“The community needs more women like Susan Rammekwa. Women who want to change the community for the better and give hope to the hopeless,” said Siphumle Mdutshane.
On Tuesday, 4 December, the community gathered at the Tshepang Programme for Orphaned and Vulnerable Children, to throw a surprise party for Susan Rammekwa, founder of the Programme.
This party was held to honour and celebrate Susan for her significant role in empowering and uplifting the community of Princess informal settlement.
The venue was elegantly decorated and everyone dressed up for the occasion. Susan was very surprised when she walked in as she was not expecting this celebration.
“We decided to plan this event for her because she deserves it for dedicating her life to the community. I am who I am today because of her. My parents passed away when I was 14 years old and being the oldest at home, I had to be a mother and father to my younger siblings. Things were really tough for us. Until Susan, who changed our lives around. She gave me an opportunity to go to school. I have now successfully completed a Social Workers’ Auxiliary course and I am employed at the centre. Susan was truly God-sent and that’s why we are celebrating her today,” said Siphumle.
“I am very grateful that they surprised me like this. There are a lot of child-headed families here in Princess and I believe that every child must have an opportunity to be what they aspire to be in life, so I help where I can.”
Susan started the Tshepang Programme in 2006. It focuses on supporting orphans and vulnerable children in the Princess informal settlement. Susan grew up in a household where education was important and her parents always encouraged her to work hard and succeed, but she grew increasingly concerned about her peers’ attitudes to education as most of them dropped out of school.
Susan went on to study social work and pursue a career focusing on child care, which led to her becoming Assistant Director of the Johannesburg Child Welfare Society. When she was told that Princess informal settlement did not have a child-care facility, nor did it have any nearby schooling, she resigned from her job to begin work on the Tshepang Programme. The programme has been supported by private investors, corporate and committed community members and she has helped a lot of children the community.
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