DO MORE Recognised for Advancing Women's Empowerment in Communities

The DO MORE FOUNDATION has been honoured with the Empowerment of Women in the Community Award at the Africa and Middle East Gender Mainstreaming Awards, recognising the NPO’s sustained efforts to advance gender equity and empower women across the communities it serves.

The recognition comes during International Women’s Month, a time dedicated to celebrating the achievements of women while accelerating progress toward gender equality. The award acknowledges the DO MORE FOUNDATION’s community-rooted programmes that support women not just as beneficiaries but as leaders and change-makers.

Women leading change in early childhood development

Across its flagship early childhood development (ECD) collective action model, Everyone Gets to PLAY (EGTP), women play a central role in shaping and delivering impact.

More than 92% of ECD principals and practitioners engaged across the programme’s eight implementation sites are women, reflecting the gendered nature of South Africa’s early childhood care sector. EGTP intentionally builds on this reality by strengthening women’s agency, skills and economic opportunities while supporting the vital services they provide to young children.

At the heart of this model are Young Child Forums, community-led platforms where local stakeholders collaborate to improve services for children and families in line with the National Integrated ECD Policy. Women play a leading role in these forums, helping shape priorities around access to nutrition, early learning, health services, parenting support, and economic opportunities.

In communities such as Nkomazi (Mpumalanga), Worcester (Western Cape) and Pongola (KwaZulu-Natal), women have chaired every Young Child Forum since their inception, demonstrating the critical leadership role women play in advancing community wellbeing.

Building skills, economic opportunity and community resilience

The DO MORE FOUNDATION also invests significantly in building the capacity and economic resilience of women working in the early childhood sector.

Each year, at least 500 women practitioners receive training in early childhood education, business management, and advocacy, while 100 women ECD centre owners are supported to access funding, grants or infrastructure improvements. In addition, at least half of new income-generating opportunities created through the programme, such as community gardens, kitchens and educational resource production, are led by women.

Beyond economic empowerment, the work also connects women to essential social resources, including health and nutrition services, educational opportunities, and supportive community networks. These connections strengthen families and contribute to broader community resilience.

Community partnerships drive last impact

Through partnerships with communities, government and the private sector, the DO MORE FOUNDATION continues to build more inclusive and equitable environments where women and children can thrive.

The award further highlights the role community-driven initiatives play in contributing to broader development goals, including the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, particularly those focused on gender equality, quality education and reduced inequalities.

As South Africa marks International Women’s Month, this recognition affirms the power of locally led action and partnerships in creating lasting systems change. It ensures women are empowered not only to participate in development, but to lead it.