Design26 Foundation

16/06/2026

🇿🇦 YOUTH DAY 2026 | HONOURING THE PAST, EMPOWERING THE FUTURE 🇿🇦

Today, we remember the courage of the youth of 16 June 1976 who stood against injustice and fought for their right to quality education and a better future. Their bravery became a turning point in South Africa's history and remains a powerful reminder that the voices of young people can change a nation.
While we celebrate how far we have come, we also acknowledge that many young people still face challenges such as unemployment, poverty, trauma, violence, lack of opportunities, and limited access to skills development.
At Design26 Pty Ltd and Design26 Foundation, we believe that every young person deserves the opportunity to discover their potential, restore their dignity, and build a future filled with purpose.
Through sewing skills development, entrepreneurship training, mentorship, upcycling initiatives, and community restoration programmes, we work to transform challenges into opportunities and empower youth to become creators, innovators, and leaders within their communities.
Today, we honour the legacy of those who came before us by continuing the work of building a South Africa where no young person is left behind.
✨ A skill can change a life.
✨ An opportunity can change a future.
✨ A restored young person can change a community.
Happy Youth Day, South Africa.
"The youth of today are not just the leaders of tomorrow—they are the change-makers of today."
YouthEmpowerment Entrepreneurship SewingSkills CommunityDevelopment CapeFlats MitchellsPlain EducationMatters RestoringHope CreatingOpportunities NoYouthLeftBehind SouthAfrica 🇿🇦🖤💚💛❤️💙

15/06/2026

02/06/2026

At Design26 Foundation, we believe that empowering entrepreneurs goes beyond teaching sewing skills, it also means equipping them with the knowledge they need to build sustainable and successful businesses.

Today, our beneficiaries had the privilege of participating in an informative session presented through our partnership with .

The topic covered was an Overview of the Consumer Protection Act (CPA), focusing on how the Act protects consumers, certain businesses, and how it impacts suppliers.

This is an incredibly important subject for aspiring entrepreneurs. Understanding the CPA helps small business owners operate transparently, build trust with customers, and ensure they comply with their legal responsibilities. It also empowers them to understand their own rights as consumers when purchasing goods and services from larger suppliers.

Knowledge is power, and having access to this type of legal guidance gives our beneficiaries a stronger foundation as they begin their entrepreneurial journeys.

We are deeply grateful to ENS for the valuable support they continue to provide. Their contribution extends beyond our beneficiaries and has also been invaluable to us as a small business, particularly in areas such as labour law, consumer protection, and intellectual property matters.

Partnerships like these help strengthen small businesses, create opportunities, and build more informed and resilient entrepreneurs.

Thank you, ENS, for investing in the growth and success of our community.

13/05/2026

In Suraya's recent interview with Behind the Voice with Stan⁠, Stan asked me what keeps her going and what motivates her to wake up every day and continue serving women in her community, even during difficult seasons.
Her answer was simple.

There are days when the pressure feels heavy. Days when she feel exhausted, misunderstood, discouraged, or even ready to give up. But she remind herself that purpose is bigger than emotion.

The women we serve still need opportunities. They still need hope, skills, support, and someone who believes in their potential.

And her recipe has always been:
Get up.
Get dressed.
Show up.

Not every day feels inspiring. Not every day feels successful. But consistency, faith, and showing up, even on the hard days, is what keeps purpose alive. Because sometimes leadership is not about having all the answers. Sometimes it’s simply about refusing to stop showing up for people who believe in your vision.

05/05/2026

Last week’s induction was a powerful reminder that transformation doesn’t start with opportunity, it starts with a decision.

We spoke to our beneficiaries about something simple, yet often overlooked: getting up, getting dressed, and showing up. Because before skills are learned and opportunities are created, there has to be a mindset shift. And that shift is anchored in one thing, your Why.

When you understand your Why, discipline becomes easier. Showing up becomes intentional. Growth becomes personal. Your Why becomes the fuel that drives you beyond circumstances and closer to a future you choose for yourself.

At Design26 Foundation, this work has never been about running a sewing programme to tick boxes or secure funding. It’s about igniting purpose. It’s about restoring dignity. It’s about equipping young women to see beyond limitation and step into empowerment.

Seeing these young girls rise beyond what they thought was possible, that is my Why. Knowing that they may not have to endure even half of the struggles I faced, that is my purpose. And that purpose continues to shape what success truly means to me.

This is more than training. This is impact. This is change. This is building futures, one decision, one skill, one Why at a time.

Design26Foundation

01/05/2026

May... We be the hope our community deserves.

No one is going to save you, you have to get up, get dressed and show up.

27/04/2026

Will we ever be free unless we deal with the past trauma of fighting to be free.

23/04/2026

Today we welcomed our second intake of beneficiaries from across the Cape Flats. Young women who arrived carrying more than bags, they came carrying hardship, hope, pressure, and the dream of a better tomorrow.

As I stood in front of them, I saw pieces of my own story. I saw courage in their eyes for simply showing up. I saw faith that this programme could be the key that opens a new door.

That moment reminded me that this cannot be just another skills programme. It must be a pathway to dignity, opportunity, and real change.
Some may stumble along the way, but every day I will continue to guide those willing to walk the journey.

My greatest success will never be measured in money, but in how many young women leave here stronger, fed, employed, and believing in themselves again, because I showed up