These organisations and individuals in the region who are making a real impact in the fi ght against poverty, especially in the development of public policies and strategies, are recognised by the Southern Africa Trust (The Trust) in the form of the annual Drivers of Change awards. The inaugural award was in 2006, having been created to hold up living examples of innovative practices, inclusive attitudes and effective processes that build social trust and create the best conditions to make a real and lasting difference in the lives of people living in poverty. The Drivers of Change award has four categories, namely: civil society, government, individual and business. The current award winners as announced on 31 October 2013 are the Siyavuna Development Centre for the Civil Society category, Unjani Clinic
The Drivers of Change Individual Award: Angela Larkan
While studying at the Wesleyan University in the United States, Durban-born Angela Larkan started researching orphans in KwaZulu-Natal for her thesis on HIV and AIDS. But her research into the devastating effects of HIV/AIDS did not remain an academic exercise. Rather, she chose to return to her home province in 2008 to do what she could to relieve the burden the disease was placing upon rural communities. PEOPLE POWER: Visit our award-winning and constantly updated website: www.southernafricatrust.org Do you have an insightful comment or provocative statement to share? We value your feedback on Southern Africa Changemakers and our various campaigns and activities. Please send us your comments. 4 Midridge North, International Business Gateway, 6th Road (off New Road), Midrand, South Africa T/ +27 11 318 1012 F/ +27 11 318 0814 E/ info@southernafricatrust.org ABOUT US to unsubscribe to this newsletter, click here The Southern Africa Trust appreciates the support it has received from: While studying at the Wesleyan University in the United States, Durban-born Angela Larkan started researching orphans in KwaZulu-Natal for her thesis on HIV and AIDS. But her research into the devastating effects of HIV/AIDS did not remain an academic exercise. Rather, she chose to return to her home province in 2008 to do what she could to relieve the burden the disease was placing upon rural communities. “I felt I could play a role here,” said Larkan. She certainly has proved to be an agent for positive change. Her visionary, innovative and pioneering ideas have resulted in tremendous strides to decrease malnutrition and food insecurity amongst youth by initiating a feeding scheme that provides food daily for over 400 children, as well as agricultural programmes that encourage youth to start their own home gardens and community garden initiatives that help unemployed youth, adults and the elderly to earn an income.
Initially, she wished to create a low-resource model she believed could help orphans and vulnerable children affected by the HIV/Aids epidemic. But, when funding proved hard to secure she, together with Tyler Howard, started the Thanda After- School initiative. Six years later Thanda After-School is a successful programme providing daily care and support, knowledge and training to 440 orphans and vulnerable children at six schools in the rural Untwalune community, all of whom are fed as part of the programme fi ve days a week. Using existing local resources – from classrooms to soccer fi elds – the initiative works with both primary and secondary school children ranging in ages from 5 to 22, employing young role models from the community as mentors who fi ll the developmental and emotional gaps left by missing parents and overwhelmed caregivers. Not only are skills programmes such as computers, art and agriculture, as well as sports including soccer, basketball and netball available to the children, young adults within the community are trained as teachers and mentors and employed to run the programmes, resulting in local job creation. There are 14 teachers trained by Thanda, at least half of them having participated in Thanda After-School when they were learners.