Women’s Day Marked with Human Trafficking Intervention Workshop

The Lesego Tau Education Foundation
(LTEF), in collaboration with the Aid Health Foundation (AHF), commemorated Women’s Day with a impactful and engaging Human Trafficking Intervention Workshop for the Girls Act Programme at the Kopanong Community Centre in Dobsonville, Soweto on Saturday, August 9.

Against the backdrop of Women’s Month, the event highlighted that while South Africa has made meaningful strides toward gender equality, too many women and girls remain vulnerable to exploitation, particularly through human trafficking, one of the most pressing threats to their safety, dignity, and future.

The workshop was anchored in four core objectives:

• Raising awareness of the hidden traits and signs of human trafficking.

• Educating and building resilience among girls.

• Empowering young women with knowledge of their rights and safe decision-making.

• Creating a safe space for dialogue, healing, and survivor testimony.

Through interactive discussions, real-life case studies, and survivor-led storytelling, participants gained practical tools to identify and avoid danger while building the confidence to advocate for themselves and others in their communities.

LTEF Project Manager Makhotso Motswana stressed that protecting girls’ futures requires action beyond awareness: “This is not just about warning our young women about danger,” Tau said. “It’s about giving them the skills, the voice, and the support network to claim their space in society without fear. Every girl deserves to grow up knowing her worth and living her potential.”

“Before today, I did not realise how easily trafficking could happen to someone like me,” said Gugulethu Ndlovu, a Girls Act Programme workshop attendee. “The workshop opened my eyes and gave me the courage to speak up if I ever see something wrong. Now I know my rights, and I feel stronger to protect myself and my friends.”

The day’s success was bolstered by key partners, including the City of Johannesburg Sports and Recreation Department and Nkosi Attorneys, whose contributions ensured the programme’s maximum reach and impact. Their involvement demonstrated the strength of collective action in protecting young women’s lives.

As the workshop concluded, one message resonated: ending human trafficking demands united, sustained effort. For the young women in attendance, the session was more than educational, it was a lifeline, instilling self-belief, resilience, and hope.

In the spirit of Women’s Month, LTEF reaffirmed its unwavering commitment to stand with, protect, and uplift every girl, ensuring she can live free from fear and full of possibility.