Women’s Month – The Women of African Sunrise
BY CJ ROPER, DIRECTOR, AFRICAN SUNRISE VOLUNTEERING
August is Women’s Month. This month, we are celebrating and empowering women and teenage girls in our community. Building a company like African Sunrise into something that not only gives fantastic volunteer and internship experiences, but also helps uplift the community, has needed strong women. A team of dedicated, passionate women, who are the heart of African Sunrise.
SIBA QUMA:
Siba studied Philosophy and Political Science at Rhodes University, before joining our team for her internship. Siba has gone above and beyond what most would do. She is now a permanent staff member, our Project Liason. She spends her time at our projects, building relationships, and assisting the Interns and volunteers when they arrive. Siba is part of the Soup Kitchen Observatory team, making sure that the homeless in Observatory have a warm meal every Friday afternoon. She recently won the title of Second Princess in the Miss Hope Contest, and will be competing in the finals in November – Siba’s new project which is launching at Heatherdale Children’s Home soon – Give the Girls a Voice – won her this title. Her community work has also involved a Mandela Day Fun Day and Fundraiser for Heatherdale Home of Safety, and she is currently the lead on our new initiative to provide sanitary pads to teenage girls who can’t afford them. A voice of Hope, and a true treasure.
TANIA SINCIC:
Tania studied Social Work, and has been working with various NPO’s in Cape Town for many years. She has been responsible for bringing hundreds of volunteers and interns from Sweden to assist in Cape Town. Along with a small team called Driving Spirit, Tania was responsible for the fundraising and building of a kindergarten in the Philippi Township, which is now a fully operating school. Tania also works with Refugee Teenagers in Sweden every year, and is an advocate for Refugee Rights. A strong woman, Tania is the heart of African Sunrise, and is actively involved in all of our fundraisers – creating a wonderful bond between South Africa and Sweden.
CJ ROPER:
CJ studied Psychology and English Literature, and is a published humanitarian photographer. Along with the Driving Spirit team, CJ was responsible for the fundraising and building of the Philippi Township Kindergarten, as well as working for Youth Solutions Africa, doing fundraisers such as a Shelter Lockdown Event for the Homeless, a Gumboot Drive for the children, a Repurpose Schoolbag Drive, a Streetsleep Sleeping Bag Drive for the Homeless, among many others. CJ is currently setting up her own NPO, Breaking Bread, which will focus on the homeless of Observatory, and is actively involved in the Soup Kitchen Observatory Friday Sessions.
As you can see, our team is not your average team – we are passionate about changing the world, and bringing hope to many, in whatever way we can. This month, let us celebrate the women we are, and help others become the women they want to be.
August is Women’s Month. This month, we are celebrating and empowering women and teenage girls in our community. Building a company like African Sunrise into something that not only gives fantastic volunteer and internship experiences, but also helps uplift the community, has needed strong women. A team of dedicated, passionate women, who are the heart of African Sunrise.
SIBA QUMA:
Siba studied Philosophy and Political Science at Rhodes University, before joining our team for her internship. Siba has gone above and beyond what most would do. She is now a permanent staff member, our Project Liason. She spends her time at our projects, building relationships, and assisting the Interns and volunteers when they arrive. Siba is part of the Soup Kitchen Observatory team, making sure that the homeless in Observatory have a warm meal every Friday afternoon. She recently won the title of Second Princess in the Miss Hope Contest, and will be competing in the finals in November – Siba’s new project which is launching at Heatherdale Children’s Home soon – Give the Girls a Voice – won her this title. Her community work has also involved a Mandela Day Fun Day and Fundraiser for Heatherdale Home of Safety, and she is currently the lead on our new initiative to provide sanitary pads to teenage girls who can’t afford them. A voice of Hope, and a true treasure.
TANIA SINCIC:
Tania studied Social Work, and has been working with various NPO’s in Cape Town for many years. She has been responsible for bringing hundreds of volunteers and interns from Sweden to assist in Cape Town. Along with a small team called Driving Spirit, Tania was responsible for the fundraising and building of a kindergarten in the Philippi Township, which is now a fully operating school. Tania also works with Refugee Teenagers in Sweden every year, and is an advocate for Refugee Rights. A strong woman, Tania is the heart of African Sunrise, and is actively involved in all of our fundraisers – creating a wonderful bond between South Africa and Sweden.
CJ ROPER:
CJ studied Psychology and English Literature, and is a published humanitarian photographer. Along with the Driving Spirit team, CJ was responsible for the fundraising and building of the Philippi Township Kindergarten, as well as working for Youth Solutions Africa, doing fundraisers such as a Shelter Lockdown Event for the Homeless, a Gumboot Drive for the children, a Repurpose Schoolbag Drive, a Streetsleep Sleeping Bag Drive for the Homeless, among many others. CJ is currently setting up her own NPO, Breaking Bread, which will focus on the homeless of Observatory, and is actively involved in the Soup Kitchen Observatory Friday Sessions.
As you can see, our team is not your average team – we are passionate about changing the world, and bringing hope to many, in whatever way we can. This month, let us celebrate the women we are, and help others become the women they want to be.
