Nonkululeko Shibula
Health and Safety/Women in Uniform
Nominee's Province:
Kwazulu-natal
Project Name/Description:
Board Member, International Stillbirth Alliance
There is nothing as hard as a parent who has to deal with loss. Hence, the work Nonkululeko does is not only incredible, but one that advocates how a parent’s voice is asking for respect, care, listening, and putting yourself in that parent’s shoes. As a bereavement care doula, she is the founder of a non-profit organisation supporting women through childbirth and bereavement, while bringing a unique perspective shaped by both personal experience and professional dedication. She was among the first doulas to volunteer in a groundbreaking public hospital programme in KwaZulu-Natal. As a bereaved mother herself, Nonkululeko’s work is deeply rooted in lived experience. She is committed to breaking the silence and stigma surrounding stillbirth and baby loss in African cultures. As a board member, she contributes to global dialogue and policy on perinatal bereavement care. Her work as a writer has been featured on the Healthy Newborn Network and other international platforms. Through storytelling, advocacy, and training. She says: “Silence has never healed a wound — only truth, love, and community can. Every heartbeat, even the ones we never hear, has the power to change the world.”
