Oshadi Mangena

Contact information: phone: 27.73.233.2133; e-mail: mangena@mweb.co.za

Organization: The Pitseng Trust was established in 1998.

Organization’s biography: The Pitseng Trust was started by women from historically subordinated communities to support the emancipation of women in South Africa.  Through grantmaking and training, its vision is to help empower women so they rise from subordination and low economic status to be full participants in the broader economic, socio-political and cultural life of the country.

“Pitseng” refers to a tri-legged pot used by women to cook food.  Most times, the food is made from simple and scarce ingredients, yet entire communities survive on it.  Thus, Pitseng is a symbol of strength and survival.

Mott grants through 2009: Four grants totaling $345,000 since 2000.

What Pitseng Trust is doing during the World Cup: Earlier, we encouraged our grantees to target the 2010 World Cup as a tool for economic empowerment.  Respectively, two groups produced the following: textiles and beaded craft items and numerous emblems with the colors of Bafana Bafana, South Africa’s national soccer team.  They also made beaded “vuvuzela,” South African blowing horns, and many South African flags.  These articles sell like “hot-cakes” and provide income for women.

My most meaningful place in South Africa: “The Mphumalanga conservation areas hold special meaning for me. Although these areas are preserved for tourists interests, they are designed by nature. These are potholes, carved by water flowing over rocks.  There are the Three Rondavels* – mountains shaped by nature. When you look at them, they make you feel that no human being can design something like that; only God the creator of all things. God’s window is a range of high hills. Mountain-like, they are clothed in high-growth vegetation, which attracts light mist the whole day. Reflections on the deep slope at the foot of the hills and the ever-running stream of water paints a sky blue color that gives the whole scenery a magnificent, glorious effect. There are also the Echo Caves, natural caves that echo every sound; sounds not made by any human but by nature alone. I love all of this raw beauty.”

Organization contact info:

Heerengracht Bldg.
5^th Floor, Room 506/8
87 De Korte Street
Braamfontein 2001
South Africa

Phone: 27.11.403.1950/2
E-mail: pitseng@tiscali.co.za
Web site: www.pitsengtrust.co.za