I have four passions in life. My sport, family, work and God. Each I pursue with dogged determination to be better and to excel. The greatest blessing and experience in life is the privilege of life is having a loving and supporting wife and incredible children. My relationship with each of them is treasured above all. I am blessed in that I am healthy, enjoy the blessing of life and am extremely active. I am thrilled to be able to compete on the international stage for home and country. Success therein is just a cherry on top. Career and work has been an incredible experience. Knowing what I wanted to be early in high school and achieving such has brought about economic emancipation and a lifestyle I could only dream about as a little boy. I bask in the success and abilities given to me and the blessing poured out in great abundance.

The guitarwrist is a not-for-profit company. 100% of the profits from each sale go to the Artist’s charity of choice. The guitarwrist make bespoke bracelets, rings, necklaces and earrings from artists used guitar strings and plectrums, all hand made in the UK by Emma Hedley Jewellery and Breakbeat Jewellery. These items have both an emotional and physical connection to the Artist and fan. Around 95% of the components from the strings we receive will be used to create the jewellery pieces, thus reducing the amount of strings metal that normally ends up in landfill. Their history start back in 200, when his founder took time out to look at more ethical and social enterprise ventures. One of the things he noticed was that guitar strings and consumables were one of the biggest expenses to artists yet once they were used they were just discarded and binned. To make matters worse, he found that virtually all used guitar strings ended up in landfill. Yes, some bits were recycled, but the vast majority weren’t. So the initial idea came about of The guitarwrist which is to get artists to donate their used guitar strings to their where they can turn these into amazing pieces of jewellery that have both an emotional and a physical connection with a great guitarist or bassist and the fan! This idea bumbled along, and other projects got in the way, but a couple of years ago his founder re-ignited the idea and contacted a number of guitarists, and they all loved the idea, especially as they’ve worked on the model so that the profits from the sale of the bracelets, rings and necklaces go to the Artist’s charity of choice. The guitarwrist also spent time researching what the fans wanted and how best to help the charities and who could produce the products.

Born and raised in England, Penelope Chilvers originally trained as a painter at the Byam Shaw School of Art in London, and was granted a scholarship from the Spanish Ministry of Culture, to complete an MA at Complutense University in Madrid. Her love affair with Spain and local craftsmanship began long before. As a child, she spent every school holiday in the province of Girona, where she first came across rustic, handmade alpargatas. She has been trying to make the perfect raw edged, bullhide moccasin that only exists in her childhood memories ever since! Penelope lived for a few years in the city of Barcelona, as a painter and designer, where she collaborated with artists and artisans. She worked with woodturners, designed for the textile industry and worked on interesting projects e.g. the restoration of the Picasso Museum. While living in Barcelona, she enjoyed riding in her lunch break in the national park of Collserola in the hills above the city, wearing traditional Spanish riding boots. She pursued the idea of bringing the Spanish riding boot to England and commissioned a small number of traditional artisans in the hills of Spain to make the perfect equestrian boot – our Long Tassel boot - to her own specifications. This boot remains a firm favourite in the collection, most famously worn back in 2004 by Prince William’s then girlfriend, Kate Middleton. Kate, the Duchess of Cambridge, continues to wear her boots to this day, most recently on a royal engagement in County Durham to visit Manor Farm. Having returned to the UK, Penelope began to work from her kitchen table, selling over 100 pairs of the Long Tassel Boot in a short space of time to a leading fashion boutique in Notting Hill, called The Cross. From that moment on, she got to work, designing her first comprehensive collection to launch at Paris Fashion Week in 2004. The collection has since grown to include iconic styles, such as the Incredible Boot, our highly sought after après ski boot, the crepe soled Neon Safari boot and a solid offer of Goodyear welted outdoor boots and footwear for experience and adventure.

Zando was founded by Rocket Internet AG in 2012 and since then has grown exponentially to become South Africa’s biggest online fashion store with investors such as Rocket Internet AG, Milicom and MTN. Zando is a subsidiary of the parent company, The Jumia Group, which operates as a fashion retailer and across numerous other vertical in various other African countries. Zando is South Africa’s premier online fashion shopping destination, having eked out a lucrative space in the online retail market back in 2012, making it all the way to winner of a number of customer services, shopping process and best eCommerce store awards, as judged by uAfrika.com. Having come a long way since our inception, we are now home to over 550 brands, including footwear, apparel, homeware, beauty products and our very own in-house brands, like Utopia. Six years on, we’re still spoiling you for choice with an ever-growing stable of international and local brands at the best prices, and with a wide range of safe payment options from cash on delivery to eBucks. You never have to worry about making your all-important purchases, and should you be unhappy with what you’ve bought, you can gladly return it for up to 14 days at no cost to you. The affiliate programme is managed by AdMarula. So if you want to join the programme and promote Zando’s products, you will have to register on AdMarula. It is worth the effort though because their programme is one of the best in South Africa. The Zando Affilliate Program pays a 9% commission on each successful sale and a once-off R8 commission for newsletter signups.

