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This year, O, The Oprah Magazine and Innoxa launched the Circle of Women campaign, which is aimed at harnessing the collective power of women to uplift themselves and others in their communities, by sharing hope and healing. As born nurturers, women are naturally wired to give to those in need and band together when something needs doing. The campaign was launched in the January 2010 issue of O and will continue until August 2010: Each month one group of women is profiled in the magazine and Innoxa is contributing towards their cause and needs.
“When women join forces, life just seems to get better, which is why we are lauding groups who, through their circle of friends, have identified causes to support within their communities,” says Samantha Page, editor of O, The Oprah Magazine. “O magazine is a fitting platform to celebrate women who are not just talking about giving, but are doing so on a daily basis because living a life of service is core to O.”
The third group of women to benefit from this initiative is featured in the current March 2010 issue. They call themselves the Phenomenal Women. The group was started by Amanda Sickle, who wanted to help young women in her community of Mitchells Plain become independent and grow from being victims to victors, especially in their relationships. But she knew she couldn’t do it alone. “I told my three closest friends I needed them, and they didn’t hesitate.” None of the women are trained counsellors, but they offer support to others by sharing from their own life experience. The group has grown from 10 ladies to over 40 women of all ages. “When women talk to women, you can see them restoring each other,” says Amanda. Innoxa is giving the four founding members the chance to attend counselling training courses (total value of R10 000), plus luxurious hampers of Innoxa body-pampering products.
“We are truly excited about this campaign as it is embodies our philosophy of giving back, says Tracey Rowles, group brand manager of Innoxa. “Ten percent of profits from the body pampering range are donated to communities working to uplift South African women. We hope that this drive in O magazine will help us to identify and assist more projects where women are involved in helping their communities.”
How to enter:
To nominate a circle of women who have found hope and healing through banding together, write a 500-word letter of motivation, telling us who you are nominating and why. Include the names of the women and their contact details. Post your letter to: Innoxa Circle of Women/ O, The Oprah Magazine/ P.O. Box 3687/ Cape Town 8000, or e-mail it to oprahcomp@assocmags.co.za with “Innoxa Circle of Women” in the subject line.
Alternatively SMS O, The Oprah Magazine on 34778. Begin the SMS with Innoxa Circle of Women and give your name and contact number.
Previous winners profiled in O, The Oprah Magazine:
January 2010 – The Water Ladies
Whether in or out of the water, the members of the Amabele Belles dragon boat-racing team share an affectionate camaraderie. These women, all breast cancer survivors from Cape Town, have been paddling together, twice a week, since 2006. “[We] choose not to focus on the disease while being part of this team, but on living life to the full.” Although the exercise is beneficial, they are “first and foremost a floating support group.” Their support spills over to other women, too, as they visit oncology patients, hand out informative pamphlets and give inspirational talks. Courtesy of O, The Oprah Magazine and Innoxa, each “belle” received a hamper of Innoxa’s luxury body-pampering products, plus a sweep oar for their dragon boat that needed to be imported from Canada, to enable the whole team to train together more effectively.
February 2010 – The Care Bears
“Bobbi Bear has taught me patience, love, confidence and, most important, strength. I have overcome all my hurt and can now direct my energy and passion into the children we serve at Bobbi Bear,” says Eureka Olivier, a member of the Bobbi Bear team. The women who work at Bobbi Bear all have their own story to tell – some were orphaned; others were victims of physical and sexual abuse – but they have turned these negative experiences into something positive. Together with Bobbi Bear founder Jackie Branfield, they now work tirelessly to ensure the safety of at-risk children in their community. And Bobbi Bear has become their place of safety, too: “Jackie is my mother and Bobbi Bear is my family,” says Bobbi Bear child safety officer and counsellor Mildred Ngcobo. Innoxa will assist Bobbi Bear with the upgrading of their new safe home in Durban, by paying for the installation of a much-needed security door for their new premises.
Media contact:
Jaco-Louis Groenewald
PR Manager - Associated Magazines
Tel: 021 464 6250
Cell: 083 234 0760
E-mail: jacolouis@assocmags.co.za