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.

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Thabo Mashapa

I hope to invest in myself

Thabo has had to fight to get an education, and although he has not received a ‘conventional’ education, he is gaining knowledge in other valuable ways.

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Sarah Bennetts

It's not just a man's world

Sarah’s journey to embracing womanhood has taught her that she is free to be unique – and to make choices that empower not only her, but her family as well.

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Joao Pedro

I don't know where to place myself

Joao Pedro was born in South Africa to parents who are immigrants, and although he is proud of his Angolan-South African heritage, he still finds it hard to define his identity.

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Residences were only for white students

When I applied to Rhodes University I was told there was no accommodation for me – their residences were for white students only. Read more about Residences were only for white students
Mokgadi

Continuing her father’s legacy

Mokgadi started beekeeping almost by accident. Being a black woman in a white male-dominated industry has not been easy, but she is determined to make it work.

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I could have been trafficked that day

A narrow escape from being trafficked 24 years ago changed Blessing’s life forever. As an anti-human trafficking activist, she is now directly involved in making sure other girls and women are able to return to their homes safely.

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I did not think of it as prostitution

Growing up, Hilda’s family struggled financially, but when she fell pregnant in high school, things became harder. After dropping out of school, she decided to become a sex worker to provide for her family.

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They called me the little bastard

Blackie’s identity has been questioned from the moment he was born. He was born to white parents in apartheid South Africa, but he appeared coloured. His appearance made him a target for ridicule and cruelty.

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My mother made it look easy

My mother made it look easy

Many of us grow up thinking our mothers are supermoms, but it’s only when you become a parent yourself that you begin to really understand the sacrifices that make mothers real-life heroes.

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Motherhood brought me home

Motherhood brought with it a gift of love, but it also brought Morongoa necessary, tough lessons about life. When she became a mother, she began to understand her mother’s perspective. Read more about Motherhood brought me home
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Pregnant at 17: All I wanted was to be free

Falling pregnant at age seventeen seemed to be the end of Nontokozo’s world. Her dreams had to be put on hold, and a degree seemed like a distant possibility. Read more about Pregnant at 17: All I wanted was to be free
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One can be free and still be a slave

Moss Ntlha reflects on life as an unfree person under the oppressive system of apartheid. He also offers encouragement for how to live fully as a free person in a democratic South Africa.

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