This month, we are shining the spotlight on some of the GWF leaders making an impact in their communities. We are so proud of these GWF staff and alumni, who are displaying leadership in different but equally profound ways. We hope you enjoy reading their stories as much as we've enjoyed being part of their journeys.
Accolade Ubisi, digital and multimedia practitioner at SANParks
Now in her 30s, Accolade Ubisi first crossed paths with GWF CEO Kate Groch and Maureen “Gogo Mo” Groch as a child. Her parents worked at Londolozi and lived in the village of Lillydale, outside the Sabi Sand Game Reserve.
After she graduated from the University of Limpopo, Accolade interned at SANParks before joining GWF’s media hub. It was there that she discovered her love for digital storytelling – but the place and its people also profoundly shaped her worldview.
“GWF taught me that we need to draw from the wisdom of the elders and the wisdom of our roots – who we are and where we come from. We need to actively listen, and listen to hear. And listening will, in turn, shape the decisions and the impact we make. I also learned to believe in my power as a rural black woman who can shift anything in the world. Kate and Gogo instilled in me a belief in our superpower as women.
"In my community, I serve on the water committee, helping to safeguard access to this scarce resource. With GWF student support coordinator Mercyful Mathebula-Lekhuleni, I also assist young girls with their university applications.
"Also, near my house is a little stream, and I noticed that people were dumping there. This is the same water that our community relies on to irrigate their plants during winter. So I fenced it off. Then, whenever I saw someone trying to dump things there, I would explain to them why they shouldn’t. I spoke to them about cholera and suggested alternative ways to dispose of their waste."
