As part of Women's Month, Alisha Cornelius, a counsellor at

 reflects on the work she does and the women she supports.

Supporting women on their journey towards rebuilding their lives means walking alongside them with compassion, respect and hope, while empowering them to recognise their own strengths and abilities. Over the years, I have seen that every woman has the potential to overcome adversity when she is given the right support, encouragement and opportunities. I believe every woman is created in God's image, with inherent worth, purpose and the ability to overcome through His grace. That belief shapes the way I walk alongside the women I support each day.

I am passionate about helping women rebuild their confidence, rediscover their purpose and embrace the full potential God has placed within them. There is nothing more rewarding than witnessing a woman move from simply surviving to thriving and seeing her begin to believe in herself again. Being part of that journey is a true blessing and a constant reminder of God's restoring grace.

Care that rebuilds lives starts with never giving up on someone but walking with them every step of the way.

Care That Rebuilds Lives 

Imagine never hearing the voice of someone you love, joining a conversation or experiencing the sounds of everyday life that many of us take for granted. For children and adults living with significant hearing loss, a cochlear implant can open the door to opportunities that once seemed out of reach.

As part of this year's Mandela Day campaign, Good Morning Angels partnered with former Miss South Africa Mia le Roux and the 

 initiative to help fund cochlear implant surgeries for vulnerable state patients. Having received a cochlear implant, herself as a young child, Mia understands first-hand the difference it can make and has become a passionate advocate for improving access to hearing healthcare.

Although the cochlear implant devices had already been secured for patients at Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital, funding was still needed to cover the cost of the surgeries. Through

 to fund one life-changing cochlear implant surgery as part of the initiative.

Together, the generosity of individuals, businesses and organisations helped raise enough funding to provide 25 cochlear implant surgeries, giving more children and adults the opportunity to hear the world around them.

The Gift of Sound

As part of Women's Month, Nomfundo Ntshangase shares what it’s like to be a Regional Coordinator for the 

Tiger Brands In-School Breakfast Programme.

Since joining the Programme in July 2024, I have had the privilege of supporting eight primary schools in Hazyview, working alongside schools and communities to help ensure every learner starts the day with a nutritious breakfast, ready to learn and grow.

No two days are ever the same. A typical day involves visiting schools, monitoring the implementation of the programme, supporting food handlers and school management teams, ensuring food safety and quality standards are maintained, and working closely with principals, educators and community stakeholders. I also provide guidance, monitor programme compliance and help resolve challenges to ensure breakfast is served on time every school day.

As a mother, sister, community member and social worker by profession, I value building meaningful relationships with learners, parents, educators and communities. The most rewarding part of my role is seeing the difference the programme makes in learners' lives. Knowing they start the day with a nutritious meal and are better prepared to learn gives me a great sense of purpose and fulfilment.

It means everything to me. Every nutritious breakfast served is an opportunity for a learner to concentrate better, participate confidently in class and reach their full potential. Knowing that my work contributes to their health and education motivates me to give my best every day. It reminds me that even small daily actions can have a lasting impact on the lives of learners and their communities.

When breakfast is made with care, every learner is fuelled to grow.

Fuelled by Her Care 

As part of Women's Month, Marion Wagner, CEO of Breadline Africa, shares her story.

When I returned to South Africa in 2011 after spending 11 years living and working in the Netherlands and the United Kingdom, I wanted to use my experience to make a difference closer to home.

After more than 20 years with Shell International, my husband and I spent a year volunteering. I taught children at the Homestead Street Children's Shelter to swim, took them on outings and became involved in community projects. That year showed me how rewarding it is to see the direct impact you can have on someone's life.

came along in 2014, it immediately felt like the right fit. What attracted me was that the organisation's work was so tangible. Dangerous pit toilets became safe sanitation, neglected early learning centres became welcoming spaces, and libraries became places of imagination and opportunity.

What has kept me at Breadline Africa for the past 12 years is the people and the purpose. Every project reminds me that something as simple as a safe toilet, an early learning centre or a library can change a child's experience of education.

The most rewarding moments are the handovers. Seeing children run into their new facilities for the first time, and watching the relief and pride on the faces of teachers and principals who have often waited years for these improvements, never gets old.

I am incredibly fortunate to work alongside an exceptional team and Board at Breadline Africa who share the same passion and commitment. We are united by one goal: giving children safe places to learn and grow. That purpose makes what we do feel less like work and more like a privilege.

A few years ago, our Chairman said something that has stayed with me ever since: 

"The day you lose the spring in your step is the day it's time to stop."

 Thankfully, I'm still springing and still learning.

None of this would be possible without organisations that choose to stand alongside us. Partners such as

and The Star Foundation have helped turn hope into reality for thousands of children. Every school transformed is the result of people coming together with a shared belief that every child deserves a safe, dignified place to learn.

Every safe space begins with people who care enough to build it.

