What we offer

A Fellows Programme that is run each year where we invite  applications, and screen, select  and recruit approximately 25 Fellows.

We also have Alumni Programme  and a presence and voice in its  own right – promoting health equity through addressing structural and social determinants of health.

The Tekano journey is more than one story.

It is a new journey for all of us – rich and complex with many influences. There are many role players – individuals, groups, professions, even whole communities
– each adding to the range of perspectives, challenges and contributions. The questions are many – and the solutions just as diverse. So how are we to share it with you in a few pages?

In trying to answer What is Tekano? and What is the work that we do? we realised that the answer was rich and complex so we have attempted to answer it in a series of stories. We hope that this will give you a more nuanced perspective of the organisation and of its unfolding.

Introductory Video

Meet our Yearlong Fellows________________________________

Latest Updates

News & Activities_________________________________

Promoting Mental Health through Virtual Reality

The gruesome violence and murder of individuals because of their sexual orientation or gender identity should not be tolerated by society. The question looms—who will be the next victim?

Lungile Gamede to represent SA 

The gruesome violence and murder of individuals because of their sexual orientation or gender identity should not be tolerated by society. The question looms—who will be the next victim?

Mixed reactions to the President’s SONA

President Cyril Ramaphosa delivered the State of the Nation Address (SONA) on 6 February 2025. Our fellows have mixed reactions to the President’s speech, highlighting both the positive and negative and making suggestions. The fellows focused on several areas,...

‘End austerity measures’

Today, Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana is expected to deliver the budget speech after it was posponed on the 19th of February—a first in South Africa’s history. According to the Minister, this was aimed at allowing “for further deliberations to take place on the...

“We will not be pushed back into the closet”

The gruesome violence and murder of individuals because of their sexual orientation or gender identity should not be tolerated by society. The question looms—who will be the next victim?

Learning from those fighting for the LGBTQI+ rights

As part of Learning Experience I, a group of Cohort 6 fellows had the opportunity to visit Bayanda Ndumiso, a lifelong fellow and advocate for LGBTQI+ rights, at The Triangle Project in Cape Town. During the visit, Bayanda shared his personal journey of working within...

Embracing Vietnam’s Sustainable Farming Practices

As an agriculturalist dedicated to transforming food systems, my journey through Vietnam revealed invaluable lessons in sustainable farming. From Ho Chi Minh City to the Mekong Delta and Hanoi, I witnessed how integrated agricultural practices can revolutionize food...

A Platform to Strengthen Global Solidarity 

“There are many opportunities that were created for collaboration, to strengthen global solidarity. This a platform for connection and collaboration and its a space to learn from each others struggles,” said our fellow Wiseman Mpepho after attending the Global...

Concerns over unemployment, water shortage & crime

Unemployment, water shortage, crime, gender-based violence, and substance abuse are among some of the major issues that were highlighted by community members during Takano’s recent community engagements in Limpopo, Mpumalanga, North West, and the Northern Cape. The...

Climate Change: Lessons from Vietnam

FINE WEATHER Everything evolves, it is the cycle of nature: After the rainy days, the fine weather comes. In an instant, the whole world shakes off its damp clothes. Thousands of li of mountains unfurl their brocade carpet. Under the warm sun and the clean wind, the...

Fellows

What our fellows

have to say

In my activism work I became aware of the psychological trauma that abducted girls and women have to live with for the rest of their lives if they are not supported. This level of awareness needs to be put into action, by conscientising other stakeholders.
Sibongile Mtungwa

Fellow at KwaZulu-Natal

I am passionate about training environmental health practitioners, building their capacity to be aware of factors in the environment that affect health such that prevention of ill health and injury plays a key role in their thinking and, invariably, in the work that they do.
Luqman Yesefu

Fellow at Eastern Cape

My activist vigour is focused towards building a South Africa where Alma Ata (primary health care) takes centre stage and the underprivileged South Africans have access to affordable, quality healthcare regardless of class, employment, gender, origin, or ability to pay.
Bernard Mutsago

Health Policy Researcher