Founder’s Biography

Organisation Profile Ms. Josina Z. Machel holds an MSc number of presentations at national and degree in Sociology (Gender) from the international conferences on issues relating to London School of Economics and Political youth, gender, culture and HIV/AIDS. She also Science and a Bachelor of Social Science, has published works on the same topics. Sociology and Political Science from the University of Cape Town, . Recently Ms. Machel established the Kuhluka Movement, an initiative set up to empower Ms. Machel’s entrance into the business women survivors of abuse. Founded on the world was in response to the challenges principals Advocacy and Mitigation, Kuhluka of HIV/Aids and gender disparities in the bridges the gap between giving a voice to workplace. After providing strategic women survivors, whilst providing them with a insight as into these issues as a Human safe haven in their time of need. Through Resources Officer at Anglo-American, this initiative she seeks to find a platform that Josina started Pfukani (Ltd) in 2007. It prevents abuse of women by bringing was the first company in to custodians of culture together to find ways design, coordinate and manage wellness that interrogate practices and traditions, and and communication tools for HIV/Aids questions the behaviours that foster an programmes in the workplace. She later environment that tolerates violence towards joined the Institute for Democracy in women. Not content with becoming an South Africa (IDASA), where she worked outspoken advocate, Josina will also use to enhance the Governance and AIDS Kuhluka to establish shelters for women programme, by providing research and that offer comprehensive services to analyses. During this time. she led the help restore women and rehabilitate programme to address the role of them to once again become political actors in the AIDS pandemic independent members of society space. who are able take control and make their own life choices going She serves on a number of international forward. boards, including the Graça Machel Trust, the Emerald Group in Dubai, the Zizile Institute for Child Development, and also serves as Director at the Documentation Centre. She has given a

2 Abusive relationships are oppressive and kill your authentic self ” - Josina Machel

3 Ground floor, Victoria Gate West . Hyde Park Lane Corner of Jan Smuts Ave & William Nicol Drive Hyde Park 2196 . , South Africa Tel: +27 11 325 0501/91 e-mail: [email protected] www.gracamacheltrust.org