Throwing it back this #EarthDay to Lucinda Evans', founder of our Program Partner Philisa Abafazi Bethu, feature in @msmagazine.com by V for her work as South Africa's coordinator of #OneBillionRising, & how her work recognizes the intersection of violence against women x destruction of the earth.

🎙️ Roll call! Are you a foundation executive, grantmaker, program officer, institutional donor, or grantee leader? Will you be in Ethiopia for the 10th annual East Africa Philanthropy Conference? We'd love for you to join the masterclass we are grateful to be hosting alongside the Segal Family Fdn!

CTAOP Strategic Partner Desmond Tutu Health Fdn lost 40% of its funding to (~$8 million) last yr, amidst the US global aid cuts. Linda-Gail Bekker, CEO of DTHF, says, "in order to end the epidemic for the world, we really do need to end the epidemic in South Africa." www.bbc.com/news/article...

US-South Africa funding: As American cash dries up the fight to stop Aids gets harder

Health experts fear that as testing and monitoring drops the risk of the further spread of HIV rises.

bbc.com

In a disastrous move, the WH has nearly quadrupled the harmful reach of the global gag rule, applicable now to $30B+ in US foreign aid. It forces a choice b/w US funding & providing comprehensive, evidence-based health & social service, putting lives at risk worldwide. apnews.com/article/trum...

Trump administration to block foreign aid from those promoting abortion, DEI and gender identity

The Trump administration is expanding its ban on U.S. foreign aid for groups supporting abortion services to include assistance going to international and domestic organizations and agencies that prom...

apnews.com

We heard it's 2016? 🔄 Roll it back! A decade ago, in support of our Program Partner Drama for Life, we piloted Knowledge Unzipped: A multi-modal, Applied Theatre-based Sexual and Reproductive Health & Rights project, that aimed to educate & engage young people about sexual health thru performance 🎭

Thank you to UNSG Antonio Guterres for your strong support of the rights of women and girls while addressing the General Assembly this week. We must work together to build a more equitable, peaceful, just and sustainable future for everyone, everywhere.

When a girl can't access menstrual products or menstrual health education, the resulting impact on her life is gigantic -- & far outlasts her cycle. She's often forced to miss school or work, exposing her to social isolation, stigma, poverty, & health risks. This cycle of inequity is Period Poverty.

1/ Less than two weeks ago, The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria held its Replenishment Summit in Johannesburg, South Africa, where the whole world came together against these diseases. While falling short of the goal, world leaders pledged to invest over $11 billion.

All year, we've loudly advocated for the US to not pull funding from the global fight against HIV/AIDS. Southern Africa bears the brunt of the decades-long epidemic, & South Africa remains home to the highest number of people living with HIV. #WorldAIDSDay

It's that 🎁 time of year, so make your gift-giving count! Til 12/2, we're offering 10% off our store. Share CTAOP swag with your loved ones, AND support youth's ability to thrive in Southern Africa. Order soon to receive your gifts by the holidays! Use TAKE10 at checkout: shopctaop.com/gift-guides/

Tomorrow, 11/21, is the @womenforchangesa.bsky.social shutdown across South Africa, declaring #GenderBasedViolence a national disaster. Join the G20 Women’s Shutdown. Withdraw your power. 📷 Photo of a set of stairs at the University of Cape Town, emblazoned with the words: "Practice Consent."

We are HERE for this @radioworkshop.bsky.social 🤝🏾 @childmindinstitute.bsky.social partnership, amplifying the voices of young South Africans being vocal about mental health care and challenging stigma 🔊 childmind.org/global/snf-g...

Our Voices: South African Youth Break the Stigma - Child Mind Institute

With the support of SNF Global Center partner Radio Workshop — an organization that uses audio storytelling to foster youth dialogue, leadership, and community engagement — these stories are creating ...

childmind.org

🗞️ Big news: After being tied up in the courts for years, pharmacists across South Africa have finally been given the green light to prescribe HIV medications, expanding access to lifesaving medications for hundreds of thousands of people living with or at risk of HIV 💥 iol.co.za/mercury/2025...

