookers. Emergency services rushed to the scene after beachgoers reported the plane going down. According to IOL , KwaZulu-Natal police spokesperson Colonel Robert Netshiunda said the 61-year-old pilot was demonstrating aerial skills when the aircraft went down. 'Police Search and Rescue teams, working together with private counterparts, have recovered some wreckage of the aircraft, and the search for the pilot is ongoing,' Netshiunda said. The operation, led by Police Search and Rescue divers, also involves the Aeronautical Rescue Coordination Centre (ARCC), Accident and Incident Investigation Division (AIID), and national aviation authorities. The AIID has launched a formal investigation, with Civil Aviation Authority spokesperson Sisa Majola confirming updates will follow as more information about the plane crash becomes available. In the meantime, the eThekwini Municipality has cordoned off the Durban North beach area, warning residents and visitors to stay away. 'The safety of the public remains our top priority, and we urge all beachgoers to avoid the area while operations are underway,' the City said. Several other Durban beaches are also currently closed for swimming, due to poor water quality. These include: REUNION WESTBROOK ANSTEY'S BEACH DOONSIDE BEACH WINKLESPRUIT Leaving a comment below, or sending a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.


The Citizen
3 days ago
- The Citizen
Women volunteers lead change in Bedfordview and Edenvale communities
As SA celebrates Women's Month, three women from Bedfordview and Edenvale are helping to reshape their communities. Marina Constas, Anjela da Silva and Marianthi Xanthou are making an impact not through political office or high-profile platforms, but as volunteers leading local NPOs focused on safety, urban renewal and civic responsibility. At Better Bedfordview, the Residents Action Group (RAG Security) and Better Edenvale, these women have stepped up not for recognition or reward, but out of a shared commitment to the neighbourhoods where they live, work and raise families. ALSO READ: Another incredible woman praised for Women's Month They all juggle busy day jobs to give back to the community. Community action in Bedfordview Marina, an attorney, director of BBM Law and long-standing community activist, chairs Better Bedfordview, a registered NPO that employs 25 full-time staff to clean, restore, and maintain streets, pavements, parks and public spaces. 'Our vision is to improve one suburb at a time through the power of engaged citizens,' she explained. 'If we allow our public spaces and infrastructure to deteriorate, we all pay the price through lower property values, increased crime and a reduced quality of life.' Better Bedfordview partners with local businesses and residents to fund its work, but Marina notes that long-term sustainability remains a concern. ALSO READ: Local centre marks Women's Month 'Only 19% of our revenue comes from residents, despite the visible results. We need broader buy-in to keep the work going.' A Better Bedfordview success story that Marina said is close to her heart is the youth employment drive. Through a partnership with the YES4Youth programme and sponsor WTW Willis, the organisation creates jobs for young people and has helped several transition into permanent employment in the Better Bedfordview cleanup team. Marina doesn't find it difficult to keep going, despite the challenges. 'Driving through the suburb and seeing the difference being made by Better Bedfordview reminds me why it's worth the effort,' she said. Security that really cares about the community For Anjela, the chairperson of RAG Security, the journey into community work began after her family experienced two home invasions. Years later, she joined RAG to turn that paralysing fear into crime-fighting action. RAG is Bedfordview's only nonprofit security initiative. 'It was started by residents who live in and own businesses in Bedfordview to protect the neighbourhood they love,' Anjela explained, adding that RAG's directors are still volunteers and residents, a legacy she is proud to be part of. ALSO READ: City hosts summit in commemoration of Women's Month 'As an NPO, RAG exists for our community, reinvesting all revenue into infrastructure, staff and technology. RAG's recent achievements include improving on our already impressive armed response times to become one of the fastest responders in the country. 'We have added solar lighting to key locations around Bedfordview and partnered with the CPF and other security stakeholders to reactivate an important network of license plate recognition (LPR) cameras,' said Anjela. However, she said RAG's work goes beyond crime stats. 'It's about community support and showing up when people need help.' She highlighted several examples of this, from RAG foiling a hijacker's escape to containing a house fire before emergency services arrived. 'Quick thinking and a hosepipe saved a home while waiting nearly 40 minutes for the fire brigade. These moments remind us why we do this work. It makes a real, tangible difference. 'We save lives and the things that matter to our community. Our teams are trained and professional, but they're also dedicated to Bedfordview and care deeply about the community. 'The country is navigating the impact of tough economic times, times that also correlate with a rise in crime. 'We need people to view their security spend as an essential investment. It's about protecting your family, street and suburb,' she said. When Anjela isn't working for RAG and Better Bedfordview, where she is also a volunteer director, she pursues her passion for the ancient craft of jewellery smithing. ALSO READ: Women's Month celebrated at Emperors She traded 30 years in the corporate world and a fast-paced role in fintech for her jewellery workshop. There, she spends her days lighting blowtorches and wielding saws and hammers to create pieces in silver and gold. Pride in a clean Edenvale In Edenvale, Marianthi, who is a second-generation steel business owner, serves as a director at Better Edenvale. The organisation focuses on cleaning, restoring, and maintaining the Edenvale and Eastleigh CBDs and their surroundings, as well as undertaking community improvement projects. She became involved after attending a meeting and learning just how much behind-the-scenes co-ordination goes into the NPO's daily work. 'I had to help. I've seen what happens when CBDs fall into neglect,' she said. 'Once that decline begins, reversing it becomes exponentially harder.' Better Edenvale operates with a small team and limited resources, focusing on cleaning, infrastructure maintenance and filling the municipal service delivery gap. ALSO READ: In celebration of women's month: Strauss & Co proudly exhibits Dream Invisible Connections One of its recent projects, a large-scale cleanup of Denver Park at the bottom of the Edenvale Avenues, brought together volunteers and businesses. It was critical to restore this public space because it had become a magnet for crime and vagrancy. 'It was a massive undertaking but deeply rewarding,' explained Marianthi. 'It showed what's possible when people step forward.' Better Edenvale relies on funding from businesses and residents. However, Marianthi said that besides financial support, there are ways in which everyone can play their part in a better community. 'Declare war on litter and educate others, maintain your own pavement and help with community cleanups. 'Waiting for and relying on local government services alone is no longer realistic.' A shared message: start somewhere These local women share a common message about community improvement and volunteering: There is no better time than now to get involved, and it's not about being perfect or waiting for the ideal conditions. 'Join an existing group, attend a meeting, offer your time or skills,' shared Marina. 'Everyone has something to contribute.' Anjela agreed. 'Start small but start, and don't underestimate the value of being part of something bigger than yourself.' ALSO READ: MasterDrive to host its Women with Drive event during Women's Month Marianthi added that setting an example matters. 'If our children see us taking pride in our town, they will, too.' In a time of rising service delivery failures and public frustration, these women are helping to show that active citizens have the power to make a visible, lasting difference. They aren't waiting for someone else to fix what is broken. 'Real change starts with each of us. Consider what you can do to make SA better. Whether contributing R200 a month, sponsoring a solar streetlight, donating gardening tools or giving your time, you have the power to be part of the solution,' Marina added.