Talarico Cravatte via dei coronari 51 00186 roma Cravatte sartoriali, Foulard, sciapre, pochette MAURIZIO TALARICO Fin da piccolo è cresciuto con il culto della cravatta. Nel 1999 non trovando più chi producesse cravatte con le esigenze ed i requisiti di un tempo, ha deciso di mettersi a produrre in proprio fondando la Talarico Cravatte in Roma. In pochi anni investendo nella qualità artigianale sia dei manufatti sia nella selezione dei tessuti pregiati e certificati di provenienza italiana, è riuscito a trasformare la sua boutique in un punto di riferimento internazionale per l’eleganza maschile. Le sue cravatte hanno cinto e i cingono il collo dei Presidenti della Repubblica Italiana: Cossiga, Ciampi, Napolitano, Mattarella e dei Presidenti del Consiglio dei Ministri: Prodi, Berlusconi Monti, Renzi, Gentiloni e Conte. Talarico Ties via dei coronari 51 00186 rome Tailored ties, foulards, scarves, clutches MAURIZIO TALARICO. From an early age he grew up with the cult of the tie. In 1999, no longer finding those who produced ties with the needs and requirements of the past, he decided to start producing on his own, founding Talarico Cravatte in Rome. In a few years, by investing in the artisanal quality of both the products and the selection of fine and certified fabrics of Italian origin, he was able to transform his boutique into an international reference point for men's elegance. His ties have encircled and encircle the necks of the Presidents of the Italian Republic: Cossiga, Ciampi, Napolitano, Mattarella and the Presidents of the Council of Ministers: Prodi, Berlusconi Monti, Renzi, Gentiloni and Conte.

I’m the family person, hard-working woman, a mom of a handsome boy, adventures and a God fearing woman. I worked at the Department of Health as an Administration Clerk for 5 years. We’ve opened an N.P.O Youth Initiative. We are developing youth in programs such as soccer, reading and our culture. We conduct awareness campaigns about the dangers of drugs and alcohol. We facilitate the formation of support groups. And I have passion in farming. We started poultry farming and rabbits and we are selling the eggs in our community. I’ve done short course in Financial Management at University of Forte at PFMA.

Dress for Success is a global not-for-profit organization that empowers women to achieve economic independence by providing a network of support, professional attire and the development tools to help women thrive in work and in life. Since starting operations in 1997, Dress for Success has expanded to almost 150 cities in 25 countries and has helped more than 1.2 million women work towards self-sufficiency. Find your local affiliate here and discover how you can donate clothes, support the organization financially, get involved as a volunteer or help in other ways. If we are not operating in your community yet, learn how to start a Dress for Success in your area! Dress for Success Worldwide is located in New York and oversees our global affiliate network. Our purpose is to offer long-lasting solutions that enable women to break the cycle of poverty. Dress for Success is part of a global movement for change, empowering women to obtain safer and better futures. We provide each client with professional attire to secure employment, but we are about much more than simply a new outfit. Besides physically equipping the client with apparel and accessories, our programs furnish her with a confidence that she carries forever and the knowledge that she can actively define her life, the direction she takes and what success means to her. We are an ever-expanding network of affiliates who work together with referral agencies, volunteers and companies across the world to make a big impact in women’s lives. By supporting each other, we can reach a greater number of women and make our vision a reality.

The Clothing Bank Group empower unemployed South African men and women through enterprise development and small business opportunities in the informal economy. The Clothing Bank was established 10 years ago in Cape Town. We now have strategic partnerships with most of South Africa’s major clothing retailers (Woolworths, Edcon, MRP, Pick ‘n Pay Clothing, Clicks, TFG, Truworths and Checkers) who donate their excess stock to us. This is stock that is made up of customer-returns and end-of-season merchandise. Unemployed mothers (exclusively) join our two-year training programme and very quickly start their small business by trading (mainly in the informal sector) in the clothing they buy from The Clothing Bank at discounted prices. We have the capacity to support 800 mothers trading from our 5 branches in Cape Town, Johannesburg, Durban, East London and Paarl. We don’t believe you can learn business in a classroom, so our programme is practical and experiential. We create a nurturing and supportive environment, which builds her self-belief so that she can become a successful business owner. She is exposed to over 1000 hours of practical training and support, covering modules from money management, business skills, computer skills and life skills. We approach the development of the women holistically, as we believe that if you have a healthy woman, with a healthy mind and a healthy family - she will run a healthy business. We have an extensive support system that includes coaching, mentoring and counselling. The objective is that each woman should earn at least R4 000 per month.

