Zintle Khobeni
Zintle Khobeni, South Africa, is a human rights activist, Law student at the University of South Africa, and founder of The Great People of South Africa, a women-led non-profit advocating for human rights, gender justice, and the rights of women, girls, LGBTQI+ individuals, and persons with disabilities.
With the support of the Giving Joy grant, Zintle’s organization successfully implemented a paralegal training program for 20 young women, equipping them with essential legal skills to support survivors of gender-based violence (GBV). The training aimed to empower participants as community advocates for justice.
The program covered four core areas: basic legal skills, trauma response, referral services, and court support. Participants learned fundamental legal concepts, human rights, and community-based advocacy. They were also trained in psychological first aid to provide compassionate support, as well as how to connect survivors with legal, medical, and social services and guide them through court procedures.
Zintle partnered with the South African Police Services and Siyafunda, who provided additional insights on the National Strategic Plan Policies (NSP) on GBV. This collaboration not only reduced costs but also deepened the trainees' knowledge.
The $500 Giving Joy grant helped deliver a structured, impactful program. As a result, the trained women have gained critical skills and confidence in supporting GBV survivors. Many have already begun assisting survivors in accessing legal aid services, illustrating the program’s direct impact. The training also reinforced Zintle’s commitment to gender justice and bolstered the organization’s capacity for future legal empowerment initiatives.
The trained paralegals are now actively supporting survivors, offering guidance, and linking them to services. Their work is already benefiting 50+ individuals, including survivors, families, and the broader community.
Looking ahead, Zintle’s team will conduct follow-up mentorship sessions, establish a community referral network, host a GBV prevention event, and seek additional funding to scale the program.
