“Stories have to be told or they die, and when they die, we can’t remember who we are or why we’re here.”- Sue Monk Kidd
A few years ago I stumbled upon sayitforward.org – a platform empowering women through storytelling – and today I’m profiling the platform because the work they do truly makes a difference
SayItForward.org -Empowering Women Through Storytelling
Say It Forward envisions a world where every woman and every girl recognizes and claims the power of her voice, her story, her rights and her ability to achieve her biggest, boldest dreams despite the obstacles she may face.
Through the power of storytelling, Say It Forward celebrates the strength, determination and triumphs of girls and women on their path to empowerment.
They hope these stories will also inspire engagement with organizations that support the empowerment of women & girls in communities everywhere.
With Dr. Esther Nyambura and Sibusisiwe Yona from Smile Train
“A simple smile. That’s the start of opening your heart and being compassionate to others.”– Dalai Lama
Today, on World Smile Day I honour everyone at Smile Train working tirelessly to provide free cleft surgery to those in need. Susannah Schaefer and Esther Nyambura you are remarkable leaders. I’m proud to be an ambassador for your organization.
Every day, 540 babies are born with #cleft, a birth difference that causes difficulties in eating, breathing, hearing, and speaking. To make sure that no child is left behind, Smile Train will focus on the needs of #540Today to ensure millions of smiles tomorrow! Support http://smiletrain.org
“The power of human empathy, leading to collective action, saves lives, and frees prisoners. Ordinary people, whose personal well-being and security are assured, join together in huge numbers to save people they do not know, and will never meet….Unlike any other creature on this planet, humans can learn and understand, without having experienced. They can think themselves into other people’s places….We do not need magic to change the world, we carry all the power we need inside ourselves already: we have the power to imagine better.”– J.K. Rowling,
On this World Humanitarian Day I wish to thank some of the people who’ve supported me repeatedly on my ten-year-long humanitarian journey who are my family, my late physiotherapist [who died a year ago today], David Boutin, Beverly Bernhardt, Sharon K. D’Agostino, Barbra Royce, Gaynor Young and many more. From wells and smiles to diaper drives we’ve done most things……..THANK YOU
“As a brand, we can elevate the conversation around physical disabilities by including them into our fashion doll line further to showcase a multi-dimensional view of beauty and fashion,” Mattel said in a statement.
Today I was delighted to find out that Mattel has introduced a range of differently-abled Barbies. THANK YOU MATTEL for creating a Barbie that represents me it’s so nice to see myself in a Barbie.
The Muslim Association of South Africa (MASA) has embarked on its #WarmMzansi campaign, with the aim to deliver blankets and food essentials to poverty-stricken vulnerable communities and homeless individuals in Johannesburg.
As a community who cares, MASA are helping to provide homeless people with relier as the cold front has been hitting us, wanting to make a warm difference to the orphaned, disabled, sick and needy housed in care centres and those who are homeless.
Chairman Yaseen Theba says Joburg’s homeless has already begun succumbing to COVID-19, and warns the worst is yet to come.
“As colder weather bears down & “shelters risk becoming hotbeds for infection”, assessments continue as we strategically plan relief for the poorest of the poor.”
“While many are under warm duvets, it’s a challenging period for the homeless, forgotten amid the Covid-19 pandemic, volunteers are spending their evenings handing out food, blankets & masks,” says Theba.
Theba has invited any company, school, organization or individual to help by taking hands in this huge effort.
“MASA would like to thank our loyal partners who have already committed themselves to be part of this worthy project.”
For more information, email: info@muslim.co.za
Donate Below:
MASA First National Bank (FNB) Account Number: 62779526725 Branch Code is: 253305 Swift Code: FIRNZAJJXXX Ref: (Donor Name)
• the reality on the ground is a painful reflection of the greater challenge and problem facing our people nation wide. The suffering is immense & out of control. #COVID19#Lockdownpic.twitter.com/kKsgQ56Tnv
— Muslim Association of South Africa (@MuslimAssocSA) June 15, 2020
Private security company Vision Tactical has launched its COVID-19 ‘Strategic Preparedness Unit’ in collaboration with its emergency medical partners ER24. The unique vehicle will be deployed to support risk communication, community engagement and internal staff training in relation to the pandemic.
Partnerships with law enforcement, provincial departments and health authorities will develop, monitor and implement an effective plan for communicating with the public and creating a better awareness of the risks associated with COVID-19.
The non – operational EMS vehicle will be coordinated by medics from ER24 and trained members of the Vision Tactical team, that will dedicate their skill to dawning and doffing of PPE and supporting scenes during the pandemic.
This critical function will extend to preparing venues when essential services, law enforcement, health workers and burial societies need to engage.
In addition to the COVID-19 strategic preparedness and response plan and the COVID-19 strategy update, there are four key areas that local authorities of cities and urban settlements should focus on in ensuring preparedness for a robust response to COVID-19:
• Coordinated local plans in preparation for effective responses to health risks and impacts;
• Risk and crisis communication and community engagement that encourage compliance with measures;
• Contextually appropriate approaches to public health measures, especially physical distancing, hand hygiene and respiratory etiquette;
• Access to health care services for COVID-19 and the continuation of essential services.
Director of Vision Tactical, Yaseen Theba says that optimal preparedness in cities and urban settlements is critical for effective national, regional and global response to COVID-19.
“To be effective, the units public measures are implementable and designed in a way that will promote willingness to comply,” Theba says.
