South Africa knows the cost of freedom. It was fought for, sacrificed for, and carried forward by those who believed in a better future.
Today we honour them, not only in remembrance, but in how we choose to live, lead, and unite.
“Freedom is nothing else but a chance to be better.” - Albertina Sisulu
HAPPY FREEDOM DAY SOUTH AFRICA 🇿🇦
It was a real honour to attend the Japan–South Africa Sports Exchange Event, graciously hosted by His Excellency Fumio Shimizu and the @embassyofjapaninsouthafrica
It was also a privilege to be in the presence of Gayton McKenzie @gaytonmck , a reminder of the importance of investing in sport as a tool for youth development, national pride, and global connection.
Hearing Haruka Kitaguchi @giantbaby_paru speak about discipline and her journey to Olympic gold was deeply inspiring. You could feel the impact in the room, especially seeing young athletes connect with her story.
This was a truly meaningful moment of connection between Japan and South Africa. 🇿🇦🇯🇵
Because it’s International Pageant Day I wanted to share a few words…
Pageantry asks women to step into the unknown. You prepare, you show up, and you give your best knowing the outcome is never guaranteed.
Last year I had the privilege of standing on the Miss International stage and finishing in the Top 20. A moment that meant more to me than many people might realise.
Ten years earlier, I had stepped away from pageantry while navigating the aftermath of trauma I didn’t yet have the language for. Returning a decade later to represent South Africa felt like reclaiming a childhood dream and choosing not to let my story end where it once broke.
Pageantry will stretch you, it will challenge you, and ask you to believe in yourself in ways you never have before. But it will also introduce you to extraordinary women, unforgettable experiences, and a version of yourself you may not have met yet.
To every woman who has ever stepped onto that stage: I see you, I respect you, and I celebrate you today.
🤍 Happy International Pageant Day 🤍
“We have a responsibility to stand for what is right, even when it is difficult.” - Steve Biko
South Africa knows the cost of being denied dignity. We are a country shaped by those who stood up when it was dangerous to do so.
That is why this day matters, remembering is how we protect what was fought for and how we honour those who never stopped believing in a better future.
“Each one of us is capable of making a difference if we have the courage to act.” - Charlotte Maxeke🇿🇦✨
Canaan Organisation is a small community initiative in Johannesburg dedicated to children, youth, and families in need. Every day they run feeding schemes, aftercare, reading programmes, and mental health support - most of it for children living with Autism, ADHD, FASD, and chronic illness.
Almost every rand they receive goes directly to food, medical support, and helping families affected by gender-based violence. There is very little left for anything else.
Their classrooms are rundown. The space is full. Families keep coming because they have seen what Canaan does - and turning them away is not something Londiwe is willing to do.
They are raising funds to build an additional classroom and improve their current space. A space to reach more children, run their programmes properly, and keep the door open for everyone who needs it.
Every contribution helps. 🙏 Check out the link in our bio!
Thina aims to connect people with every type of organisation - we have aided here in setting up the BackABuddy campaign and helping Canaan and Londiwe with some technical challenges - this is a type of volunteering not a lot of people know about. The know-how and knowledge that you have can help an organisation go a long way, we aim to get more of these opportunities up on the app soon, but as our tech develops we are still relying on our network to help support and give back in the incredible way we have already seen all of you do ❤️ thank you for the support from here and going forwards!
With love,
Canaan Pre School & The Thina Team ☀️
