Byline: Kelebogile Masemola

08 March 2022

#Hike4Change is an initiative by Voice It In Action, a non-profit organisation.

The organisation’s objective is to create awareness on various societal ills, to create opportunities for people (young and old) and to ensure actual change through community participation while raising funds to continue the great work done by Voice It In Action, through monthly hikes on selected dates.

The organisation aims at curbing the heightened violent culture witnessed in our communities with the key focus on Gender-Based Violence through innovative solutions like campaigns, programs and services.

Voice It In Action President, Kgothatso Moloto from Eersterust said that a safer, cleaner and sustainable community was possible through combined efforts.

“Humankind needs to stand against violence anywhere and everywhere, and also take action when exposed to it; non-violent action, but preventative to reduce this problem,” Moloto said.

Their plan is to collaborate with various entities (individuals, groups, organisations, businesses including government departments) to achieve their objectives by hiking, raising funds and the quarter specific targets in South Africa.

“Hike4Change is an initiative where we will be collecting school shoes for the less privileged, creating innovative educational solutions, and assisting people with disabilities too.

“Each quarter we will take on a new project,” he said.

Members in other countries can support the objectives for South Africa by ensuring similar drives in their countries based on the #Hike4Change calendar.

Moloto said the organisation has recorded over 187 activities in South Africa of which three were international.

“The work done in the fight against gender-based violence by Voice It In Action has revealed the multi-dimensional challenges such as unemployment, poverty and inequality within Covid-19 pandemic which enabled us to work with various entities in South Africa and beyond South Africa’s geographic boundries,” he said.

The first quarter hiking will take place at Moreletakloof nature reserve on Saturday, March 27, which will create awareness for #NoMboboschoolshoes in 2022 in South Africa; #BoxKart and #1000Toys4Education.

“The second quarter’s hiking dates are planned for 30 April and the end of June where we will be kicking off the #CleanSASchools to better the education environment and #ImtheChange projects.

“Further on in the year we will do a #67MinutesofChange, #CleanSAHospitalsandClinics which is our facilities and our homes; #1MillionTs against gender-based violence; #PADSA where we will collaborate with schools to donate pads to young girls as well as the #MentalHealthMatters where we want to educate people on where to visit their nearest psycho-social support hub or centre,” he said.

For more information on how you can be a part of the change, visit @VoiceItInAction on all social media platforms or visit hike4change@vii.org.za.

“We want to be the voice in the community and to assist in every way possible,” Moloto said.