Welcome to our first newsletter for 2019 as we fire-up the engines on another exciting year. Thank you to those of you who contributed to it as these contributions are essential to the newsletter‘s success. As members of the AASA community, we all share in and benefit from the achievements of the programs of the organisation, and we hope to see a way forward along these lines. One of the more exciting announcements in this newsletter is the achievement of AASA in transforming the lives of poor villages and communities. People who have benefited from our projects and programmes know that it is one of the most supportive environments in changing the world from projects to interventions to research. We can therefore look forward to a time of positive change to better the communities. In this edition I define me project hosted a Leading Change in Cape Town where womxn and young girls gathered for a spiritual healing and a get away from the difficulties and strains of everyday life. The Women’s Rights programme was eventful following: Report launch responses to youth unemployment in South Africa, We Stand with Gugu and discussions around Land ownership for womxn. While the work of changing peoples live and villages continue in and around Limpopo Villages.

We would like to pass our deepest condolences to the colleagues, comrades and family of Teboho Moitsi who was a passionate fighter and colleague at ActionAid South Africa. Tebogo has been with ActionAid for more than ten years .May His soul Rest in Eternal Power
Warmest welcome to the New County Director, Mrs Nondumiso Nsibande as we look forward to all the exciting adventure and positive change.