Mary Lant - Empowering and uplifting vulnerable women and unemployed youth in South Africa

I speak with Mary Lant, who works for an award-winning NGO in South Africa, called Lesedi la Batho.

Mary Lant is a trained fashion designer and digital marketer from South Africa, who spent several years working and traveling abroad as a costume designer for resort theatres. Through cultural immersion, she became passionate about community upliftment through promotion of artisanal craft and storytelling – leading her to get involved with a small yet powerful, award-winning NGO in South Africa, Lesedi la Batho. For the last 10 years, Lesedi la Batho has worked to improve the lives of underserved youth and vulnerable women through various upliftment programs.

Mary manages online presence, develops partnerships, creates policies, oversees volunteering and has been involved in the design and implementation of various projects including a fair-trade brand, sponsorship for young disadvantaged children in day care, and a woman empowerment program “Ikemele” – empowering woman from abusive backgrounds to financial independence. With the support of the team, she has raised over R3.3 million ($235 000) through various initiatives, including a multi-year grant with the United Nations to reduce gender-based violence in South Africa.

Gender-based violence is a tragic endemic in South Africa, exacerbated by the strains and restrictions of the COVID-19 era. Since moving to the US in March 2020, continuing her role with Lesedi la Batho remotely, she has become passionate about creating conversation channels between North America and Southern Africa to foster understanding and support for the important work being done on the ground in the fight against GBV.

When not advocating for social change, Mary is a creative, avid reader, dog mom, beach lover and wife.

Say hello to Mary on Linkedin. And support the community upliftment programs of Lesedi la Batho by visiting their website.

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