Discover the transformative power of change through the eyes of those who live it. Meet the beneficiaries whose lives have been touched by the FirstRand Foundation. Join News24 as we share their stories, voices of resilience that educate, uplift, and inspire meaningful action for sustainable change.
The women rebuilding the systems around them
Some women change lives. Others change the systems that shape them.
Under the national theme 'Building Resilient Economies for All', the FirstRand Foundations’ Built to Be Shared campaign recognises women who turned opportunities they were given into lasting impact, helping to strengthen an industry, expand access to education, shape the national response to violence, and transform healthcare.
Their fields could not be more different: agriculture, higher education, gender-based violence response, and palliative healthcare. But the pattern repeats itself in each story. Someone believed in them first. They gained skills, confidence, and opportunity. And rather than keep what they had been given, they built the conditions for others to inherit it too.
‘Built to be Shared’ campaign showcases how women multiply opportunities
Some opportunities change one life. Others continue moving, creating a ripple effect that reaches families, communities and even future generations.
The FirstRand Foundations are celebrating women who embody that idea through Built to be Shared, a campaign recognising those who have taken the opportunities they received and transformed them into opportunities for others.
The women featured in the campaign represent a diverse range of sectors, communities and professional backgrounds. They include educators, researchers and healthcare leaders, as well as entrepreneurs, advocates and community changemakers. Although their individual journeys are distinct, they are united by a shared commitment to extending the opportunities, support and knowledge they have received in ways that create meaningful opportunities for others.
More Inspiring Stories from the FirstRand Foundations
Harnessing the power of sport to build stronger communities
FirstRand Foundation’s partnership with Laureus South Africa is helping grassroots organisations leverage sport as a practical tool for social change.
How Access4ALL is strengthening disability support at universities
Through the Access4ALL project, the FirstRand Foundation and UCT are helping to strengthen disability support services across South Africa’s higher education sector.
Making quality healthcare more accessible
For millions of South Africans living in peri-urban and rural communities, accessing quality primary healthcare is far more difficult than it should be.
Contributing to the growth of the next generation of agricultural leaders
South Africa’s agricultural sector sits at the heart of the country’s economic resilience. It feeds communities, sustains rural economies and supports a wide network of industries.
Empowerment Foundation's strategic approach to ending gender-based violence
In South Africa, gender-based violence isn't just a social crisis; it's a structural one - embedded in economic inequality, institutional failures, and the very systems that shape how communities function.
How FirstRand Foundation’s Scholarships Are Transforming South Africa’s Future
In South Africa, where inequality remains entrenched, and too many young people lack access to quality learning, investing in education is not just a moral obligation; it is an economic imperative.
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