Born in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo and I am currently living in South Africa at Cape Town for seven years. I am single from now and busy shaping my programming skills and IT knowledge at Cape Peninsula university of technology (CPUT). I am a software developer, I am always keen to discover and learn about new technology and invention in IT world, I have a good understanding of programming languages, internet cloud services and Desktop support CompTIA A+. I am a self-motivated person, reliable, determined, very skilful in communication, fast learner with an open mind to expose myself into new world and concept. Live is a journey about challenges and discovering that’s why I am always ready to face new challenge in technology and software world. I really like to play guitar and read books about science and others because knowledge for me is one of the keys to open doors, make a difference and discovering new area in live.

My name is Noxolo Femele, I'm 42 years old, and I have 2 kids, both are girls age 17 and 14 years old. I worked for 43 Air School as a Receptionist for the past 5 years, and while I was there I used to help out at the Admin area and at Marketing department. That had led me to having the ambition to become 1 of the Managers, but unfortunately we got retrenched. Then I went to work at Lendcor group as a Sales consultant for 1 year 6 months same we got retrenched as well. Then I decided to start my small business just to make money just to make money and put food on the table, but due to Covid-19 things are not doing well.

I am a God fearing individual, and I’m also a father to two beautiful kids, a boy and a girl. I worked for Tekkie Town as a Sales Assistant and I was chosen as the best Sales person for the entire Mpumalanga province. I also worked for the Department of agriculture as a Data capture. I have a passion for sports, football is one of my favourites and one day I wish I can own a soccer team. While I was in high school, I always wanted to be a lawyer but due to financial constraints I could not become one. My interest in the justice system came when I realised that the late former president Mr Nelson Mandela was also a lawyer representing his people. I wish one day I could give back to my community and its people because my community gave us the likes of the late Steve Bantu Biko, one of the BCM Members who fought for the people of South Africa. My community is one of the underdeveloped communities of this country, but I know that one day all of this will change because I know that with education anything is possible. When a child is educated communities will change for the better and if one community changes, then our country will change for the better as well and poverty will be no more. Education topped with one’s perseverance is the key to a bright future for all. With this pandemic people have lost their jobs and in some households you find that no one is working and people resort to drugs and alcohol, some get depressed to a point of taking their own lives. If we can start developing jobs for people, our continent would become a better place for us all. Being part of an initiative that supports the empowerment of those less privileged is one of my greatest wishes. I will be glad if all my wishes do come through because nothing is as important as education and hard work, and an educated country means a better world for us all.

Marco Bazzali e Tiziana Martini, con maturata esperienza nel campo della lavorazione dei filati, si sono visti uniti nel grande entusiasmo per la produzione di qualità, l'innovazione e la creatività. Dopo non poche riflessioni, hanno deciso di prendere il rischio di instituire una società tutta loro, Maglieria MaTis' srl, inaugurando il 4 novembre 2012. Contestualmente hanno creato il loro brand Matì Matì. Maglieria MaTis' srl realizza capi in cashmere, seta, lino, lana Merinos, 100 % made in Italy. Produce per piccole grandi forniture. Matì Matì vende le proprie creazioni a privati e rivenditori. Poco tempo è passato, ma i risultati e riconoscimenti ottenuti presso le aziende committenti, hanno dato, con orgoglio, conferma della loro professionalità e serietà. In continua evoluzione, Maglieria MaTi's, cresce con grande entusiasmo. Marco Bazzali and Tiziana Martini, with matured experience in the field of yarn processing, were united in the great enthusiasm for quality production, innovation and creativity. After not a few reflections, they decided to take the risk of setting up their own company, Maglieria MaTis' srl, inaugurating on November 4th 2012. At the same time they created their brand Matì Matì. Maglieria MaTis' srl manufactures garments in cashmere, silk, linen, Merinos wool, 100% made in Italy. It produces for small large supplies. Matì Matì sells its creations to individuals and retailers. Little time has passed, but the results and accolades obtained from the client companies, they proudly confirmed their professionalism and seriousness. In continuous evolution, Maglieria MaTi's grows with great enthusiasm.

The BATNA collective - Best Alternative To Nude Attitude - was born in Turin in 2011 from the idea of ​​some recent graduate students at the Accademia Albertina di Belle Arti. The first years of activity saw them approach the world of fashion, full of dreams and energy, alongside the design and production of prét-a-portér and haute couture garments a further artistic research that finds expression in the production of fashion films and fashion performances. Their skills and expertise range from tailoring, fashion and shoe design to video art, photography, set and costume design. This diversity allows them to use the catwalk as a showcase through the use of performance. Through this, the concept of the fashion show expands to include the art of performance, a creative act that responds to the need to go beyond fashion and to work creatively, in parallel with conceptual art as well as through the collections. Numerous and successful are the events organized in Turin underground as well as collaborations with performative artists active in our city, between 2011 and 2016. In 2017, a deep reflection on their goals brings them to a turning point: the thought of moving the focus and starting to imagine a line of clothing designed for those who work. Practically the opposite of the idea of ​​the single garment, artistically full of meaning but not wearable in everyday life, which until then we had created. The idea is to make clothing in the most radical sense of the term by designing and packaging garments to wear all day and every day. The concepts of uniform and uniform excite and inspire us from the first moment and so in January 2017 BATNA launches its new work-wear line, created to meet the needs of all those companies that plan to use uniforms, aprons or accessories.

