Inspirational Women of Paarl
Inspirational Women of Paarl
August is women’s month and we take a look at some of the inspirational women from Paarl. These women have in their own way made a difference, excelled in their profession and show us with determination and vision that no woman has to stand back to make her mark!
We as mothers, working women, sisters, grandmothers, friends, home-makers, partners, femme fatales, we all play an important role in the lives of others.
Even in a small way, each and every women inspires and makes a difference to those around her.
Below are examples of some of the many outstanding women in our community who do great things. We applaude them and the many other unsung heroes!
Gesie van Deventer
Mayor of Paarl
Gesie’s name might mean small spirit, but there is nothing small spirited about this remarkable women.
Gesie was born in Vanrhynsdorp and started working at a young age to help support her family.
After school she completed her studies at the University of Stellenbosch obtaining two degrees. She took the brave step to enter the then male-dominated occupation of a High Court lawyer. She qualified as an Advocate in 1981 and was admitted to the Supreme Court of South Africa.
Gesie was always passionate about wine and decided to follow her dream and pursue wine as a career.
In 1990 she enrolled as one of the first female students at Elsenburg College of Agriculture in Stellenbosch. She obtained her Diploma in Viticulture and Botany (Cum Laude) in 1991 and followed this up with a Diploma as Cellar Master and Winemaker in 1992.
She gradually freed herself from her legal commitments and decided to swap her advocate’s gown and designer clothes for the boots and overall of a winemaker/farmer. A career path that led her to great success, winning Winemaker & Female Farmer of the year in 2001.
In 2003 she topped this by winning the title of Farmer of the year (for both genders).
The same year she also became the first female chairperson of Paarl Vintners Board of Directors.
In 2011 she took the boldest step of her career and ran for, and was elected to serve as, the Executive Mayor of the Drakenstein Municipality.
M’Lani Basson
Founder of Amado Animal Assisted Therapy
As an art and psychology student, M’Lani Basson had her heart set on specialising in art therapy, but having grown up with horses on a farm, the minute she heard of equine-assisted therapy, she knew in her heart it was the path she was destined to follow.
After university, M’Lani volunteered at an animal-assisted therapy centre in Scotland, an experience that gave her all the tools she needed to start Amado.
Amado provides animal-assisted therapy to 240 special-needs children who wouldn’t otherwise be able to afford it. M’Lani is a workhorse herself, juggling therapy and a trauma internship with raising funds and a family, but she doesn’t complain. The joy the children find in her horses she feels in her heart.
M’Lani has truly had inspiring results from her therapy.
Children who have their entire life been bound to a wheel chair and for whom doctors had no hope, now run around her stables and saddle up horses.
In 2011, even with her busy schedule, she completed her BA Honours Degree in Psychology. In 2012 M’Lani was also listed as one of the country’s top 200 Inspiring Young South Africans by the Mail & Guardian.
Presently she’s doing an internship in Trauma Counselling to enable her to better her skills in helping the children at Amado.
Magda Meyer
Founder of Magda’s Soup Kitchen
Magda’s story starts 12 years ago, when she lost her retail job. At first Magda was disheartened, but after being inspired by her mother who raised 6 children, through all kinds of hardship, Magda picked herself up and started doing odd jobs to support her family.
Magda saw that there were other families in her area that were in the same situation and decided to use the little resources she had to start a soup kitchen.
Today she is not only running a soup kitchen that feeds more than 400 people weekly, she has also converted a part of her home into a community centre where people can access a range of community services from nutrition counselling to HIV/AIDS advice, enabling her to network with other people with similar problems and work on strategies together. The back porch is now a fully-equipped catering-grade kitchen, leading into the yard which is now mostly taken up with leafy vegetable garden, a project started three years ago to help make the operation more self-sufficient.
Together with her family, Magda has given hope to countless people battling the depression of unemployment.
She is an example of how one can make a big impact on others even if you have very little yourself!
Dr Gcwalisile Kabanyane
Founder of Qolothani Makhosiazi Social and Cultural Services
Dr Gcwalisile Kabanyane established Qolthani Makhosiazi in Mbkweni and has made a meaningful difference to the lives of many poor and vulnerable people since it’s inception. The projects include the building of a community kitchen, which Gcwalisile had built from her personal funds, where those in need can get a nutritious meal and listen to talks about health issues affecting their lives.
Qolthani also provides meals for children attending the local Sunday school and supports many of the child-headed families in the community by paying for their groceries and school uniforms. Gcwalisile works closely with schools in the area to produce vegetable gardens.
Each year, Gcwalisile organises a ‘girls and mothers’ conference which aims to promote leadership, financial management skills and leading a healthy lifestyle. She also supports skills development workshops, which teach local women beadwork. Their creations then get marketed both locally and internationally.
Not only does Gcwalisile raise all her own funds for her charity through events like the ‘Crossing the Barriers Fun Walk’ but she uses her own transport to deliver wheelchairs and food to the families she supports in Mbekweni.
The profit that she makes from her printing business is used to support her projects.
Dr Gcwalisile Kabanyane received recognition for her great work by being awarded the 2011 Inyathelo Award for Community Philanthropy.
Despite her royal background as a Zulu Princess, it is her actions and humility that endear her to the community.
The Filly’s
The Filly’s is a group of women that has taken time out of their busy schedules to give back to the community.
Through innovate, creative and fun ways, they raise funds for various charities in the area, raising awareness and obtaining sponsorships.
The Filly’s was founded by Leigh Swart and Rene Munro, good friends and events industry colleagues, who both live at Val de Vie Estate. Living in such a beautiful part of our country and having been so richly blessed, they decided it was time to focus on the needs of others and so, together with ten like minded woman, the “Fillys” were born.
Earlier this year, the Filly’s arranged a James Bond themed Casino Evening and raised over R 40 000.00 for their chosen charities, which includes the Drakenstein Hospice, the Rock Pregnancy Crises Centre, the Kibwe Kids Project and various other worthy causes.
Their next fund raising event is a Spring Day High Tea to be held at the Val de Vie Pavilion. Please bring along something for the charity boxes if you are able – books, blankets, clothes toiletries, pantry foods, anything us welcome and much appreciated. Please click here for more information.
- The Filly’s