Articles – Heartlines

Suicide prevention: Rethinking silence

Jabulani’s story taught me something I wish I had learned sooner: mental health struggles aren't always obvious.

How do we celebrate our young girls, not at the expense of the boy child?

The question of celebrating young girls without sidelining boys is a hot topic. And it deserves real thought, because the last thing we want is to solve one problem by creating another.

My womanhood has been defined by resilience, but I want more

In every South African home there is a story that whispers across generations. A story of women who’ve had to endure and show their resilience even when they were weary to the bone.

The quiet strength of today’s youth

South Africa’s youth are resilient, vibrant and full of potential. But beneath that resilient spirit lies a generation grappling with silent struggles. We asked some young people how they still show kindness and empathy towards others and themselves.

Playing Dad film premiere

The premiere of Playing Dad, the seventh installment in its Fathers Matter film series, brought together cast and crew, research and development contributors, corporate leaders and media partners. The evening was a celebration and a moment to reflect on the role of fathers in children's lives.

Lessons from a taxi accountant

If you’ve ever sat in the front seat of a South African taxi, you probably didn’t plan on becoming a part-time cashier with zero training and a deep fear of being yelled at by strangers. Welcome to taxi accounting – the informal financial system that makes a stokvel treasurer's job look like a holiday.

How to have fewer hands on your finances

Money. It’s never really yours, is it? By the time your salary hits your account, it already has an array of fingerprints on it. So how do you take back control of your finances when it feels like they have become a communal fund?

The deeper aspect of leadership that is rarely talked about

It’s very important to check in on others, but what happens when their answer doesn’t match their reality? Leadership is learning to read between the lines and moving into tough conversations, shared Tshepo Sithole at a recent youth leadership training.

Hopeville reminds us that our actions still matter

In a world that can feel like it’s spiralling out of control, Hopeville reminds us that our actions still matter and small steps of bravery can make a real difference.

Tips to encourage stigma-free communication about mental health

Despite many of us becoming more open to the idea of sharing our personal experiences, there’s still a stigma surrounding mental health. One way we continue to perpetuate the stigma around mental health is through how we speak about those who have mental health conditions.

Safeguarding vulnerable people remains a priority for Heartlines

Steven Wetton from Give a Child a Family, Oak Foundation's safeguarding partner in Southern Africa, recently ran a safeguarding session at Heartlines to help us continue ensuring the safety and well-being of the people we work with.

Faith leaders must unite in ending GBV

What role can faith leaders play in ending GBV? We need faith leaders to make a faith stance and a bold faith grounded declaration that their faith traditions, customs, practices and beliefs do not condone and allow gender-based violence.