Pachedu group

01/08/2026

🌱 Hello, August. Happy New Month from Pachedu LGBTIQ Collective.

Spring reminds us that growth begins long before the world can see it. Beneath the surface, roots are growing, hope is taking shape, and change is quietly unfolding.

That is the story of so many LGBTQI+ refugees, migrants, and forcibly displaced people we walk alongside every day.

At Pachedu, we remain committed to building communities where dignity is protected, safety is non-negotiable, and inclusion is a lived reality—not just an aspiration.

As we celebrate a new month and Women’s Month in South Africa, we honour every person who continues to choose courage over fear, hope over despair, and love over hate.

This August, don’t just witness change—be part of it. Speak up. Stand with those on the margins. Create spaces where everyone belongs.

Because when one person finds safety, dignity, and acceptance, we all move closer to the world we deserve.

Happy New Month. Let’s keep building hope together. 🌸🏳️‍🌈

26/07/2026

“My humanity is bound up in yours, for we can only be human together.” — Archbishop Desmond Tutu

🏳️‍🌈 One life lost is one too many.

Today, the Pachedu LGBTIQ Collective stands in grief and in solidarity with everyone affected by the tragic attack at Berlin Pride.

We mourn the life that was taken. We hold in our hearts those who were injured, their families, friends, and every LGBTQIA+ person around the world who is once again reminded that simply existing can come with unimaginable risk.

As a refugee-led organisation working alongside LGBTQIA+ refugees and migrants, we know what it means to live with uncertainty, to search for safety, and to fight every day for the right to exist with dignity. That is why this tragedy is not distant—it is deeply personal.

But we refuse to allow hate to define our future.

Our visibility is not the problem. Hate is.

Pride has always been more than a celebration. It is a testament to resilience. It is a declaration that every LGBTQIA+ person, regardless of where they come from, deserves to live free from violence, discrimination, and fear.

Today, we call on governments, civil society, allies, and communities everywhere to do more than express sympathy. Stand with LGBTQIA+ people. Speak out against hate. Protect those who are most at risk. Defend the dignity and humanity of every person.

To every LGBTQIA+ refugee and migrant reading this: you are not alone. Your life matters. Your story matters. Your dreams matter. There is a global community standing beside you, and together we will continue to build a world where everyone can live openly, safely, and with dignity.

We honour those we have lost not by retreating into silence, but by choosing courage over fear, love over hate, and hope over despair.

Until every LGBTQIA+ person is safe, our work is not done.

In solidarity,

Pachedu LGBTIQ Collective

🏳️‍🌈 No borders. No fear. Just human dignity for all.

22/07/2026

🏳️‍🌈 Human rights are not negotiable. Neither is our humanity.

As members of the Pachedu family, today is a reminder that the fight for equality is far from over.

Across our region, we are witnessing two very different realities.

In Botswana, a landmark court challenge for marriage equality is giving hope to many LGBTQ+ people who dream of having their love recognised and protected under the law. While the outcome is still awaited, the case itself is a powerful reminder that equality is worth fighting for and that courageous people continue to stand up for justice.

At the same time, South Africa is facing a growing pushback against LGBTQ+ rights. Reports of an international anti-LGBTQ+ movement planning a Cape Town conference remind us that the rights we enjoy today should never be taken for granted. Progress can be challenged if we become silent or complacent.

As Pachedu, we believe in a world where everyone can live openly, safely and with dignity. We reject fear. We reject hate. We reject any attempt to divide us by attacking the humanity of others.

Our response must not be anger—it must be courage.
It must be education.
It must be solidarity.
It must be love in action.

We call on every member of Pachedu to:
🌈 Speak out against discrimination.
🤝 Stand with those whose rights are under attack.
📚 Challenge misinformation with facts and compassion.
❤️ Create safe and inclusive spaces wherever you are.

History has taught us that silence protects oppression, while solidarity changes lives.

Our work is not finished. It belongs to all of us. Together, let us continue to build a Southern Africa where every person—regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity—is treated with dignity, respect and equality.

In solidarity. In love. In hope. Always.

18/07/2026

“No one is born hating another person because of the colour of their skin, or their background, or their religion. People must learn to hate, and if they can learn to hate, they can be taught to love.” — Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela

❤️🖤💚 Mandela Day 2026 | Ubuntu in Action | Yeoville, Johannesburg

Today, Pachedu LGBTIQ+ Collective stood shoulder to shoulder with the people of Yeoville to honour Nelson Mandela’s legacy through service, humanity, and love.

In a time when our country continues to grapple with the painful realities of xenophobia, division, and discrimination, today reminded us of a different South Africa—one where people choose kindness over fear, connection over prejudice, and community over exclusion.

