August is a month dedicated to celebrating the triumphant and tender spirit of women in South Africa. This month serves as an acknowledgement of the contribution of women towards the birth of a democratic South Africa. It is also a reminder that, although men are regarded as the heads of the households, women are the driving force with which societies prevail.

Women have been the springboards of community development and have contributed immensely towards inspiring change in lifestyles and breaking cultural stereotypes. These are the women who have saved many lives through teachings about HIV/AIDS/TB, Gender Based Violence, Human Rights, and leading other community upliftment initiatives under ‘Ripfumelo’, an HIV/AIDS/STI & TB Prevention and Care Programme for migrants, mobile populations, and communities affected by migration. These are mothers, grannies, aunties, and sisters that work selflessly in ensuring that migrants and the communities they live in are empowered to reduce their vulnerability to communicable diseases, abuse, and exploitation.

A recent project Monitoring and Evaluation visit by the Ripfumelo team to Hoedspruit and Malelane implementing sites set an exhibit of the changes that have taken place in the communities since the inception of the project. There has been a profound mental shift in behaviors and social norms as the team witnessed a change in how farmworkers engage freely on issues of HIV/AIDS, sex, testing, abuse, and labour exploitation.

Mpho Sentoe, a Condom Distributor at HTT shared how beneficiaries wait earnestly to receive condoms on the stipulated day as they have made personal commitments to never have unprotected sex following consistent dialogues about the dangers of unprotected sex. She also shared how brilliant and unashamed beneficiaries are to demonstrate proper condom usage to each other.

Change Agent (CA) Sibongile Mashele shared how she sustained minor injuries on her legs while assisting a Zimbabwean lady who was nearly raped when she refused to have sex with a man in exchange of a job. The lady ran to Sibongile, like many others that she engages with at the truck stops in Hoedspruit, and was assisted in reporting the case.

The team also witnessed a change in how CAs have created a conducive environment for beneficiaries to open up about their challenges and seek assistance. That was testament when the team arrived in Orlando, a small informal settlement in Komatipoort, where a woman who had just been assaulted by her husband approached Tira Uhanyile and Masisikumeni CAs for assistance and she was later taken to a place of safety along with her son.

In 2009 the International Organization for Migration (IOM) launched Ripfumelo Phase 1 through financial support from USAID/PEPFAR; a project targeted at labour migrants in the commercial agricultural sector and was implemented in the Vhembe and Mopani districts of the Limpopo province and Ehlanzeni district in Mpumalanga province. The project later progressed into Phase 11 and scaled up to reducing HIV and TB vulnerability amongst migrants and mobile populations and the communities affected by migration in South Africa, with a specific focus on selected districts in Mpumalanga, Limpopo, Gauteng and KwaZulu Natal provinces.

Women have played a pivotal role on different levels in seeing the success and sustainability of the project through the years. This is due to the strength and resilience bestowed in their hearts to shield, nurture and lead societies. The project has reached noticeable milestones and continues to break new frontiers through the dedication of the IOM Technical Staff, Implementing Partners, Changes Agents, and other relevant government and civil society partners.

To all the diligent women pumping the heartbeat of Hoedspruit Training Trust, CHoiCe Trust, Centre for Positive Change, Nkomazi Municipality, Masisukumeni Women’s Crisis Centre, AGRI-IQ , and many others from the districts, IOM and its partners PEPFAR and USAID, recognizes your hardwork, commitment, and passion in helping the organization build and promote healthy migrant communities.