Ubuntu Pathways and LifeLine South Africa are to benefit from this year’s SPAR Women’s Challenge in Gqeberha.
Gqeberha, South Africa (28 August 2025) – Ubuntu Pathways, an organisation that has been changing lives in Zwide for more than 25 years, has been announced as one of the beneficiaries of this year’s SPAR Women’s Challenge in Gqeberha.
The organisation is known for its cradle-to-career model, which supports orphans and vulnerable children through education, healthcare, and household programmes. At the heart of this is the Ubuntu School, which caters for learners from Grade R to Grade 8 and is currently expanding with the construction of a high school.
With over 100 staff members (most of them women), Ubuntu also places strong emphasis on female empowerment. In addition, it works with partner organisations to counsel women in distress and provide safe spaces for victims of gender-based violence (GBV).
“We work with the whole community, not only the children,” deputy principal Gcobani Zonke explained. “The focus of our programme very much aligns with that of SPAR.”
SPAR Eastern Cape advertising manager Roseann Shadrach said their support is directed towards organisations that are equally committed to fighting GBV.
“Organisations that are devoted to the fight will benefit from the Women’s Challenge until we feel we have made enough of an impact,” she said.
Ubuntu joins LifeLine South Africa as this year’s beneficiaries. LifeLine operates SPAR’s End GBV helpline, with the retailer funding infrastructure improvements and counsellor support. Community development supervisor Tommy Mokgotla highlighted the importance of this partnership.
“We are so happy to have SPAR on board to help us try to end GBV. These funds are vital to our marketing initiatives. For example, we are getting more people connecting with us through our Facebook page.”
He revealed that the helpline receives between 300 and 400 calls daily.
Related Stories
Street Lines 2026 Showcases the Best of South African Skateboarding
Benoni Community Raised an Army of Sarmies For Children in Need!“Unfortunately, the numbers are not going down. This is why we have to continue this fight.”
For Ubuntu, being chosen as a 2025 beneficiary came as a welcome surprise.
“It made our day and we are very, very thankful. It’s an absolute windfall as we never even applied for this,” Zonke said.
The R50,000 pledge will boost the school’s robotics and coding programme, ensuring learners have access to cutting-edge equipment. The school made headlines last year when its robotics team qualified for the World Robotics Olympiad in Turkey.
“We want to bridge the digital divide. Schools in our township don’t even have what we offer, so for us this programme it is very important,” Zonke added.
“This is very close to my heart because these children are solving real problems in the [technological] world in which we now live.”
The SPAR Women’s Challenge takes place on 27 September at Pollok Beach. To enter and support these organisations, visit www.sparwomenschallenge.co.za/gqeberha.
Sources: Supplied
Don’t ever miss the Good Things. Download the Good Things Guy App now on Apple or Google.
Do you have something to add to this story? Please share it in the comments or follow GoodThingsGuy on Facebook & Twitter to keep up to date with good news as it happens, or share your good news with us by clicking here or click the link below to listen to the Good Things Guy Podcast with Brent Lindeque – South Africa’s very own Good Things Guy. He’s on a mission to change what the world pays attention to, and he truly believes there’s good news around us. In the Good Things Guy podcast, you’ll meet these everyday heroes & hear their incredible stories:
Or watch an episode of Good Things TV below, a show created to offer South Africans balance in a world with what feels like constant bad news. We’re here to remind you that there are still so many good things happening in South Africa & we’ll leave you feeling a little more proudly South African.
https://youtu.be/bKE-xPczHnU
by 
