Making Change highlights people and initiatives making a positive impact in South Africa, including Ayanda and Fight With Insight, who are empowering Hillbrow’s youth through sport, mentorship, and educational programmes.
Johannesburg, South Africa (14 October 2025) – In a city often defined by its challenges, this initiative is flipping the narrative. It’s all in the name, Making Change SA, a platform created by TV producer Liz Dahl and cameraman Matthew Brink, seeks to spotlight the good happening in South Africa, showcasing people who are actively making a difference. Their mission is to tell stories that inspire and remind viewers that hope thrives everywhere.
The team’s latest feature centres on Ayanda Mulaudzi, a young woman who grew up in Hillbrow. Through the Fight With Insight boxing gym, Ayanda found a sanctuary where young people could discover their potential.
Fight With Insight serves as more than just a boxing gym, but a second home for the city’s youth. Offering boxing, netball, soccer, tutoring, running programs, computer labs, a library, and cooking lessons, the centre is designed to empower young people through sport, education, and life skills. Ayanda, who began coaching in grade 11, describes herself as a mentor and sister to more than 200 children who visit the centre.
“I started being a coach when I was in grade 11. It really did change my life. I didn’t have a voice, so I found my voice within coaching.”
It is pretty clear that Making Change SA uses its platform to celebrate individuals and communities who are making change.
“For us, it was important to tell the story of a young black girl making a difference,” Liz explains. “We wanted to show that children are interested, inspired, and capable of leadership, even in communities where challenges often dominate the conversation.”
Matthew has spent over a decade filming for news outlets and brings a unique lens to tell these stories.
“When you meet these people on the ground, you see their lives unfold authentically. You capture real connections. Whether it’s coaching a punch, sharing a meal, or supporting one another. It becomes effortless to translate that onto the screen.”
Herman High Learners Help Turn Hermanus Pink for Pauline!
Help Pharos Give Children a Brighter Start to the New School YearLiz notes that the production’s strength lies in its ability to blend storytelling with community impact.
“That’s how we are drawn to these stories, they reflect the true spirit of a community coming together.”
Making Change SA relies on collaboration, with volunteers across the media industry donating their time to capture these stories. This dedication allows the platform to focus solely on the heart of each narrative, ensuring it resonates with audiences both locally and beyond.
Through Ayanda’s story, Making Change SA demonstrates that heroes are not always out of reach, but live right in our neighbourhoods.
“Your heroes are right around the corner,” Matthew emphasised. “They could be your neighbour. They could be feeding you. They could be trading you. They could be vaccinating your dogs. Even, in some cases, if you’re a hurt person, there’s another hurt person out there looking to help or inspire you. The world isn’t as dark as we often think.”
by 
