As I stand at this crossroads of custom and modernity, my heart is torn between wanting to respect traditional beliefs and wanting my child’s well-being to come first. My husband and I have had a difficult conversation about circumcision, which shows how hard it is to be a parent…
My name is Idah November, and my friends affectionately call me Manana. I am a 45-year-old resident of Hoopstad in Tikwana Township.
Like many of you would know, living in a Township is extremely hard. These hardships forced me to take control of my life and well-being. I did so…
To be born African means to have been born on the African continent, which is the second-largest and second-most populous continent in the world. Africa is a continent with a rich history and diverse cultures, with over 54 countries and more than 1.3 billion people.
Being born African can mean…
I am constantly wondering what I am doing, plus the anxiety that comes with motherhood doesn’t help. So, that day, when my toddler held my mirror, and it slipped through his tiny little hands, shattering into a thousand pieces, you can guess that I was so upset. I wanted…
According to the United Nations today, there are more than 26 million refugees and 4.4 million asylum seekers globally. So what does it mean to be a refugee? To leave behind everything you know to be home, to lose one’s identity and to be caught in between, with no…
Whilst the holiday season is meant to be a time of joy, family and gifts. It can also be triggering for many people and bring about bouts of anxiety, depression and feeling lonely. As someone who lost both her parents at an early age. I know too well how…
For the first time in 25 years of my life, I am spending Christmas without my family and friends. I am over 1500 kilometres away, on the other end of the country. While they are all on the other end. It is a very strange but extraordinary experience. Growing…
I’ll be the first to admit that I love a good shopping spree. But with the economy being what it is and with a demanding and very expensive toddler to take care of, the days of splurging on designer pieces are far behind me. At least in the way…
