The first annual Bophirima Camp Festival was held in Rustenburg hosted by the North West Tourism Business Owners Council and its partners. Camping fanatics from all around the country attended this prestigious and ground-breaking three-day event to network and relax with peers from various industries, especially those from the Tourism, Creative and Hospitality sectors. We were given full access to the campsite for the whole duration of the festival and of course we took some snaps that we would love to share with you, best believe that we’ll be at the second annual Camp Fest in 2023... See you there!

“ Rural women play a key role in supporting their households and communities in achieving food and nutrition security, generating income, and improving rural livelihoods and overall well-being. They con- tribute to agriculture and rural enterprises and fuel local and global economies. ” UN-Women's Watch The impact that rural women have on their communities is beyond measure, their influence though sometimes disregarded and diminished, is evident through the daily lived experiences of many and in countless research pieces conducted around the world. They are an essential thread to the social fabrics of life that keep everything running, even in some of the most dire circumstances and are a vital piece of the puzzle to building a more inclusive and equal society. Many rural women carry with them indigenous knowledge and wisdom that form an important part of the rich traditional and cultural customs/practices that are found in many communities. Occasionally these teachings are lost in transit and aren't imparted on younger women due to numerous reasons and this essentially means many young girls will miss out on these critical life skills

And information. The Miss Rural and Cultural Custodian is spearheaded specifically to address these challenges and more to empower and capacitate young rural girls on their culture, traditions and rich heritage. An opportunity to give young rural girls the dignity and confidence to showcase their cultural talents and abilities that may have generally been hiding due to the lack of access to platforms for exposure or opportunities, and in turn to motivate others in rural settings by giving them assurance that even though you may be from the rural areas —this doesn’t mean you can not achieve or be anything in life. Many of these young rural girls fall prey to predators that exploit and take advantage of them and their circumstances, on top of all the other social ills that impact them daily due to their environment. The pageant is in the form of a talent show where young girls will be required to perform or present a cultural or traditional trait or skill to the judges during the event. These talents include but aren't limited to; Praise Singing (ukubonga/goboka), cooking traditional food or drinks, traditional dancing or singing, beadwork or even design of a cultural attire. The MRCC team together with its social partners have in the past weeks engaged in a Schools Activation Campaign, steered to bring about awareness to the social ills that young rural children and youth face –especially the rural girl. “ rural child I am here to tell you one thing... you’re enough, you’re enough because you’re rooted in rich history, culture and traditions, something many people can’t say they have. This rootedness makes you unique, it makes you different so embrace it, embrace your culture, be proud of who are and where you come from. And if you don’t know who you are, ask your elders and your family about where you’re from, learn your clan names and know your family praises, because it is this rich history that will guide you into becoming a better version of yourself not only for your family but also for all those around you and your community.” said uNkosazana Nomfundo Zibi during a visit to the Madoda Langa Lasembo Secondary School. On the 06 August 2022 a very successful inaugural Workshop was staged as the second phase in terms of the itinerary for this year’s festivities. There were speakers and special guests from all walks of life that attended to share their insight and wisdom on customs or traditional and cultural practices that young rural women and girls need to navigate this thing called life. The pageant is a program of the AmaHlubi Chairman’s Foundation established to not only empower, educate and celebrate rural women and girls but to bridge the age gap between - Rural elderly women and young ladies as custodians of culture and traditions with the rural young girl to impart them with age-old cultural practices on a platform that is neutral and enables the exchange of dialogue between these three age groups.

