Hope Is a Verb Convening Highlights Real-World Efforts to Advance Human Rights
By Thembi Moyo
In the days following Human Rights Day, a different kind of conversation unfolded in Johannesburg,one less focused on speeches and more on action. At the 6th Hope Is a Verb Convening, held in Rosebank, leaders from across sectors came together to reflect on how human rights are being realised not just in policy documents, but in clinics, communities and everyday workspaces across the country.
What stood out was a shared understanding: the real work of advancing dignity and access in South Africa is happening in collaboration and often out of the spotlight. The convening, led by F/NE for Good, was created to bring attention to the often-overlooked efforts of organisations working on the ground. The initiative aims to shift the national narrative from one dominated by crisis to one that recognises progress, however gradual.
Rather than focusing only on systemic challenges, discussions highlighted practical solutions already making a difference. Economist Lael Bethlehem of Genesis Analytics set the tone by pointing to the broader economic environment shaping social progress. She emphasised that policy decisions, investment flows and economic stability all play a critical role in determining whether organisations can expand their reach and impact.
But it was the human stories that gave the conversation its urgency. Cardiologist David Jankelow shared insights into Check My Beat, an initiative developed in partnership with Jozi My Jozi. The programme focuses on minibus taxi drivers an essential but often overlooked workforce offering quick, AI-powered heart health screenings using mobile devices. In a uniquely South African twist, each screening result is turned into a personalised Maskandi song based on the driver’s heartbeat an approach designed to spark conversations about health in a culturally meaningful way.
In another example of collaboration, Louise Turner from the Breast Health Foundation spoke about expanding breast cancer awareness and early detection in rural communities. By working with medical professionals, community groups and corporate partners, the foundation is bringing life-saving information and screening services closer to those who need them most. From a systems perspective, Sue Tager, CEO of the Wits Donald Gordon Medical Centre, highlighted the importance of investing in specialist training. Through public-private partnerships, the centre is helping to build South Africa’s future healthcare capacity by training the next generation of medical experts.
Ensuring inclusivity within healthcare was another key focus. Representatives from Wits RHI, including Rutendo Bothma and Naomi Hill, shared how targeted programmes are supporting marginalised groups, including transgender communities, through specialised and responsive healthcare services. Government’s role in enabling these efforts was also part of the discussion. Kaamil Alli from the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition pointed to the importance of economic inclusion, noting that job creation and broader participation in the economy are essential to building a society rooted in dignity.
While each speaker approached the issue from a different angle, a clear thread connected their work: progress happens faster and more sustainably when sectors work together. The Hope Is a Verb platform continues to create space for these connections, showing how partnerships between business, civil society, healthcare and government can translate into real improvements in people’s lives. In a country often defined by its challenges, the message from Rosebank was simple but powerful,change is already happening. It may not always make headlines, but it is steadily reshaping communities. And when collaboration meets commitment, hope becomes more than an idea it becomes something people can see, feel and build on every day.
Rizwana Bawa Chief relationship officer Fine for Good
