The loud and vibrant Annah Jonas, founder of the Makukhanye and Nominate a Child foundations, is a woman that is determined to bring change in the community of Bekkersdal.
I describe Annah Jonas as vibrant and loud because the moment she enters a room it changes from being dull to being a room filled with laughter. She is just your ordinary kasi girl that makes jokes about silly things but has passion for changing live.
It all started in a small kasi called Bekkersdal in 2019, a place she calls her home, a place that holds so many memories for Annah – a place that she urges the people in the community to stand up and fight to bring about change in their community.
She started hosting her first women’s event with a lady named Lesego Moseki whom she asked to join her in making a difference in the community and with that being her first event it became a success and the support she got from women living in Bekkersdal and surroundings was massive.
One can just tell by the passion she has in her eyes that making a difference in someone’s life is what she lives for. The world isn’t a friendly place especially for a girl that lost her mother at a very tender age and had to adjust to being raised by her grandfather in a small town. This goes to show that everyone has a story to tell.
Annah Jonas speaking at her foundation’s women empowerment event
Makukhanye Foundation empowers women and gives them an opportunity to be the drivers of their lives. It strives to help the struggling and less fortunate, hosting the imbokodo events that empower women and gives food and clothing donations.
In the Nominate a Child Foundation she requests that people nominate a child that could be in need of clothes and food for this coming Christmas and she will do what she does best and that is put a smile on that child’s face.
Jonas says they need about 20-30 children they can put a smile on their faces this Christmas and urges people of Bekkersdal to help her make it possible.
Her painful upbringing and love she has for children and women are what drive her to do this. “I’m in awe of women who go through so much in their daily lives but still come out strong”.
Annah strongly believes that making a change is now or never, “I strongly believe the world would be a better place if we all did our part in doing positive things, in changing people’s lives”, she concludes.
It is always a great opportunity for the dead writer to write about community builders, and I salute Annah Jonas who brings positivity in her community. She doesn’t take all the credit but thanks all her friends, her partner and Bishop in helping her make a difference in Bekkersdal.
By: Yolanda Gabisile “dead writer” Sibeko