Panini Tessuti è un’azienda a conduzione familiare che, dal 1987, offre alla clientela un servizio di consulenza personalizzata e i tessuti più adatti per la realizzazione di capi d'abbigliamento o per l’arredamento d’interni per ciò che riguarda tende, tendaggi e complementi d’arredo. Da trent'anni a Modena questo negozio è sinonimo di esperienza, qualità e innovazione nella vendita di tessuti e tendaggi. Panini Tessuti conta un punto vendita di 500 metri quadri a Modena e un sito online con spedizione a tutta Italia. La ditta è specializzata in tessuti d’abbigliamento esclusivi e alla moda, tessuti d’arredamento, tende, biancheria per la casa e coordinati, merceria, filati, passamaneria e articoli bimbi. Questo negozio è sempre al passo con i tempi e le ultime tendenze, è per questo che sul sito si possono trovare altri strumenti digitali per chi vuole imparare a fare delle proprie creazioni come un dizionario dei tessuti, tutorial fai da te e tante altre idee che servono d'inspirazione. Dal 2018, su richiesta di diverse clienti, ha aperto la sala corsi attrezzata, dedicata alla sartoria, alla maglia, all’uncinetto e ai vari corsi creativi. Grazie alla formazione specializzata del proprio personale, è possibile ricevere tutti i consigli necessari prima di effettuare l'acquisto, in modo che ogni cliente possa ricevere gli articoli appropriati per il lavoro che desidera eseguire. Sul sito si possono trovare le diverse modalità di contatto disponibile. Da Panini Tessuti è possibile acquistare preventivi al dettaglio, all'ingrosso e personalizzati, sia in negozio che online. Panini Tessuti, infine, confeziona anche Tende e Tendaggi su misura con tessuti ignifughi certificati, indispensabili in ambienti come Scuole, Pubbliche Amministrazioni, Hotel, Bed & Breakfast.

I am Elnet Girly Ndlovu. I am 29 years old. I was born and raised in Mpumalanga, South Africa. I graduated from high school in the year 2012 and am currently studying for a higher certificate in economics and management sciences through the university of South Africa. I have also obtained a certificate in business administration and Computer literacy of which I seek to study further to do entrepreneurship. I began my career as a customer service representative in 2014. Naturally, I have a growth mindset that enables me to grow and to help me by learning from mistakes to improve myself continually. I am kind, loving, caring and a person who is full of empathy often. I am a go-getter, positive, bubbly person who loves a positive fun filled environment. I am self-motivated and also enjoy motivating my team members. I work well in a team or individually. I am passionate about education, uplifting others, entrepreneurship and making a better society for the future generation to come while walking the journey of self-discovery I have more than four years experience in customer service and administration combined with a demonstrated history of working in the information technology and services industry. Skilled in Administrative Assistance, Meeting Scheduling, Executive Support. I have excellent interpersonal skills, I am also a fast learner and adapt quickly to a new environment My hobbies are reading books, listening to music, walking and learning new things.

María Escoté es una diseñadora catalana, nacida en Barcelona en 1979. Su interés por la moda viene de tradición familiar, por lo que comenzó a trabajar en el sector desde los 19 años. En el 2005 se graduó de Diseño en la Escuela Superior de Diseño y Moda en Barcelona, también realizó un curso de Dibujo de Moda en la Central Saint Martins de Londres. La principal característica de su marca es el uso del color en todas sus posibilidades. Sus diseños son considerados como energéticos y atrevidos que buscan exaltar la juventud de quienes lo usan. Luego de finalizar sus estudios, en donde obtuvo el tercer premio de su promoción, lanzó su marca en el 2006 con una colección que llamó “Excéntricos” en el "Moda FAD" de Barcelona. Posteriormente, desfiló en el Ego de Cibeles y en la Faashion Week de Madrid, lo que ha permitido hacer crecer su marca y convertirse en una de las diseñadoras españolas con una fuerte presencia internacional. María Escoté es también una pionera de la venta online, haciendo posible que sus prendas sean conocidas más allá del territorio español, incluyendo celebridades de distintas nacionalidades. Entre las famosas que han vestido sus prendas se encuentran Katy Perry, quien llevo uno de sus diseños en los premios EMA en 2013, Beyoncé, quien lució un vestido rojo con botas altas del mismo material, y Rosalía, que llevó un diseño Escoté en la grabación del video Malamente, y otro en los premios EMA 2018. Desde 2018, María Escoté trabaja como jueza en el programa televisivo de talentos Maestros de la costura que es transmitido por TVE. En 2020 lanzó su primera colaboración con la marca Desigual, oportunidad que se repite en 2021, y que suma la colaboración con la actriz Milena Smit como imagen de la campaña, con la que lanza su colección Wonder Woman. Los diseños de Escoté se pueden encontrar en las tiendas Desigual y en su tienda online, accesibles tanto en España como a nivel internacional.

