The Collen Mashawana Foundation has launched its Women’s Month campaign by pledging to donate wheelchairs every week in August to women living with mobility impairments. Image: AI generated.
Women's Month
1Min
South Africa
Collen Mashawana Foundation marks Women’s Month with weekly wheelchair donations
The Collen Mashawana Foundation has launched its Women’s Month campaign by pledging to donate wheelchairs every week in August to women living with mobility impairments, recognising their resilience and promoting greater inclusion and dignity.
As South Africa begins Women’s Month, the Collen Mashawana Foundation has announced a month-long initiative aimed at supporting women living with disabilities through weekly wheelchair donations.
In a statement on Saturday, 1 August 2026, the Foundation said Women’s Month is an opportunity to celebrate the achievements, courage and resilience of women while renewing the country's commitment to equality, dignity and inclusion.
The Foundation reflected on the historic Women's March of 9 August 1956, when more than 20,000 women marched against apartheid pass laws. It paid tribute to struggle icons including Lilian Ngoyi, Helen Joseph, Rahima Moosa and Sophia Williams-De Bruyn, whose leadership demonstrated the power of women to drive social change.
This year's campaign places a particular focus on women living with disabilities, acknowledging the challenges they continue to face while recognising their contributions to their families and communities.
According to the Foundation, women with mobility impairments continue to overcome both physical and societal barriers, proving that disability does not limit their ability to lead, inspire and make a meaningful impact.
To honour their resilience, the Foundation will distribute wheelchairs to deserving beneficiaries every week throughout August. The initiative is intended to restore dignity, promote independence and improve access to opportunities for women who rely on mobility assistance.
The Foundation said it hopes the campaign will encourage greater awareness of the importance of creating a society where women living with disabilities are fully included, respected and empowered.
It also called on South Africans to use Women’s Month as an opportunity to recommit themselves to advancing equality and ensuring that every woman, regardless of her circumstances or abilities, has the chance to live with dignity and reach her full potential.
The Foundation concluded by paying tribute to women who continue to persevere in the face of adversity, saying their courage and determination remain an inspiration to communities across the country.
