Stories
When we share our stories, understanding, empathy and trust grow. Our relationships improve and we get a stronger sense of community. At Heartlines, we’ve seen how story-sharing has impacted and connected thousands of people beyond anything we could have imagined. Here are some of those stories.
Do you have a story that everyone needs to hear? We want to hear it! Share your story here.
All stories
Learning and loving through friendship
Justine and Ivy have decades between them, but their bond is made strong by mutual respect and love.
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Storytelling changes the perception of the foreigner
As a foreign national moving to South Africa, Pastor Stephen Mzee has not had the easiest life. But he knows the power of storytelling in shaping perceptions of “the other.”
My eating disorder is al baie lank deel van my lewe
Amanda vertel oor haar stryd met eating disorders, wat na daarna toe gelei het en haar daaglikse geveg om dit te oorwin.
Story-sharing can change a young person’s life
Nathan Carolissen shares about overcoming issues of identity as a young person, and he reflects on how the storytelling process has impacted the lives of the young people in his youth group.
A lot of people can’t relate to how apartheid affected Coloured people
Growing up under the apartheid regime, René recalls how her own family was almost torn apart because of different skin tones.
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My journey of growth
I got called names like “kwerekwere” because I couldn’t speak or understand any of the South African languages.
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Overcoming prejudice at work and in sports
The journey across the racial divide to shared empathy has been – and still is – a difficult and complex one, but stories like Zikisa’s and Maqubela's give us hope.
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I didn't want to be a statistic
"I've got to make the decision, do I want to be a statistic, or do I want to be there for my girls?" Tracy and her daughters share their courageous story of leaving a home filled with abuse and violence.
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Arlene's triumph over tragedy
Arlene August tragically lost both parents as a teenager – a loss that impacted her even more after she got married.
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Black Twitter found my father in 24 hours
Sara-Jayne King tells us about how her mother gave her up for adoption in England and upon her return to South Africa, told everyone she was dead. She also tells us how Black Twitter helped her find her biological father in 24 hours.
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Cecilia's triumph against cancer
Cecilia's battle with cancer was tough. Just when she thought it was over, the cancer recurred, and she had to have a mastectomy.
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