• People.Partnerships.Progress

  • People.Partnerships.Progress

    Our mission

    Our mission is to foster integrated, people-centred solutions that empower communities to overcome inequities and challenges. We promote sustainable progress through advocacy, partnerships, and amplifying voices, with equity at the heart of health and education systems.

    Our vision

    We envision a world where every individual has access to quality healthcare and education. We believe these systems are shaped by geography, culture, and tradition, and are vital for achieving successful life outcomes. Our goal is a society united by its strengths, where equity is the foundation of universal healthcare and education.

    Our goal

    We aim to build strategic partnerships, empower communities to drive change, and address disparities in healthcare and education. Through advocacy and collaboration, we work to improve outcomes and create lasting impact by amplifying voices and fostering equitable, people-centred solutions.

    Welcome to USAWA

    Usawa for Learning and Healing is rooted in community development and healthcare initiatives, guided by the core values of people, partnerships, and progress. Our dedication to promoting positive change is evident in all our efforts. Established in 2021, we have received funding from multiple sources to support public health programs including eye health screening, research publications, solidarity programs, and a multinational COVID-19 project linking youth from South Africa and Indonesia.

    The organization was founded in 2021 by Chaleen Arendse and Dr. Haseena Majid, both Global Atlantic Fellows for Health Equity and Social Justice. USAWA, meaning “equity” in Swahili, was chosen to amplify the organization’s primary goal, which is to respond to communities’ health and education needs using equitable strategies for sustainable outcomes.

    Usawa logo

    USAWA for Learning and Healing has since grown to be a national organization undertaking international-level projects. It provides solidarity support to communities affected by natural disasters and political unrest and offers health and education programs. The focus areas include primary health access, eye health, early childhood development, gender-based violence, and migration. Read more.

    Volunteers

    30

    Donations

    1147320

    Projects

    25

    Screenings

    1800

    What can we offer for you?

    Community-level advocacy

    We engage with local communities to advocate for healthcare access and education, promoting inclusivity and empowerment at the grassroots level.

    Research

    Our dedicated research initiatives drive evidence-based solutions and inform our strategic approach to addressing pressing healthcare and social challenges

    Policy advocacy

    By collaborating with policymakers and stakeholders, we advocate for policy reforms that prioritize healthcare, education, and communities well- being.

    Collaborative projects

    Through strategic partnerships and collaborative projects, we amplify our impact and create lasting change in the communities we serve.

    Oversight services

    We offer monitoring and evaluation, report writing, facilitation, and mentoring services to civil society organizations. This is founded on our goal for collective progress to achieve health equity and social justice

    Our Team

    Our team consists of highly skilled and compassionate professionals from diverse backgrounds including academia, public, private and civil society sectors.

    • Danver Roman

      Danver Roman

      Finances

      Danver Roman is an Independent Consultant at LIYHA, specializing in coaching, mentoring, and training. With over 30 years of experience, he brings clarity to complex situations and has held roles such as IT Data Facilitator and Provincial Secretary at DENOSA. Danver’s background includes nursing, information management, and law, with advanced qualifications in finance, strategy, and psychiatry. His approach is grounded in justice, respect, and wisdom.

      Read More

    • Elroy Paulus

      Elroy Paulus

      Communication

      Elroy Paulus is a seasoned NGO professional focused on upholding South Africa’s Constitutional obligations. He has been a spokesperson for organizations like Black Sash Trust and AIDC, working on economic justice and income inequality. He has held key roles, contributed to health reform, and serves as Treasurer for the Parliamentary Monitoring Group (PMG). His expertise includes strategy development, policy analysis, and using media for social justice.

      Read More

    • Haseena Majid

      Haseena Majid

      Operations

      Dr. Haseena Majid, a Public Health Project Consultant and Optometrist with a PhD in Public Administration, focuses on public-private partnerships to address health challenges. As Operations Director at USAWA, she advocates for equitable community solutions and holds leadership roles across sectors. A Global Atlantic Fellow, she drives change through advocacy and innovation.

      Read More

    • René Sparks

      René Sparks

      Public Health

      René is a multi-award-winning Public Health Practitioner with 20+ years of experience. A Global Atlantic and Senior Aspen New Voices Fellow, she advocates for health equity and serves on the boards of SWEAT, Soul City, and USAWA. As HACCSA’s founding director, René focuses on improving healthcare for vulnerable populations and leads innovative public health initiatives like the Sheroes Collective Podcast

      Read More

    • Audience Maluleke

      Audience Maluleke

      Research

      With 22 years of experience as an Optometrist, Audience Maluleke has held leadership roles since 2011. He has represented eyecare interests in major forums, including the Health Market Inquiry and National Health Insurance Committee. From 2014 to 2020, he served as a director of the South African Optometric Association (SAOA) and chaired key committees. His expertise is reflected in his publications on advocacy, managed healthcare, and fraud in eyecare.

      Read More

    • Chaleen Arendse

      Chaleen Arendse

      Community Development

      Growing up in a farming community, she saw challenges in healthcare and education. Her activism began in 2008 with the Women on Farms Project and led to a Programme Officer role by 2014. She has led campaigns on scholar transport, eviction, and sexual violence in schools. Now at CHOSA, she supports organizations addressing children's issues and co-founded USAWA, aiming for a just and equitable society.

      Read More

    Our Latest Campaigns

    • haccsa
      12. Dec. 2024 8961 Views 0

      HACCSA

      HACCSA (Health Advocacy and Clinical Compliance South Africa) is a woman-led organisation dedicated to improving public health and wellnes… Read more

    • GBV
      12. Dec. 2024 217 Views 0

      Gender Based Violence (GB ...

      Usawa’s GBV program is a multi-faceted initiative aimed at empowering victims and survivors of gender-based violence through education, advocacy, and sup… Read more

    • nehap
      11. Dec. 2024 210 Views 0

      National Eye Health Advoc ...

      The National Eye Health Advocacy Project (NEHAP) addresses the critical yet neglected issue of eye health inequity in South Africa. Despite growing needs, … Read more

    • covid-19
      04. Nov. 2022 260 Views 0

      Voices of children during ...

      This marked our first international collaboration project. We worked with Global Atlantic Fellow Rennta Chrisdiana based in Indonesia to understand how the… Read more

      Our testimonials

      It is with great pleasure that I would like to thank team USAWA PROJECT for their prompt and effective response in providing relief to the people of Bulwer and Donnybrook after the KwaZulu-Natal(KZN) riots in July 2021. The community of Bulwer and Donnybrook were gratefull to receive relief in these trying times. We, as the community and its representatives would like to thank you for the assistance. May your good deeds overlap to others.

      Mr. Ntethelelo Khanyile

      Nkwezela Community Representative

      I am very pleased with the content of the presentation delivered by USAWA Learning & Healing. The presentation was informative and simple to understand. I look forward to working with you and the organisation to plan similar events in the future. I was extremely happy with the introduction, the anatomy slide and the vibrant pictures depicting conditions such as DM Retinopathy etc.

      Mr. Samukelo Mseleku

      Programme Coordinator for Non-communicable diseases Ethekwini District