A programme started by a woman determined to give back is helping these girls achieve more than what they ever believed was possible for themselves.
Cape Town, South Africa (14 August 2026) – Having the support of someone who has gone through what you are going through can make a lasting impact.
In the Cape Flats, 52 young school-going ladies are living through trauma, poverty, and gangsterism. Some of them are orphans; others live in households that barely survive on SASSA grants.
That person who is in their corner – the one showing them that the future is worth fighting for – is Charlene. Thanks to her, these girls are discovering that their circumstances do not have to define their future.
The Pathfinder Girls Programme, developed by Charlene and supported by The Angel Network SA, is helping Grade 8 to 12 learners build confidence, improve academically and dream about better futures.
The programme was born from Charlene’s own experiences growing up in Bonteheuwel, where she witnessed both hardship and the incredible impact of kindness through her mother’s example of helping those in need. Today, she pours that same compassion into uplifting young women from communities where opportunities are out of reach.
The girls in the programme come from across the Cape Flats, and they face tremendous hardship. They show up despite this, and they work hard to make the most of every opportunity. That is what they have learned to do from their mentor, Charlene.
“Zenith, who was told she would never make it past Grade 1 because of her learning difficulty, has jumped from a level 1 in March to a level 3 now! Kayla has gone from a level 2 in Maths to a level 4. Codie has jumped three whole levels to a level 5. She is consistently achieving between 80–90%.” shares The Angel Network, celebrating how the Pathfinder Programme has helped these young ladies.
Alongside one-on-one tutoring received through the programme, the girls part in life skills development, receive mental health support, build friendships and most importantly, gain the confidence to believe in themselves. They come together every eight weeks and enjoy two camps each year, where they can be in a safe, supportive environment. Many have gone on to become head girls, improve their academic performance and discover strengths or skills they may never have realised they had.
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Temu Refused to Leave His Poisoned Dog's Side and Love Won the Day!Through CBD Helping Hands, Charlene runs five feeding schemes, a survivors’ support group for women, a seniors’ club and a Reading Room where primary school children can strengthen their literacy while receiving a nutritious meal. Her long-term dream is to establish a safe house for vulnerable girls and a skills centre where adults can continue learning and improve their employment opportunities.
The Angel Network has proudly supported Charlene’s programme. The organisation helps to connect generous South Africans with projects that create lasting change. For more than 10 years it has worked alongside communities across the country, focusing on ‘giving people a hand up rather than a handout.’
Currently, the organisation is rallying support for the programme in order to help meet the needs of the 52 young ladies it supports. That is where ordinary people like you and I can make a wonderful difference.
A donation of R1500 is a lot to ask for, but the difference it makes is everlasting. Every donation – from those who can afford to give – provides one Pathfinder girl with all the stationery she needs for the 2027 school year, along with a small personal treat like deodorant, lip gloss or a hair accessory.
If you would like to show your support, you can donate by following this link. Your contribution helps equip another young woman with the tools she needs to believe in and chase her dreams.
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