Support Breadline Africa’s work to end unsafe pit toilets in schools

Safe Spaces, Lasting Care

"I had a dream. My dream was to help those in need." – Liezl Mathews

Growing up in Hout Bay Harbour, Liezl Mathews experienced hardship from an early age. After losing her mother as a child, she was raised by her father and had to leave school early because of financial circumstances. Although she was unable to pursue her dream of becoming a social worker, her passion for helping others never faded.

The turning point came when she found her late sister's young children playing with packets of tik (crystal meth), believing it was sugar. From that moment, she knew she had to help. What started with just a few children soon grew into Little Angels.

Today, Little Angels has grown to include an edu-care, an aftercare programme, a place of safety, youth support and a feeding programme, supporting vulnerable children and families in the Hout Bay community.

Through The Star Foundation's partnership and support from 

Food Rescue, Little Angels has been able to strengthen its feeding scheme, providing nutritious meals to children and families.

"Life is difficult, but I pray that one day there will be more organisations and people willing to help those in need." – Liezl Mathews

From one woman's deep sense of care and courage grew Little Angels – because big care always starts small.

Little Angels, Big Care

When we first shared Lerato Dibe's story, she was living with a severe visual impairment. With just 5% vision in one eye and limited vision in the other, even the simplest daily tasks had become a challenge, and she needed specialised treatment to improve her vision.

stepped in to fund her treatment through 

 with the support of a dedicated team of eye care specialists who generously donated their services.

Following her treatment, Lerato's results exceeded all expectations. What once  felt uncertain has become a new beginning opening the door to opportunities that once seemed out of reach.

Today, she has 50% vision in one eye and 70% in the other. One of the things she is most excited about is learning to drive - something she once never imagined would be possible.

LottoStar and The Star Foundation are grateful to have been part of Lerato's journey and thank Good Morning Angels, Operation Healing Hands and the dedicated medical specialists whose support and expertise helped make this possible.

For Lerato, the future she once hoped for is becoming a reality.

Lerato's Journey

 Charnè Verster, Kelly O'Sullivan and Cindy McKenzie have deve

loped the award-winning Smart School Shoe, which expands up to three sizes as a child grows. 

Their patented, award-winning Smart School Shoe also features a reflective heel strip and a built-in safety tag, making it both practical and innovative. The invention has earned national recognition through entrepreneurship and innovation competitions, showcasing the power of creative thinking to solve real-world challenges.

What started as a university project is now on track to reach store shelves by the end of the year, turning an innovative idea into a solution that could help ease the financial burden on families across South Africa.

In a country where many families face the cost of regularly replacing school shoes as children grow, it's easy to see why the idea has attracted so much attention.

This story is based on a News24 article by Noxolo Sibiya. Read the original article 

Designed to Grow

Poverty Alleviation, Welfare, Dignity and Sanitation

 is one of the key pillars of The Star Foundation. Through this pillar, we support initiatives that help meet basic human needs, creating safer, healthier communities where people can live with dignity. While our work also extends across education, nutrition and health, this pillar focuses on improving wellbeing through safe sanitation and support services for vulnerable communities.

We believe that true community welfare starts with addressing basic human needs. When people have access to safe spaces and proper facilities, it creates a foundation for better health, greater safety, and renewed self-esteem.



Two of our recent collaborations show exactly how this work is happening on the ground:

in 2025, The Star Foundation has renewed its support for 2026. Our funding now covers the operational costs of the 

 helping provide meals, hygiene facilities, counselling and pathways to employment for people experiencing homelessness.

 to replace unsafe pit toilets with proper, safe dignified sanitation facilities at schools in KwaZulu-Natal and Mpumalanga. These upgrades directly protect a child's health and safety, giving them the confidence to focus on their education.


Real change comes down to community and collaboration. Whether we are supporting a homeless service centre or replacing dangerous pit toilets with safe sanitation facilities, our goal is simply to help provide the basic safety and dignity that every person deserves.

Dignity Through Support & Sanitation

On 27 May 2026, Chantelle Groenewald reached an important milestone in her journey when she underwent the knee reconstruction surgery she had been waiting for.

At just 19 years old, Chantelle has already overcome more challenges than many face in a lifetime. After spending most of her childhood at Paul Kruger Children's Home, she worked hard to build a brighter future, matriculating in 2025 and preparing for the next chapter of her life.

When a serious knee injury threatened to slow her down, help came through 

Together, they made it possible for Chantelle to receive the surgery and specialised aftercare she needed.

Chantelle is now focused on her recovery and rehabilitation. This surgery brings her one step closer to living without pain and pursuing her dream of running competitively again.

We are incredibly grateful to everyone who played a part in making this possible. Chantelle's resilience and positive spirit continue to inspire us, and we look forward to cheering her on as she continues her recovery and works towards returning to the sport she loves.

From Winnings to Meals