Together with our partners, volunteers, and community members, we joined one of Safeplace International’s Parenting Programme graduates, Fezeka, in cleaning the streets of Yeoville. What began as a community clean-up soon became something much deeper. We shared meals, exchanged stories, laughed together, and discovered that the strongest communities are built through simple acts of care.

As an LGBTIQ+ collective, being welcomed into the community and serving alongside residents was deeply meaningful. It reminded us that Ubuntu is not just a philosophy—it is something we practise when we see each other’s humanity before anything else.

Masi, Founder and Executive Director of Pachedu LGBTIQ+ Collective and Lead Facilitator of the Dream Academy, reflected:

“Mandela Day is a reminder that justice begins with how we treat one another every day. In a world where people are too often judged because of their identity, nationality, or who they love, today we chose something different. We chose to serve together. We chose to listen. We chose Ubuntu. That is the South Africa we continue to believe in and build.”

Our volunteers also shared what the day meant to them:

Volunteer 1: “Today reminded me that kindness has no nationality, no gender, and no labels. We arrived as volunteers, but we left feeling like family.”

Volunteer 2: “Cleaning the streets was important, but the conversations we had with residents were even more powerful. They reminded me that healing begins when people truly see and hear one another.”

Volunteer 3: “Ubuntu is more than a word. Today I experienced it through every smile, every helping hand, every shared sandwich, and every moment of laughter. This is the kind of community we all deserve.”

Mandela Day is about more than giving 67 minutes. It is about restoring dignity, building trust, and creating spaces where everyone—regardless of their nationality, sexual orientation, gender identity, or background—knows they belong.

To the people of Yeoville, thank you for opening your hearts and allowing us to share this day with you.

To every volunteer who gave their time, energy, and love—thank you for proving that compassion remains stronger than division.

Today, we didn’t just clean streets.

We built bridges.

We strengthened community.

We lived Ubuntu.

Happy Mandela Day.

29/06/2026

STATEMENT | HUMAN DIGNITY MUST NEVER BE NEGOTIABLE

Pachedu – expresses deep concern over the humanitarian challenges facing migrants and foreign nationals in South Africa amid ongoing immigration enforcement and heightened community tensions.

Every sovereign nation has the right to regulate migration, protect its borders and enforce its laws. However, these responsibilities must always be exercised in accordance with constitutional principles, the rule of law and international human rights obligations.

No child should be left exposed to harsh conditions.
No woman should fear giving birth without dignity and access to healthcare.
No family should be deprived of their basic humanity.

Migration is a complex issue that requires lawful, humane and sustainable solutions—not fear, hostility or the dehumanisation of vulnerable people.

Pachedu therefore calls upon governments, national human rights institutions, humanitarian organisations, faith leaders, regional bodies, the international community and civil society to strengthen humanitarian support, monitor the protection of human rights, promote peaceful dialogue and ensure that the dignity of every person is respected.

We also acknowledge and commend the many South Africans, community organisations, faith groups and volunteers who continue to demonstrate compassion by assisting those in need. Their actions remind us that Ubuntu is not merely a philosophy—it is a responsibility.

History will judge us not only by the policies we adopted, but by how we treated the most vulnerable among us.

Solidarity must be more than words. It must be action.

An injury to one human family is an injury to us all.

26/06/2026

Pachedu needs your support to reach WorldPride Amsterdam 2026!

Pachedu has been invited to participate in WorldPride Amsterdam 2026, one of the world’s largest LGBTQIA+ gatherings, taking place from 25 July to 8 ...

20/06/2026

19/06/2026

As we celebrate International Pride Month, we are reminded that dignity, equality, and human rights are not abstract ideals—they are values that must be protected every day.

Today, the Equality Court hears the case of TRANSHOPE, the Hate Crimes Working Group, and the South African Human Rights Commission against Ngizwe Mchunu.

This is more than a court case. It is a moment that speaks to the kind of society we choose to build: one rooted in respect, inclusion, and the constitutional promise that every person deserves to live free from discrimination, hatred, and violence.

They do not stand alone.

More than fifty organisations, advocates, activists, and community members stand in solidarity with those defending the rights and dignity of LGBTQIA+ people in South Africa.

At Pachedu, we believe that hate has no place in our communities, online or offline. Our Constitution protects the rights of all people, and our collective voices must continue to affirm that commitment.

To the South African Human Rights Commission, Lawyers for Human Rights, TRANSHOPE, the Hate Crimes Working Group, and all those carrying this important work forward: we stand with you.

Share this message. Tag your allies. Raise your voice.

When human rights are challenged, solidarity matters.