Theba adds that slowing the transmission of COVID-19 and protecting communities will require the participation of every member in various communities to prevent infection and transmission.
“Understanding knowledge, behaviours, perceptions, and identifying the right channels and community-based networks and influencers to promote scientific and public health messages will be a key determinant of the effectiveness of the response.”
Programmes will be targeted to individual facilities equipping them with the knowledge, procedures and preventative measures to mitigate the risks of contracting COVID-19.
Community engagement will include accurate information on risks, what is still unknown, what is being done to find answers, what actions are being taken by health authorities, and what actions people can take to protect themselves.
Yaseen in conversation with ENCA’s Lindokuhle Xulu
Yaseen Theba is the Director of Vision Group – Vision Tactical and Vision Branding – Co-Founder of Operation SA and Chairman of the Muslim Association of South Africa.
The Muslim Association of South Africa, led by Yaseen Theba, is currently feeding people in need of food due to the COVID19 Lockdown.
Yaseen is the kind of human we all should be and the kind of person I aspire to be because he does the right thing simply because it’s right thing to do.
Donate to helpthe Muslim Association of South Africa feed South Africa
Muslim Association of South Africa LILLAH ACCOUNT First National Bank (FNB) Account Number: 62779526725 Branch Code is: 253305 Swift Code: FIRNZAJJXXX Ref: (Donor Name)
The above post was shared as part of my new weekly Difference Makers series featuring individuals, businesses or NPOs making a difference
Executive Vice Chair, President & Chief Executive Officer, Smile Train
Susannah Schaefer is Executive Vice Chair, President & Chief Executive Officer of Smile Train, an international organization focused on empowering local medical professionals to provide free cleft lip and/or palate surgery and comprehensive cleft care to children globally.
Susannah joined Smile Train in February 2013, after serving as a member of the organization’s Board for over ten years. In her role as CEO, she leads Smile Train’s vision to expand access to healthcare and increase local capacity in countries in which Smile Train helps children. During her time as CEO, Susannah led an organizational rebrand, seeded funding for hundreds of thousands of new smiles, expanded cleft surgical training and education programs throughout the world and helped to establish organizational partnerships in Haiti and Rwanda. In addition, Susannah led the team in developing Smile Train’s ground-breaking Virtual Surgery Simulator, further accelerating cleft surgical training and enhancing the organization’s “teach a man to fish” model.
Susannah came to Smile Train after almost twenty years in operational roles, bringing a vast network and past experiences to the team. Previously, Susannah served as Vice President, Director of International Marketing at CA Technologies, where she led implementation of the company’s international marketing strategies. Earlier in her career, Susannah was the Director of Marketing, Asia for CA Technologies, where she built the organization’s presence throughout the region and hosted the first regional CA World conference in China.
Susannah is a Trustee of The Smile Train UK and serves on the Board of Directors of the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children. She received a Bachelor of Arts degree in communications from the State University of New York College at Oswego.
Vision Tactical Supporting NGO’s On The Ground Deliver Essentials During 21 Day Lockdown
April 6, 2020 Vision Tactical –
Private Security company Vision Tactical has lended it’s helping hand by supporting local NGO’s deliver much needed essential items during the 21 day COVID-19 lockdown.
Intervention and Specialized Support Units are making sure that essential items which need to be distributed to hundreds of people on a daily basis reaches its point of destination safely.
Team members also mobilized to manage the coordination of the distribution while ensuring that all protocols and necessary safety procedures are followed.
Team members assisted the @MuslimAssocSA today distributing essential food items to the less fortunate in the Bekezela informal settlement in Newtown, Johannesburg.
Director of Vision Tactical, Yaseen Theba says that it’s positive to see how many NGO’s and volunteers have come forward and rose to the challenge of assisting the needy during a very challenging time.
“The members from the Muslim Association of South Africa found out about the dire need for essential food items required at the Bakazela Settlement, they then immediately purchased the items, and came out to distribute.”
Theba says that every helping hand counts at this point in time.
“During this challenging period, being proactive and positive is the only way to move forward stronger and together.”
Those wanting to contribute:
Muslim Association of South Africa LILLAH ACCOUNT First National Bank (FNB) Account Number: 62779526725 Branch Code is: 253305 Swift Code: FIRNZAJJXXX Ref: (Donor Name)
Essential food supplies distributed on Monday at the Bakazela settlement in Newtown, JHB where hundreds of people live in challenging conditions & circumstances.
Smile Train is an international children’s charity with a sustainable approach to a single, solvable problem: cleft lip and palate.
Many children with untreated clefts around the world live in isolation, but more importantly, have difficulty eating, breathing, hearing, and speaking. Cleft treatment is safe, and the impact on the child is immediate.
Seeing the flaws in mission-based models, Smile Train was the first cleft-focused organization with a model of true sustainability – providing training, funding, and resources to empower local medical professionals in 90+ countries to provide 100%-free cleft repair surgery and comprehensive cleft care in their own communities.
And through our sustainable “teach a man to fish” model, Smile Train is not only raising the standard of cleft care and safety – we’re setting it. The support we provide has elevated the standards of care for cleft patients at our partner hospitals around the world, ultimately elevating the standards of care for all patients.
As a result of our efficiency, and with the help of our donors and partners, Smile Train has supported safe and quality cleft care for 1.5+ million children and will continue to do so until every child in need with a cleft has access to the care they deserve.
