At just 10 years old, Gertrude Fefoame began experiencing vision loss. Four years later, she went blind. Living in Ghana, she endured stigma and discrimination which people with disabilities are regularly subjected to.

“There is a misconception in most parts of Africa that one would have a disability as a result of one's ill deeds,” Fefoame says. She internalised this prejudice, feeling gradually isolated. But after attending a school for people with blindness and meeting others with similar experiences, she gained new confidence and belief in herself. Now, Fefoame has dedicated her life to making the world more accessible for people with disabilities.

The hall is decorated with bright streamers. Pop music fills the room, beckoning people to dance. Young students adorned in custom-made gowns take the hand of their well-dressed dates. In South Africa, a matric dance is the first time many pupils are made to feel special. But not all can afford the occasion. This was apparent to design duo Fagin Hardine and Adri Andrews of Paarl. Wanting to provide for the youth of their community, they decided to honour the final-year students in style.

Read their full story here.

Grabbing a vertical pole with hands stretched wide, Johannes ‘Timo’ Gunther braces himself and lifts his body parallel to the ground, forming a perfect human flag. Somewhere above him, Phelelani Ndrakrokra is suspended upside down, loving life.

Both high-flying performers know what it means to fall. Gunther, a pole acrobat, ran away from his Namibian home seeking a fresh start in Cape Town. Ndrakrokra, a wheel artist, was born to a single mother living on the streets. They both have found a home at Zip Zap Circus through its Dare to Dream project. The programme looks to help people from all walks of life realise their dreams through circus art.

Read the full story here.

Puseletso Mabote bows his head and braces himself. His breath is measured but his determination is at full blast. Competing in the World Para Athletics Junior Championships is a momentous opportunity. Sweat drips from the runner’s forehead. The gun fires and Mabote leaps into action. He bolts down the track, crossing the finishing line ahead of the others. It’s only after the adrenaline subsides that the 14-year-old realises the enormity of what he’s just accomplished.

Read Puseletso Mabote's full story here.