Shahnaaz Paruk
Women Nurturing in the Community
Nominee's Province:
Kwazulu-natal
Project Name/Description:
Penny Appeal SA
Shahnaaz Paruk, 38, from Overport, Durban in KwaZulu-Natal, has been the CEO of Durban-based Penny Appeal SA, a non-profit organization that provides humanitarian support to marginalized societies in South Africa. Paruk joined the organization in 2017 as its chief operations officer and leads #teamorange that comprises five full-time staff members with whom she traverses the country implementing various projects focusing on provision of food security, clean water, education and healthcare, as well as protection of vulnerable children and women. Headquartered in Wakefield in the UK, Penny Appeal operates in six continents - the US, Canada, Australia, Dubai, Malaysia and South Africa. Under Paruk’s leadership Penny Appeal SA, which boasts 30 volunteers, among many activities, has established food gardens in schools and delivered 10 000 food packs and 3 000 vouchers to families as part of its Covid Response Project. Paruk has also facilitated the provision of 2 000 mobile desks to needy school children in Limpopo in partnership with the Tutu Desk Foundation, as well as the continuous support to the Ihata Shelter for Abused Women and Children in Cape Town, Western Cape. “Always be kind to everyone you meet, but be fierce in the face of adversity and injustice,” Paruk says.