“Challenges and Opportunities in achieving gender equality and the empowerment of rural women and girls is critical to the attainment of the SDGs Agenda 2030 and Africa’s Agenda 2063. This is according to the Africa’s pre CSW62 consultations held in Addis Ababa in February 2018. CSW62 theme strengthens the African Union’s Constitutive Act which commit Africa to promote gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls as a pre-condition, without which the continent’s development goals and aspirations cannot and will not be realized. Women make up more than 50% of Africa’s population and 80% of them reside in rural areas. Over 60% are employment in rural areas in the agriculture sector.” UN Women. The official crowning of this young custodian of culture will be held on the 23 September 2022 which coincides with the 98th Isikhumbuzo SamaHlubi Heritage Commemorations to be held in Khayakhulu village, Rustenburg in the Moses Kotane Municipality area. Best believe that we’ll be there to cover this auspicious jamboree as history and most importantly —impact, will be made not only for the participants in this proudly rural initiative, but also for the attendees as well. Its time we focus all our energy, resources and efforts on the emboldening of the rural young girl, we are truly her last and only hope.

“ Rural women play a key role in supporting their households and communities in achieving food and nutrition security, generating income, and improving rural livelihoods and overall well-being. They con- tribute to agriculture and rural enterprises and fuel local and global economies. ” UN-Women's Watch The impact that rural women have on their communities is beyond measure, their influence though sometimes disregarded and diminished, is evident through the daily lived experiences of many and in countless research pieces conducted around the world. They are an essential thread to the social fabrics of life that keep everything running, even in some of the most dire circumstances and are a vital piece of the puzzle to building a more inclusive and equal society. Many rural women carry with them indigenous knowledge and wisdom that form an important part of the rich traditional and cultural customs/practices that are found in many communities. Occasionally these teachings are lost in transit and aren't imparted on younger women due to numerous reasons and this essentially means many young girls will miss out on these critical life skills.

And information. The Miss Rural and Cultural Custodian is spearheaded specifically to address these challenges and more to empower and capacitate young rural girls on their culture, traditions and rich heritage. An opportunity to give young rural girls the dignity and confidence to showcase their cultural talents and abilities that may have generally been hiding due to the lack of access to platforms for exposure or opportunities, and in turn to motivate others in rural settings by giving them assurance that even though you may be from the rural areas —this doesn’t mean you can not achieve or be anything in life. Many of these young rural girls fall prey to predators that exploit and take advantage of them and their circumstances, on top of all the other social ills that impact them daily due to their environment. The pageant is in the form of a talent show where young girls will be required to perform or present a cultural or traditional trait or skill to the judges during the event. These talents include but aren't limited to; Praise Singing (ukubonga/goboka), cooking traditional food or drinks, traditional dancing or singing, beadwork or even design of a cultural attire. The MRCC team together with its social partners have in the past weeks engaged in a Schools Activation Campaign, steered to bring about awareness to the social ills that young rural children and youth face –especially the rural girl. “ rural child I am here to tell you one thing... you’re enough, you’re enough because you’re rooted in rich history, culture and traditions, something many people can’t say they have. This rootedness makes you unique, it makes you different so embrace it, embrace your culture, be proud of who are and where you come from. And if you don’t know who you are, ask your elders and your family about where you’re from, learn your clan names and know your family praises, because it is this rich history that will guide you into becoming a better version of yourself not only for your family but also for all those around you and your community.” said uNkosazana Nomfundo Zibi during a visit to the Madoda Langa Lasembo Secondary School. On the 06 August 2022 a very successful inaugural Workshop was staged as the second phase in terms of the itinerary for this year’s festivities. There were speakers and special guests from all walks of life that attended to share their insight and wisdom on customs or traditional and cultural practices that young rural women and girls need to navigate this thing called life. The pageant is a program of the AmaHlubi Chairman’s Foundation established to not only empower, educate and celebrate rural women and girls but to bridge the age gap between -