Lorenzo Caprile Trucchi nació en Madrid en 1967. Es un reconocido modista y diseñador de ropa español. La primera colección de su firma la presentó en Madrid en 1993. Caprile realizó estudios en el Fashion Institute of Technology de Nueva York y en el Politécnico Internacional de la Moda de Florencia en Italia. Ciudad en la que también realizó estudios en Lengua y Literatura Española en la Universidad de Florencia. Comenzó su carrera profesional en 1986 trabajando para distintas firmas de moda italiana como Ratti, Pino Lancetti, Gruppo Finanziario Tessile de Turín y, otras firmas españolas como Cadena y Lienzo de los Gazules. No es sino hasta 1993 que este modista, admirador de Manuel Pertegaz, abre su taller en el barrio de Salamanca en Madrid, en el que se especializa en moda nupcial y de ceremonia. La principal característica de su firma es que conserva un estilo elegante y clásico en cada uno de sus diseños. A lo largo de su carrera, Caprile ha tenido la oportunidad de vestir a importantes personalidades españolas e internacionales. Uno de sus vestidos más importantes es el traje de novia de la infanta Cristina, hija de los reyes Juan Carlos I y Sofía. Así como el impresionante vestido rojo que vistió la actual Reina de España, Letizia Ortiz, en la boda de Mary y Federico de Dinamarca. En 2012, Caprile se une como figurinista de la Compañía Nacional de Teatro Clásico de España y ha diseñado vestuarios para teatro, opera, danza y cine. En 2014 le otorgaron el Premio Ciudad de Alcalá de las Artes y las Letras y en 2016 recibió la Medalla de Oro al Mérito en las Bellas Artes que concede el ministerio de Cultura. Desde 2018 participa como jurado en el programa de talentos Maestros de la costura de TVE.

My name is Glorymar Hernandez, but I prefer to be called “Glory”. I was born in the capital of Venezuela, Caracas, and grew up amid the crowds of the city, the tranquility of the Andean mountains and the joy of the Caribbean coast. A mixture that has taught me to enjoy wherever I am, that aroused my curiosity to know the world, and that has helped me to adapt, with relative ease, to changes. I have a degree in Philosophy, my research works are in Philosophy of Language. Since 2019 I have been working as a Spanish teacher. I decided to start teaching my mother tongue thanks to my experience learning other languages. I had the opportunity to live for a year in Ireland, where I went to learn English and, currently, I am in Italy, where I have had the opportunity to learn Italian. These experiences allowed me to realize that, although seeking perfection when trying to “speak like a native” is the ideal, what really matters is being able to communicate, make ourselves understood and be open to the experience of knowing other cultures and understand that there are many different points of view. Professionally, I have had the opportunity to work in different contexts such as banking, outsourcing consular procedures, and teaching at university level. The biggest lesson I learned from these experiences is that I am not an office person. I prefer to own my time and have the freedom to work wherever I am. For this reason, I have decided to dedicate myself to teaching Spanish online and to enter the digital world. I consider myself a very curious and versatile person, that is why in my free time I enjoy handcrafting (such as sewing or knitting), volunteering, being in contact with nature, and trying to learn new things, like playing the guitar. Regarding my geographical preferences, the beach and the mountains are my main refuges, because I can escape from the noise of the city and connect with myself. That is why I would like to be able to live with my husband on a mountain, not far from the sea.

I’m Toni-Leigh, born and bred in the Mother City of Cape Town. My fiancé and I, are parents to a lively 2-year-old girl who arrived 5 years after losing our 3-year-old son to a rare genetic disease. I love learning new things. Growing up, I was a voracious reader, reading anything and everything (even the classifieds and property ads) and with the advancement of technology over the years, I can have information at the tip of my fingers, so I’m always eager to learn new things and I’m a fast learner. I’ve always had an interest in Information Technology and was the go-to person in my office before my colleagues would go to the IT office, and now I’m looking into further studies so that I can develop my knowledge and skills. In 2005, I graduated from Varsity College with a Diploma in Travel and Tourism, with aspirations of travelling worldwide in my profession. Things didn’t quite work out that way, having worked in retail and a company assisting young people to live and work in the UK. In the last decade or so, I’ve been in the tourism industry behind the scenes, working for an online holiday accommodation booking agency and more recently a company that does tours and safaris in Southern Africa. I also do freelance work remotely, such as, captioning for a speech-to-text service and social media evaluation. I am an introvert but enjoy working with and being in the company of others, while also enjoying being on my own. In the past I used to view being an introvert as a weakness because those higher up in the ranks of the companies I worked for were extroverted but in recent times I realised how much of a strength it is being an introvert as I also have a strong sense of empathy, which I believe is key in Customer Service and building interpersonal relationships with colleagues and clients. I’m passionate about customer service and going the extra mile and l love that feeling of knowing that I’ve made a difference in someone’s day, whether big or small. People tend to describe me as hardworking, punctual, efficient, dependable and trustworthy. Covid-19 affected the tourism industry drastically, however, I still want to travel anywhere I can, just soaking up the different cultures and experiences. The last year has been both challenging and rewarding and it has made me see things in a different light and so it has been somewhat of a new beginning for me. I am motivated now more than ever to seek out new passions and adventures and to get out of my comfort zone.

