Inside the programme for the 27th Empowering Boys workshop

The programme for AwqafSA Women's Fund's 27th Empowering Boys workshop — set for Saturday 24 October 2026 at Henley Business School Africa in Johannesburg, from 10:00 to 15:00 — shows the breadth of people this work brings together.

The day opens with remarks from H.E. Ayşegül Kandaş, Founder of AwqafSA Women's Fund and Founder of Phakamisa Turco Global, and Jon Foster-Pedley, Dean of Henley Business School Africa.

Short talks, big questions

At the heart of the programme is a series of five-minute empowerment sessions, hosted by MC Lindiwe Gagela, Founder of RiseWomen. Session titles include:

• My Journey from Alexandra to Henley — Muziwethu Zwane, CEO of Rays of Hope
• From Victim to Victor — Kathleen Baba Vundla, Founder of Minds Transform Lives Foundation and GBV activist
• The Long-Term Effects of Bullying for Young Men — Thabo Limema, ABSA, Member of the National Council on GBVF
• Why Is Empowerment of the Boychild Important? — Prof. Mbulelo Dyasi, Executive Director of SANERELA+
• Substance Use Awareness — Tyrone du Preez, Founder of KCCC Foundation
• What If Everything We Teach Boys About Being Men Is Wrong? — Pontsho Pilane, Shout-It-Now
• Lessons from the Inner City: Promoting Positive Peer Culture Through Boxing — Luke Lamprecht, Founder of Fight with Insight
• Character Counts: Timeless Values for Becoming a Good Man — Dr Jameel James Asani, WISER, Wits
• Building a Generation of Boys Who Respect, Protect and Stand Against GBV — Peter Mahani, Adopt-a-School, Cyril Ramaphosa Foundation

Beyond the talks

After a networking lunch with the speakers, the afternoon turns practical: a financial literacy session with Khayakazi Madlavu, Financial Wellness Specialist at Nedbank, followed by an art session led by Shweta Kapur, Founder Director of Shanaya Rising.

Photographs from AwqafSA Women's Fund workshops are shared on Instagram at @AwqafSAWomensFund.