Media

Charlize Theron is set to be this year’s recipient of the Giving Tree Award at the Baby2Baby Gala presented by Paul Mitchell.

The South Africa-born actress invites a few friends into the conversation, talking to THR about how her nonprofit CTAOP is changing lives in her homeland.

Funders often mistake accountability for compliance. Instead, accountability must be rooted in mutuality, relationships, and power analysis. By Lorrie Fair Allen, Ashlee George, & Charlize Theron

The South African actress opened up about motherhood, her philanthropic work, and what it means to think about one’s legacy.

The Trust-Based Philanthropy movement has gained increasing support over the past few years, including in Southern Africa.

To truly change a system, you must know how to work at a grassroots level, as well as with powerful people in government. Cookie Edwards, the Executive Director of the KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) Network on the Violence Against Women, works to ensure the government in South Africa listens to the needs of communities plagued by gender based violence.

Every other year at the Swidler Summit, the Charlize Theron Africa Outreach Project gathers our Program Partners and other members of our community in South Africa for a week of learning, reflection, connection, and restoration.

While in 2023 we hosted 3 regional Summits, in August 2024, we got the whole gang back together – and welcomed some new faces and Partners! – at our second national Summit. Rooted in the belief that to build sustainable systems change, we must “care for the carers,” the week was filled with deep belly laughs, deep revelations, deep brain melds, and deeeeeeep breaths.

CTAOP’s Swidler Summit is named after a late, beloved member of our Ubuntu Council, Alisa Swidler, who was a passionate philanthropist and master connector.

Content Warning (Topics: GBV; sexual violence)

Every 10-11 minutes, a rape case is reported in South Africa – but it’s estimated that only 1 in 9 gender-based violence (GBV) cases are reported.

In the country, an estimated 60% of social services for women and children are provided by civil society – not the government.

CTAOP’s Program Partners – CBOs (community-based organizations) working to combat GBV – make up part of that 60%. Watch to meet the incredible leaders and organizations working everyday to create a safer South Africa, and learn about what they believe is needed to get us there.

🎥 by ‪@onepassproductions

CTAOP Program Partner Brave Rock Girl is a grassroots organization that uses the expertise and experience of young women to drive action and programming, with an aim to create a supportive environment for girls and young women to thrive and grow into leaders. Based in Manenburg, one of the most dangerous townships in South Africa, BRAVE is in the process of becoming fully youth-led.

The primary goal is to create safe spaces for young women ages 10–19 living in the underserved community of Manenburg so they can become educated, resilient, and engaged female leaders in their communities, schools, and their own lives.

Hear from BRAVE’s youth leaders Audery, Lee-Anne, and Kelly on their experience growing and evolving through BRAVE, and how the organization’s programming has supported their growth into the community changemakers they are.

🎥 by ‪@onepassproductions

CTAOP Program Partner Community HealthCare Solutions (CHS), based in Howick, KwaZulu-Natal, uses a soccer-based life skills program that aims to impact behavior change to reduce communicable diseases, promote gender equity, and reduce unplanned pregnancies. The organization’s efforts focus on an informal settlement called Shiya Abazali – meaning “leave your parents” – made up of various marginalized groups, foreign nationals, LGBTQIA+ individuals, and young people who have dropped out of school. CHS provides psycho-social support services, coordinates ongoing community engagement, and facilitates effective partnerships with the local primary school, clinic, church and community leaders, local government, and other NGOs.

🎥 ‪@onepassproductions‬

CTAOP Program Partner Philisa Abafazi Bethu – which means “Heal Our Women” in isiXhosa – advocates for and serves survivors of domestic and intimate partner violence in Lavender Hill, Cape Town. This community-based organization provides medical, counseling, and legal support to survivors of gender-based violence and other abuse.

Founded in 2008 by Lucinda Evans, PAB also runs two safe houses, with one specifically for those who identify as LGBTQIA+. Other work centers around providing alternatives to joining gangs, offering programs for youth in and out of school, and a feeding program for women-headed households, older adults, those living with disabilities, children, and young people.

Hear from Lucinda, other team members, and those served by PAB on what makes the organization a “pillar” for the community.

🎥 by ‪@onepassproductions

CTAOP Program Partner KZN Network on Violence Against Women is a province-wide network of more than 300 non-governmental organizations, local government departments, churches, and schools that work together to address prevention strategies for violence against women. Hear from founder Cookie Edwards and other KZN Network team members on the breadth and urgency of their work towards ending gender-based violence in KwaZulu-Natal.

🎥 ‪@onepassproductions‬