Wamkelekile (‘Welcome’ in isiXhosa) to one and all! My name is Iman Martin – ‘Iman’ having both Arabic and African meanings for ‘faith’. Just like my name, I come from a multicultural background: my mom has Indian and Malaysian origins, while my dad is from the Griqua people/clan in South Africa. In the same vein, I am a Muslim and have Christian relatives, with who I am very close. It is because of my diverse background that I feel I was raised to be both tolerant and respectful towards those that are of a different culture, religion, or ethnicity. Cape Town has been the only home I know, and I’ve never ventured far out of it. I do however envision myself travelling to different parts of the world a few years from now. I am passionate about women’s empowerment and women having the choice to choose for themselves! I have recently graduated from the University of Cape Town, with a Bachelor of Social Work (Psychology Major) and placed on the Dean’s Merit List, awarded for consistent academic achievement. Through hard work and perseverance, I was fortunate to have received a scholarship from the Department of Social Development for three of my four years of study. My mini-thesis explored the experiences and challenges of 1st-year students at UCT adjusting to university. Studying social work has not only allowed me to better understand those around me and their thought processes but also, to better understand myself and the possible reasons why I am the way I am. As part of my course requirements, I had to complete field practicals – by putting the theory that I was learning in class to practice in a real-world environment. My field practice experience ranged along a spectrum: from providing social work services to underprivileged youth in a primary school in Bonteheuwel, to interning in the more affluent area of Upper Wynberg, at an international school. This experience further fostered my innate empathy and non-judgemental outlook for those around me. I am someone who is not afraid to get my hands dirty, work hard and help out where I can: currently job hunting, I have occasionally been helping my father with renovations to his property that include painting, plastering, applying putty, etc. This has taught me many practical things that I hope to apply when I own my own house one day. A few months before now, I worked as a Personal Assistant to a therapist and social worker. This was a remote job that taught me valuable organisation and time-management skills. In my early years of study, I found myself working a sales assistant job at the Robben Island Museum Gateway store, and found that my favourite part of the job was interacting with the different tourists that happened upon our humble store and hearing their stories – where they were from and why they decided to visit SA, etc. I love reading, and since a young age, I’ve been considered a bookworm. I mainly enjoy supernatural and sci-fi novels and webcomics, as well as other forms of content such as newspaper and magazine articles (need to know what’s happening in the world around me). English was also my favourite subject at school, and I think this was also encouraged by my English-teacher mother, who was quick to correct any incorrect grammar and pronunciation when my siblings and I spoke incorrectly. I often assisted her in marking her learners’ English examination scripts and as a result, am quick to pick up on spelling or grammatical errors. In my free time, I enjoy spending time with my family, long walks with my dog Ninja, and photography. This has led me to submit a piece that is currently being exhibited at the Zeits Mocca Art Museum, in their long-running ‘Home is Where The Art Is’ exhibition. Furthermore, my faith has given me strength through the darkest times and taught me to be tolerant and understanding of those around me. I am still very much figuring life and myself out as I go along and am always open to learning from those around me.

Rome wasn't built in a day. I’m of a very friendly nature and love to be with people who aren’t selfish. I am ambitious and will do anything to achieve my aim - "The Universe applauds action not thought"  I’m of a very adventurous nature and love to find good in everything I see. There are many things that make us depressed or upset, but that doesn’t mean that we stop living. You dust yourself off, honor the difficult times for the lesson it taught you, and walk away stronger and wiser. Independence and confidence were key in my life from a young age with venturing to the UK straight after school, and eventually ending up in Cape Town as my dream destination to live a happy balanced life where beautiful sunsets are part of your everyday life, and reminds you that dreams do come true. My professional life started as a labourer painting parks in the dire UK winter weather to Insurance consultant for a huge corporate company. Getting to know me over time, it became clear that I adapt quickly and take pride in everything I do, as I strive to leave everything and everyone better than you found them. Covid-19 and the drastic changes that came with it has been the most challenging and rewarding time of my life. With a system that failed us all in so many ways, living a financially stable life is nearly impossible but forced me to get grounded with nature and realize that the best things in life are truly free. My senses for nature, animals, and my overall humility enhanced drastically. We are all just reminded once again that nothing ever goes as planned and that losing everything including your mind might be necessary to make you realize what a strong, resilient, and galactic species we truly are. Realizing this, I am now more than ever ready to spread love and kindness whilst challenging myself with new adventures that push me out of my comfort zone. There is no other time than the present that truly matters. And in this moment, I am excited to change my reality and the lives of those around me.