Rural elderly women and young ladies as custodians of culture and traditions with the rural young girl to impart them with age-old cultural practices on a platform that is neutral and enables the exchange of dialogue between these three age groups. “Challenges and Opportunities in achieving gender equality and the empowerment of rural women and girls is critical to the attainment of the SDGs Agenda 2030 and Africa’s Agenda 2063. This is according to the Africa’s pre CSW62 consultations held in Addis Ababa in February 2018. CSW62 theme strengthens the African Union’s Constitutive Act which commit Africa to promote gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls as a pre-condition, without which the continent’s development goals and aspirations cannot and will not be realized. Women make up more than 50% of Africa’s population and 80% of them reside in rural areas. Over 60% are employment in rural areas in the agriculture sector.” UN Women. The official crowning of this young custodian of culture will be held on the 23 September 2022 which coincides with the 98th Isikhumbuzo SamaHlubi Heritage Commemorations to be held in Khayakhulu village, Rustenburg in the Moses Kotane Municipality area. Best believe that we’ll be there to cover this auspicious jamboree as history and most importantly —impact, will be made not only for the participants in this proudly rural initiative, but also for the attendees as well. Its time we focus all our energy, resources and efforts on the emboldening of the rural young girl, we are truly her last and only hope.

Southern Africa’s most loved arts festival is back with a bang after a 2 year sabbatical due to Covid-19. Artists from in and around South Africa descended on the historic town of Makhanda (previously known as Gramstown) to make things happen, reviews from this year’s staging have all been positive and tell a good story from attendees, participants and partners of this initiative for those that couldn't make it. We compiled for you some incredible moments in pictures from this year’s National Arts Festival.

Dynamite comes in small packages” is saying that best describes this talented young lady from Mogwase village in the Moses Kotane Municpality area of the North West province. A pioneer at a very young age, ambassador and role model for the youth and young girls from Rustenburg.

Q: You were recently the crowned the winner of Miss Teen Face of Rustenburg 2022, why did you decide to compete in this pageant?

BT: Pageantry has been a childhood dream, and having discovered that Rustenburg is the fourth most growing city in Africa, I wanted to catch in on the momentum through making a positive difference. Miss Teen Rustenburg enabled me and gave me a larger platform for my advocacy and my advocacy includes youth empowerment, skills development and transfer.

Q: We know that you’ve recently established a Foundation that seeks to empower young girls and give them renewed hope about their future, how else have you used your tittle to benefit others ever since you were crowned?

Q: You started Bahumi’s Bakes at the age of 15 and it has grown to become a well-run and known entity around the Rustenburg area, where do you see yourself in the next 5 years as a social entrepreneur? BT: Well my growth is all gratitude to my clientele, I couldn’t have done this without them in the past three years. And in the next five years I see Bahumi’s Bakes branching out of Rustenburg and expanding out into other areas of the North West because that will enable me to employ more youth, especially with our unemployment rate here in South Africa. So branch- ing out would really help in that case and will increase productivity in the business. As a skills-transfer —I also hope that I could help other aspiring bakers around through skills development programs.

Q: We know that you’ve recently established a Foundation that seeks to empower young girls and give them renewed hope about their future, how else have you used your tittle to benefit others ever since you were crowned?

BT: As Maya Angelou said “I come as one but I stand as a thousand” I knew from the day I was crowned that not only will my crown benefit me but it was for the benefit of my community, the people who supported me and carried me through. So from day one I have taken part in several charitable events and also visited ample of safe houses and orphanages. I also planted a seen in the rural child through taking part in several school tours, and I also avail myself for our community leaders in their respectful advocacies.

Q: What is your philosophy of life and what do you value most in life?

BT: My philosophy of life is that life isn’t made un- bearable by circumstances but rather it is unbearable because of lack of meaning and purpose, hence I want you to always have drive and goals and aspiration in life. And what I value more is the gift of life itself because every day being granted the opportunity to live is yet another opportunity to touch one’s life and yet another opportunity to leave a footprint that you were also once here.

Q: You started Bahumi’s Bakes at the age of 15 and it has grown to become a well-run and known entity around the Rustenburg area, where do you see yourself in the next 5 years as a social entrepreneur?

BT: Well my growth is all gratitude to my clientele, I couldn’t have done this without them in the past three years. And in the next five years I see Bahumi’s Bakes branching out of Rustenburg and expanding out into other areas of the North West because that will enable me to employ more youth, especially with our unemployment rate here in South Africa. So branch- ing out would really help in that case and will increase productivity in the business. As a skills-transfer —I also hope that I could help other aspiring bakers around through skills development programs.