Freda Motshidiso Malema
Nominee's Province:
Gauteng
Project Name/Description:
Drop A Blanket Project
Freda Matshidiso Malema, a seasoned human resources professional with over 15 years of experience, launched an initiative to collect blankets for the benefit of local hospices, orphanages, government departments, old age homes and not-for-profit organisations.
Malema’s “Drop A Blanket Project” collaborates closely with three other local not-for-profit organisations: Odi Self Help Association for the Disabled in Ga-Rankuwa, Madzibandlela Orphanage Home in Soshanguve, and Ga-Rankuwa Sunshine Hospice.
Since 2012, she has been collecting blankets and distributing them to various organisations, including homeless individuals who face harsh conditions during the winter season. Her efforts extend beyond blanket collection; her organisation recently assisted Madzibandlela Orphanage Home in installing a security fence, with plans to help the other two organisations do the same.
The “Drop A Blanket Project” runs a variety of initiatives, from women’s empowerment programmes and soup kitchens to educating and empowering former inmates and hosting the beauty pageant “Miss Drop A Blanket”.
“The challenges we encounter don’t stop us from helping people. We lack an office, and funding, and there’s reluctance in the community to volunteer and assist. We always find a way to prevail despite these obstacles,” Malema said.
