Charlize Theron Africa Outreach Project

A refresher for all our community members, new and old! The Charlize Theron Africa Outreach Project advances and invests in the health, education, and safety of young people living in Southern Africa to create a more equitable future for all. We support transformative, locally-led change by partnering with community-based organizations – our Program Partners – that support young people, their sexual and reproductive health and rights, and gender-based violence prevention. Learn more about CTAOP and our Program Partners' work, sign up for our email newsletter, make a donation, check out our merch store, create a peer-to-peer fundraiser, and more by joining us at ctaop.org 💛

Throughout #SwidlerSummit, a recurring theme was the power and potential of youth, and what it truly means to invest in them, giving them a seat at the table. When we build trust with young people, we create opportunities for true co-creation, setting the stage for powerful leadership that can shape a brighter future. This day began with a reflective exercise, checking in on our inner children and exploring our own needs. We then launched into a dynamic, engaging conversation on how we can better center the voices and needs of the youth we are striving to uplift. We explored ways to shift from participation to meaningful involvement, laying the groundwork for a future shaped by those who are not just our future –– but our present. 📷 Shen Scott

Day two of #SwidlerSummit was a whirlwind of inspiration and connection, from discussions around authentic youth engagement to ways to bring creativity into the evaluation process. The day was also filled with movement and joy, including yoga and dance. These moments of shared energy have bonded, healed, and calmed us. Undoubtedly, a highlight was finishing the day with a silent disco, the playlist of which was crafted by everyone 🪩🕺🏾 What a beautiful way to end the day, coming together through music and movement.

Swidler Summit 2024 has officially begun, and we couldn't be more excited for the week ahead! Day one was filled with joy, reflection, and reconnection with both familiar and new faces among our remarkable Program Partners. Despite the chilly Cape Town weather and rain, the warmth of community shone through as we opened with a welcome session that set the tone for the week. Our team and Partners dove into a body mapping exercise, followed by crafting daily joys, and time for everyone to reflect on the purpose and impact of their work within their communities and themselves. The atmosphere was charged with the spirit of Ubuntu, a beautiful reminder of our shared journey and interconnectedness. The sense of unity and commitment was inspiring, and this is just the beginning. We’re fired up for what the rest of the week has in store! 📷 Shen Scott

Before the official kickoff of our #SwidlerSummit, some participants were able to join us for a phenomenal visit to CTAOP Program Partner Amandla Development earlier today! A critical element of our Summits has been integrating a site visit into the week’s activities; while much of the rest of the week is about taking our Partners *out* of their work and back into their bodies, hearts, and spirits, kicking it all off with a solid reminder of WHY we all do what we do (and getting to share the why with each other) has proven incredibly grounding, inspiring, and connecting.

As we prepare to head into our #SwidlerSummit next week – CTAOP's biannual convening for all our Program Partners and broader community in South Africa – our team has been visiting some of our incredible Partners –– one of whom we are *very* excited to introduce you all to today. Please join us in welcoming CTAOP's newest Program Partner to the family! The uthingo Network, based in Pietermaritzburg, KZN, was founded in 2003 to provide safe spaces and support for LGBTQI+ individuals, especially those in rural areas, where discrimination and stigma are prevalent. Their strategy involves fostering collaborative relationships with a wide range of stakeholders, including local families, educational and health institutions, as well as traditional, religious, and political leaders. Together, they strive to construct a society that is inclusive, safe, equitable, and affirming of LGBTQI+ identities and expressions, ensuring that individuals can fully exercise their rights related to Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity, Gender Expression, and Sex Characteristics (SOGIESC). We are so excited to bring together the Uthingo Network team and the rest of our CTAOP family to connect, learn, restore and recharge. Check back here for updates! 💛

CTAOP's Partnership with African Parks Network, in their own words 🌳💛: "The Bangweulu Wetlands team, together with the support and guidance from the Charlize Theron Africa Outreach Program, a trust-based philanthropic organisation, are bringing together youths across the Bangweulu landscape. The aim is to grow a passionate team of young people, to make a significant impact on reproductive health education and access across their communities. Through outreach programs, the youth groups are starting to educate and empower their peers. They do this with the support of Safe Motherhood Action Groups (SMAGs), who bring the respect and wisdom of elders from the communities. These efforts not only promote health but also support both SMAGs and youth groups in building their own enterprises for income-generating activities. Recently, a dedicated youth group collaborated with the health center staff at the local Chiundaponde clinic to clean the clinics surroundings and the nearby marketplace. Together, we're fostering a healthier, stronger community and protecting the incredible environment! 💪🌱"

After joining us in LA for #CTAOPBlockParty and The Hollywood Reporter's Social Impact Summit, Neo Letele-Mohajane, Program Director of past CTAOP Program Partner HIVSA, appeared on South Africa's News24 South Africa to discuss our decade-plus partnership with HIVSA, the launch of HIVSA's Choma mag, why young girls are disproportionately affected by HIV, and more. WATCH 📺 https://lnkd.in/gHA5cpAR

According to UN Women, the rate of violence against women and girls in South Africa is among the highest in the world. For a whole host of reasons, many of these incidents go unreported. One year ago, along with DG Murray Trust and The Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation, CTAOP launched the gender-based violence (GBV) co-funding initiative Sukuthula to support CBOs in delivering community-based prevention, response, and advocacy programs to reduce GBV. Zandile Mqwathi, Project Manager for DGMT's gender-based violence initiatives, recently penned an op-ed on the state of the fight against GBV in South Africa today. President Cyril Ramaphosa recently signed two game-changing bills into law, which aim to address systemic failures and bring real change. But the work doesn't stop here: We must ensure these laws are implemented by working alongside government – OR keeping government accountable – and learning from past challenges. READ for more on where we've been, where we are, and where we're steering the ship to go.

"Despite what is happening [in Manenberg], there is some hope. There's the hope that my mother put in me, there's the hope that my grandmother put in me. Them being like, you need to get an education. Waking up to make sure that I do all these things. So I was like, if they believe in me, they put a seed in me; and the space that BRAVE Rock Girl created, where 16 year old girls were saying 'I believe in you, I think you're special,' when no one did that for us –– we did this for ourselves... Knowing I come from Manenberg, how important that community was for me. I am them. I belong to them. I belong to my grandmother, I belong to my mother." Today is #WomensDay in South Africa, and we cannot get the words out of our head that CTAOP YL Scholar Miche Williams shared at our #CTAOPBlockParty. While in conversation with Charlize Theron and Neo Letele-Mohajane, Miché spoke to the essence of standing on the shoulders of her ancesters to reach new heights that they only dreamed of. She spoke to how life affirming and altering it can be to have a group of girlfriends who grew out of the same soil, acting as water for each other, helping each other grow and flourish. Today, we celebrate all of the girl's girls, all of the unconditional intergenerational support and love, all of the women helping other women thrive.