The Walking Ladies of Bonteheuwel have a mission and that is to make their community a place where everyone can feel safe.
The Walking Ladies was established 15 years ago by Soraya Salie and have grown from a small group, walking the perimeters of Bonteheuwel to almost 80 members.
Today the organisation is involved in almost anything that pertains to the upliftment of the community.
Carmen Steyn from Walking Ladies says they are involved in anything that can make their community a better place. “We are involved in peace gardens, peace talks, empowering women and we march against gender-based violence. Our motto is to ‘Walk Talk and Inspire’ and it means we are not only walking around for nothing. Our community is the most important thing for us,” says Steyn.
There is no discrimination in their group.
“We regularly do exercises with the elderly, but we also go to schools to have talks. It doesn’t matter what religion you are, when you have the same goals as we do, you are welcome to join,” says Steyn.
Local ward councillor Angus McKenzie says he is probably the luckiest councillor around. “I am priviliged to work with this group of Bonteheuwel Walking Ladies, who every single day tries to make their community more safe, more attractive, more peaceful and more appealing. They have worked relentlessly over many years to keep the eldery in our community fit and active and making sure that they drive the peace agenda in the community. Every single day you will see them across our community, engaging people, helping people and just being there for people. It gives me great pleasure to partner with these women to build the community that we all want to see,” says McKenzie.
To see what the Walking Ladies are doing, visit their Facebook page.
