#WomensMonth: Upper Highway’s Tracy owns her own power

UPPER Highway, mother, businesswoman and community heart, Tracy Klokie has always felt a huge sense of social justice and has been involved in the NGO space in her personal capacity by either donating or assisting with fundraising.

ALSO READ: Local NPO creates colourful memories

When the Covid-19 pandemic hit at the end of March, her anxiety heightened as she noticed the hunger and desperation sky-rocket.

She said she could not be a bystander so she decided to change the status quo.

‘Compassion without action is just observation’ thus Hearts in Hands Food Bank NPO was born.

Since the start of lockdown, Klokie and her team have fed many families in the Embo area through her soup kitchen and she is working hand-in-hand with other NPOs to make a difference in other communities as well.

“Even though we cannot save the entire world no matter how much we may want to, what we are able to do is to effect change where we are with what we have. To connect the privileged in our community with the most vulnerable. My office is literally on the doorstep of Embo and I reside in the area so what better place to start,” she said.

In the past few months, Klokie said she has had awe-inspiring moments that have literally brought her to tears and to her knees.

One of the small acts that crept into her heart was when she read about a young Malawian man who lost his job during lockdown.

“His name is Joshua. He walked from Embo to Kloof to collect some bananas someone had in their garden. His family was so desperate and starving. I couldn’t sleep that night after reading this. I made contact with Joshua and his wife, Lucy and started helping them with food parcels. They have burrowed so far into my heart. Lucy now works for Hearts in Hands and this family has taught me so much about resilience and grace under fire.”

The quirky, empathetic, feisty and determined Klokie said she stands in her power as a woman and owns who she is unapologetically.

“I have a responsibility to my daughter and other young girls to teach them that everything they dream of is within their grasp. Dreams and goals have no expiry date. They deserve a seat at the table, and if it’s not given to you then build your own table,” said the passionate Klokie.

The wife and mother has two other businesses that keeps her on her toes.

“So down time and time with my family is very important to me. We love spending time at our beach house with family and friends. I also love gardening, interior decor and I’m an avid reader,” she said.

Klokie said she is married to an incredible husband, Marius and they have a 12-year-old daughter and a 21-year-old son.

She told the Highway Mail that her goal, besides feeding the community, is to focus on upskilling and educating local youth and creating dialogue between trained youth seeking employment and local upper highway businesses.

“My training company, Khwezi Developments is in the process of actively recruiting youth from Embo for our first pilot learnership project for business administration learnerships.

“She said the project is fully funded by a host employer and training will be brought right to Embo.

Klokie added that she wants to go one step further thereafter and connect learners who are seeking employment once qualified with employers in the area.

This way, Klokie said they will be able to effect meaningful change and impact in the community.

“Imagine the change we can create. Not through continual handouts but by giving youth a hand up. Hearts in Hands will continue to feed and offer support at the same time to our community in Embo via partnerships we have forged with local Embo based NPOs who walk alongside us on this journey.”

Caxton Local Media Covid-19 reporting

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At the time of going to press, the contents of this feature mirrored South Africa’s lockdown regulations.

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