Luthando Fikizolo: A Quiet Dreamer Rising to Lead
December 5, 2025
Vacancy: Human Resources Coordinator
March 22, 2026
A Stitch of Hope on World AIDS Day On 01 December, the world commemorated World AIDS Day, refl ecting on the progress and challenges that continue to shape the HIV and AIDS landscape. South Africa remains the epicentre of the epidemic, and recent trends show that new infections are once again on the rise. Women, particularly those with limited economic opportunities, continue to carry the heaviest burden—too often facing genderbased violence (GBV), unequal power dynamics, and dependence on abusive partners. These vulnerabilities leave many women exposed not only to violence but also to HIV infection. In communities like Nyanga and surrounding areas, fi ghting HIV means confronting the social and economic conditions that place women at risk.
Empowerment programmes—like the Sewing Training Programme—offer an alternative path, giving women economic independence, skills, and the confi dence to break cycles of violence and vulnerability.
Threads of Change: Sewing Training Programme The Etafeni Sewing Training Programme continues to be a powerful source of hope and income for women who are determined to rebuild their lives. For many, it represents a doorway to employment; for others, it is a lifeline—a way to support their families with dignity. In a modest sewing room fi lled with the steady hum of machines, 91 women stitched their way in 2024 towards new beginnings through the Accredited Sewing Training Programme: Handicraft Sewer – Level 1, approved by the Quality Council for Trades and Occupations (QCTO). The course includes: sewing machine operations, basic sewing techniques, pattern making, garment construction, quality control & production standards, computer literacy, fi nancial management and business skills. These are the foundations needed to transform creativity into sustainable opportunity. And the outcomes speak for themselves: 80% of graduates have already started their own homebased small businesses—producing clothing, school uniforms, and customised garments that bring income and pride into their homes.
This programme is far more than a skills course. It is a tool of economic resilience, a pathway to self-reliance, and a quiet but powerful force against GBV. In communities where formal jobs are scarce, these women have become job creators—proving that a needle and thread can weave stories of stability, empowerment, and renewed hope. Building Entrepreneurs: Business, Marketing & Branding Training In 2024, thanks to support from the National Development Agency (NDA), Etafeni launched a Business, Marketing, and Branding Training Programme for emerging entrepreneurs in Nyanga.
Participants received practical, hands-on training covering: business planning and fi nancial literacy, marketing and branding, digital branding and personal storytelling, and formal business registration. Graduates were supplied with start-up toolkits, including sewing machines and materials, to help launch their ventures. These initiatives are igniting local economic transformation—one entrepreneur at a time. Impact Story: Anthea Leaman – Sewing Her Dreams Into Reality For Anthea Leaman, the journey began with a dream of becoming a fashion designer. She joined the Etafeni Sewing Training Programme in August 2024, where she immediately felt embraced by a supportive group of mentors and peers. Starting with theory before moving into hands-on work, Anthea blossomed. She designed and sewed three full garments before graduating—an outstanding achievement for a fi rst-time sewer.
When she sat for her FISA exams, she achieved an exceptional 98%. She further completed Etafeni’s Business, Marketing, and Branding module and proudly launched her own brand: ZAL Lee Design Her passion for growth did not end there. Etafeni supported her to complete additional qualifi cations in Facilitation, Assessment, and Moderation, enabling her to serve as the offi cial moderator for future sewing exams. Anthea also volunteered in Etafeni’s Social Work Programme, where her dedication earned her the position of Outreach Offi cer. Today, she serves the Nyanga community with grace, compassion, and courage—living proof of how opportunity, mentorship, and selfbelief can transform a life. Sewing a Safer, Stronger Future As communities continue to fi ght the intertwined challenges of HIV, AIDS, and gender-based violence, programmes like Etafeni’s remind us that empowerment is prevention. When women gain skills, income, and independence, they gain choices—and the power to step out of harm’s way. On this World AIDS Day, we honour the women who are stitching new possibilities and reshaping the future of their families and communities.