“Fall down seven times, stand up eight.” A Japanese proverb close to my heart. It has helped me persevere in so many situations in life and those situations have molded me into the woman I am today. Here’s a brief introduction to who I am. I am a new mommy to an adorable baby boy. A jack of all trades. I’m an artist at heart, fitness enthusiast, avid reader, and quite academic. I was born on the 9th of August in the year 1996 in Elim, a small village in the Limpopo Province. I grew up in Johannesburg and later moved to Pretoria in 2006 when I was in Grade 4, where I completed the rest of my school career. I have always been one to participate in almost every extra-mural activity since my primary school years, I played softball, hockey, and cricket. I took part in cross-country and district athletics to name a few. My love for sports made me gravitate towards what I currently do part-time, I train on a regular basis, and I am a wellness coach and a distributor for a prominent nutrition brand. A large part of what I do involves helping people correct their nutrition and learn more about the benefits of healthy eating so that they can lead a healthier lifestyle and feel great while they are at it. I have been involved in various projects that involved giving back to those in need. I have been involved with an initiative called Feed a Homeless Homie, where we made food for the homeless and distributed it at least one weekend a month, I also helped a friend of mine with a pads drive for less fortunate girls, I also give clothes to homeless shelters for women and children whenever I can and I worked with an NGO known as Keep That Gold Shining (KTG) where we tutored young kids in high schools in the townships. I am a philanthropist at heart and believe that even the smallest contribution goes a long way. As mentioned, I am also an artist, mostly self-taught. I do painting on commission as well as pencil sketching. I do not have a specific style as yet, but most of my work features women from different walks of life. I would like to collaborate with more artists in the future and have exhibitions. I try to read at least one book a month. My favorite writers have always been James Patterson and Dan Brown however I recently branched out to other genres besides suspense and thrillers. Some of my latest reads are: • Rich Dad, Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki • Atomic Habits by James Clear • The Alchemist by Paolo Coelho • Half of a yellow sun by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie • No Longer At Ease by Chinua Achebe I can speak at least 6 of the 11 official languages, I am fairly tech-savvy. I am a quick learner, always willing to pick up a new skill. Life has thrown several curveballs at me and I never backed down. I strongly believe in working hard and not giving up on anything I do. My name means ‘Be Strong’, that is who I am!

Greetings to one and all. My name is Edith, I am a child of the universe and I want to share that every day is a beautiful day. True, our emotions fluctuate but at some point during each day we will recognise that the day is a gift we have received and if we be true to ourselves this will bring a smile and with it feel good energy. We should take this feel good energy and build on it so that each day it comes easier and earlier and like a muscle it will grow, become more evident and gather momentum and we will feel better for it. I believe in kindness and forgiveness towards others and myself. In a couple of months I will begin the first year of my sixth decade on planet Earth. Twenty years ago I was facing a life threatening illness and not doing too well, I am a miracle. I believe we are all miracles. Some would differ it can be a topic for discussion. I am a widow and live with and take care of my 87 year old mother and 7 year old granddaughter to whom I am foster mother. Thankfully both are well. We live in a truly beautiful spot, the Deep South, Cape Peninsula, CT, South Africa, blessed in many ways I have much wonder and appreciation for this. I was born in Cape Town, grew up and completed my education in the best place in the world to have grown up at that time, yes! Zambia in the sun. I have very fond memories of my formative years in Zambia and still consider myself Zambian. It is the national anthem I sang as a child and I loved the then president, KK, Kenneth Kaunda. I returned to South Africa in 1980 to attend college and begin my independent years and in 1982 I moved to the newly independent Zimbabwe where I spent the next 21 years before returning to my roots in 2003. I have extensive administrative experience - getting things organised, getting things done. With a stable track record, I am able to diversify within different industries. As part of a team I have a strong focus to resolve challenges and enjoy leaving any tasks I am busy with in a user friendly state (do unto others). I pride myself on my attention to detail & due diligence, going the extra mile in terms of improved efficiency and cost effectiveness. I did a one year secretarial course in 1980 and my working life began from there. Living and learning life then became what I did, marriage, babies, etc. I guess I was lazy to further my qualifications, in hindsight I think I would have made a damn good surgeon LOL. Seriously, I have good eye, hand coordination, a good touch, and, consciously, I have become better at threading the needle. I believe strongly in being true to and honest with myself and I think I was then because family means more to me than a career. And now, I am ready to start that next chapter in my career. I am blessed. I have over the years done various short courses including a deep tissue massage course so I am a certified masseuse however I only massage family and friends as I am no longer physically (strength and stamina) up to doing a job I am comfortable to charge for. Thought that was worth mentioning as it brings me pleasure to help others breathe and take time out. I have always worked in administrative support positions from Girl Friday to Executive PA and everything in between and in many different industries. My last couple of jobs have been from home (virtual) and in a new field namely customer service. This shift was challenging and I am proud to say I managed it pretty well. Working from home is what is necessary at this time given my current living circumstances. This change and the challenge that came with it reminded me that I have strong determination which is a very good thing. I am concerned for my granddaughter’s generation and what life will be like for them as adults, especially the environment they will find themselves in physically, mentally, emotionally. I would love to become more knowledgeable and active in the conservation of water, a precious natural resource that as long as it comes out of the tap when we open the tap many do not really appreciate just how precious it is and therefore the need to respect and conserve it. And, I would love to see the curricula in our educational systems adapting to educating our children to be more self-aware, mindful and able to guide their minds when it comes to EQ. Easy does it.

