Kudzo Foundation volunteers stand united at the Project ID Drive, bringing services closer to the community and restoring dignity one ID at a time

Kudzo Foundation Helps Restore Identity and Hope Through Johannesburg ID Drive

April 28, 2026April 28, 2026323 Views 2 min read

By Thembi Moyo

Johannesburg — For more than 100 vulnerable residents across Johannesburg, a simple document became a powerful symbol of dignity, access and a second chance. On 2 April 2026, the Kudzo Foundation hosted a Project ID Drive at the Ikusasalethu Wembley Shelter, bringing together government services, volunteers and community organisations to help people experiencing homelessness obtain essential identification documents.

Without an ID, access to jobs, healthcare and social support remains out of reach for many. The initiative set out to change that by bringing services directly to those who need them most. Working with multiple shelters, the drive reached around 115 beneficiaries across four sites, including Ikusasalethu’s Wembley and Florida shelters, MES Shelter, and the 3 Kotze Overnight Shelter. Mobile units were deployed on-site, allowing individuals to begin or complete their ID applications in a safe and accessible environment.

Volunteers and coordinators worked side by side to guide beneficiaries through the process, ensuring that each person was assisted with care and respect. Kudzo Foundation Programme Co-ordinator Simbara she Zvinoera said the initiative goes beyond paperwork. “An ID document is not just a piece of paper it is a gateway to opportunity. This is about restoring identity, dignity and access for people who have been excluded for far too long,” he said.

For many who attended, the experience was deeply emotional. Some arrived without any formal recognition of who they are and left with the process underway to reclaim it. Dineo, reflecting on the day, said the impact was profound. “I’m still reflecting on what we witnessed at the Project ID Drive and honestly, my heart is full,” she said. “To see over 100 individuals from four different shelters come through, each one taking a step closer to reclaiming their identity and dignity, was deeply moving.”

She added that what may seem like a simple document carries life-changing meaning. “For so many, it is the key to opportunity to employment, to education, to belonging,” she said. Dineo also thanked the partners, volunteers, the Department of Home Affairs and shelter coordinators who made the initiative possible. “Here’s to aligning individuals to their destinies, one ID at a time,” she said.

Following the success of the April drive, Kudzo Foundation plans to expand the initiative, with another Project ID Drive scheduled for May 2026. The organisation is calling on more partners, donors and volunteers to support its mission. Founded in 2019, the youth-led non-profit has already assisted more than 1,000 individuals to replace their IDs and rebuild their lives through skills development and entrepreneurship opportunities.

As the day came to a close, it was clear that the impact extended far beyond documentation it marked the beginning of a new chapter for many, rooted in dignity, identity and renewed hope.