New court ruling empowers accredited South African pharmacists to prescribe HIV medications

"Accredited South African pharmacists can now legally prescribe essential HIV medications, a landmark Supreme Court ruling that enhances access to life-saving treatments for hundreds of thousands at r...

iol.co.za

CTAOP's Busiswa Dayimani has a spot-on op-ed out in Proximate this week, on how the solution to violence in South Africa - & worldwide - is rooted in community. Busi lays out a map for transforming any community torn by violence. It's up to us to take the reigns: www.proximate.press/latest-stori...

When Communities Lead, Violence Falls

A perspective from South Africa on why the solution to violence needs to be rooted in community

proximate.press

Prince Harry, Earvin “Magic” Johnson, Charlize Theron and Thuso Mbedu unite with UNAIDS and Hollywood filmmaker Ron Nyswaner to urge continued funding to end AIDS. Watch their message: www.youtube.com/watch?v=7R9u... Press release: mailchi.mp/unaids.org/2...

It's orgs like CTAOP Program Partner Brave Rock Girl that drum this steady beat: #HopeIsALIVE in South Africa! Tune in Sund 9/14 at 3pm SAST/9am EST to hear from BRAVE's girl leaders at radiosa.org/voc/. Major shouts to Voice of the Cape for giving these young changemakers a platform and microphone!

"For many young people in South Africa, particularly Black women and LGBTQ+ youth, HIV is more than just a health risk. It is a social injustice rooted in inequality, stigma, and limited access to trusted, youth-friendly healthcare." activatechangedrivers.co.za/a-shot-of-ho...

A Shot of Hope: What the New HIV Prevention Injection Could Mean for Young People and Vulnerable Populations in South Africa | Activate!

For many young people in South Africa, particularly Black women and LGBTQ+ youth, HIV is more than just a health risk. It is a social injustice rooted in in ...

activatechangedrivers.co.za

YAS @msmagazine.com!!!! Dispelling myths and misinformation disarms stigma. Knowledge saves lives––PERIOD. This is why sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) is so important, and a critical part of our funding efforts. msmagazine.com/2025/08/14/a...

"Being a Fellow made me realize I don't need to shrink myself for other people to take space." We love YL Fellow Pheladi's takeaway of CTAOP's Youth Leaders Fellowship program bc it encapsulates our vision for youth leadership not just in South Africa, but for rising generations across the globe.

CTAOP Youth Leaders Fellowship – Leadership Summit 2025

YouTube video by Charlize Theron Africa Outreach Project

youtube.com

On July 1st, the new U.S. administration officially shut down USAID, which for over 6 decades has led the country's foreign aid efforts. "This was supposed to be a breakthrough year in the 44-year-long struggle against HIV." Graphics via @nytimes.com

Get to know CTAOP Program Partner Philisa Abafazi Bethu, which advocates for & serves survivors of gender-based violence, through this phenomenal, in-depth interview & spotlight on its founder, activist Lucinda Evans. www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2025...

‘Dreaming the big dream’ — Lucinda Evans reflects on her career in empowering survivors of violence

Lucinda Evans, feminist activist and founder of the Cape Town non-profit organisation Philisa Abafazi Bethu, is in the business of defending and empowering survivors of abuse. Her dream is a world in ...

dailymaverick.co.za

Today is YOUTH DAY in South Africa, a day when we honor the contribution (and sacrifices) made by young people in the struggle for freedom and equality. Since Day 1, young people have been the very heart and core of all CTAOP does and is in service of.

We had a super exciting addition to our Cape Town regional #SwidlerSummit last month: CTAOP Program Partner Vaul Institute brought their VR headsets and led everyone through their Virtual Reality program for well-being 🧘🏾

CTAOP Program Partners and the young people they serve are the guiding light of CTAOP's work, continually helping us navigate and redefine our role as grantmaker, convener, and storyteller.

Meet one of our newest Program Partners: Isibani Law & Therapy Centre 💡 The name “Isibani” translates to “lighthouse” or “guiding light,” reflecting the organization’s vision of illuminating the path to justice and restoration for survivors of gender-based violence (GBV).

Isibani Law & Therapy Centre - Charlize Theron Africa Outreach Project

Isibani Law and Therapy Centre is dedicated to empowering victims of gender-based violence by providing pro bono legal assistance and psycho-social support.

charlizeafricaoutreach.org

Earlier this year, after our hike up Lion's Head with CTAOP Program Partner Brave Rock Girl, we shared with you all the origin story of this amazing, youth-led organization, and their safe space benches which can be found all over Cape Town.