A Stellenbosch local recently completed a ‘freedom swim’ from Robben Island to Bloubergstrand in order to raise funds for mental health support at Her Voice, a non-profit organisation (NPO) based in Stellenbosch.
Ros Koch, a local artist, completed the 8.25 kilometre swim with her coach, Cobus Fourie, on 5 May. The initiative raised R70 000 for the Her Voice community, which Koch has been part of for several years, through crowdfunding on JustGiving.com, she told MatieMedia.
Koch said she trained for seven months through the Stellenbosch Triathlon Squad, with Fourie involved as her coach for this event specifically.
Ros Koch, a local artist, and Cobus Fourie, her swimming coach, during their 8.25 kilometre ‘freedom swim’ on 5 May. PHOTO: Supplied/Big Bay Events
Aside from assisting with fundraising, Koch is also involved in Her Voice as a mentor. “Through interacting with the [Her Voice] members and running workshops on mental health, I know that there is a real need to build on the existing psychosocial support services in [Stellenbosch],” said Koch.
Ros Koch, a local artist, explains why she joined Her Voice, and the work she does for the organisation. AUDIO: Ros Koch
The funds raised will go towards the psychosocial support of women in Kayamandi and Cloetesville, according to Alexandra Nomavuka, founder of Her Voice. The organisation currently has a social worker and a counselor on its team, but is actively working to increase the number of mental health professionals involved, said Nomavuka.
“It’s been years where we’ve been looking for black Xhosa-speaking women who could really walk on a deeper level with our ladies,” stated Nomavuka.
The aim of Her Voice is to create a self-sustaining support system for mothers in Kayamandi, according to Nomavuka. The concept was developed to address the impact of unplanned pregnancies on women in townships, she added.
“So there’s often just this idea of, ‘life is over and all my dreams have gone into the bin. I’m just going to have to now struggle through with my child or children doing things just to get by…just to survive’,” said Nomavuka.
The NPO seeks to create a platform for emotional support by creating a community of women who are facing similar challenges. These women can work through these challenges on an emotional level and rebuild their confidence and trust together, according to Nomavuka.
The ‘freedom swim’ that Ros Koch, a local artist, undertook from Robben Island to Bloubergstrand raised R70 000 for Her Voice, a non-profit organisation (NPO) based in Stellenbosch. PHOTO: Supplied/Bruce Bartlett
Koch explained that her swim had become symbolic of the challenging journey that someone with a mental illness must endure. “[Their struggle] is every single day,” said Koch.
Koch also did freelance work as a consultant for other local initiatives, such as Ranyaka Community Transformation (Ranyaka), a non-profit urban planning consultancy with an office in Stellenbosch. Renyaka has also contributed funds towards mental health work at Her Voice, according to Koch.
“We salute both her courage and unwavering commitment. Ros makes the world a better place,” said Sonya Olivier, marketing manager at Ranyaka, when asked about Koch’s ‘freedom swim’ initiative.
Ros Koch addressing members of Her Voice, a non-profit organisation (NPO) based in Stellenbosch, during a workshop on 9 May. PHOTO: Alexander Brand
Article updated on 10 May 2021.