Hello, I’m Deborah! I was born in Congo RDC and came to Cape Town, South Africa in October 2012 to study at university. I have a National diploma in Financial accounting and a diploma in Financial information system. I am an ambitious young lady and I love to be surrounded by positive people. I’m a dedicated and conscientious team player with the ability to provide support and advice to people, customers, or co-workers and make a difference. I am organized, responsible, very loyal, focused and I can have the work done on time and meet deadlines. While doing my National diploma I was also working as a part-time customer service sales representative. I became a full time agent right after I graduated from university. I am a customer relation professional with more than six years of experience in customer service work, inbound and outbound calls, emails and social media. I have excellent verbal skills with the ability to communicate my thoughts and information in a clear and easy to understand manner. I am confident that the experience, the capabilities I have, make me ready for any opportunity. I speak French, English, Swahili, and Lingala I love singing and dancing, reading, and my favorites animals are dogs and cats. Looking forward to be part of Zagenie family! Thank you!

Live and love as if there is no tomorrow! Hi, my name is Emmerentia. I was born in the beautiful city of Cape Town, South Africa, in the ‘60’s, which means that I'm an original, retro hippie chick at heart with the good, old-fashioned values to back it up. The highs and lows I’ve dealt with in life have taught me a valuable lesson…time is not guaranteed and is therefore not to be lost. I am enjoying my journey, still learning new life lessons and growing to become the person I am meant to be. I must pay tribute to the University of Experience and the School of Hard Knocks for the valuable contributions you have made to my life path thus far. Stronger. Wiser. Blessed. My passion is to help others to reach their full potential. It is even more difficult to do that in one’s own life (it’s so easy giving advice to others, isn’t it?) but making a direct contribution or figuratively planting a seed and watching it take root in someone else’s life is deeply rewarding. We are on this planet to live good lives and to make a positive difference to our direct environment, wherever our feet may fall. Aim for the stars; never forget your roots. Be yourself, stay humble, be kind, be grateful, make love an action…not a word. My mission is to help people from all walks of life, gain financial independence, while caring for the world around us. Learn how to earn. Make sure you have a meal, an income, clothes, a home and good health. There is no planet B. I’m a big fan of renewable resources, organic gardens and farming and hugging a tree. Helping our paw-legged friends in shelters, finding furever homes much faster. Same for birds, horses, donkeys, circus prisoners and liberating zoos. I am an excellent chef in my kitchen 😊 and I love baking (to put it mildly). My cakes and tarts are wickedly good and not being gluten intolerant is still my highlight of the previous decade! My downtime is spent walking, jogging, going to the beach, horse riding and playing golf. With over 38 years’ combined experience, accumulated by time spent in the corporate world and having 3 businesses over the years, I have a wealth of experience to share and utilize. Words, in a personal bio, aren't plentiful. Not to me, at least. I feel that the chances of someone reading about what your opinion is of yourself and BELIEVING it is remote. The tough part is that you don't know me, nor I you, yet I'm trying to “convince” you that what I say is who I am as a person and that what I say is what it is. The eyes are windows to the soul…that isn't exactly happening here, and that sense cannot always be replaced through words alone. So, the moral of the story is that what I list below as my key character traits, strengths, weaknesses, achievements, experience, etc. is in reality simply just that. Traits: Dedicated, honest, loyal, trustworthy, tenacious, dependable, creative, methodical, sense of integrity, ethical, tough but fair, empathetic, lighthearted and friendly. Strengths: Comfortable in a team environment or working independently, management, skills utilization, delegation, human relations, conflict resolution, analysis, strategizing, implementation, problem-solving, business administration. Weaknesses: Impatience, self-critique, injustice and rudeness stirs my temper, being micro-managed, cheesecake. Experience: Sales, sales management, customer relationship management, business administration, directorship and general management of 3 x businesses previously owned/co-owned. Summary: A self-starter who gets what's required done, pronto. I am self-motivated, enjoy new challenges and try my best to excel at what's before me. I love working with people, as this is simply my passion.