What went well?

Another great week spent in Pretoria! My goal for this week was to complete the text-based version of my Abortion Advocacy & Action Toolkit, and I’m happy to say I accomplished it. This week involved a lot of focused online research, including finding relevant scholarly literature and practical advocacy tools that could be adapted for the toolkit. I also worked on gathering personal stories from both abortion care seekers and providers within the South African context. These stories highlighted how both groups face harm and discrimination, which often prevents them from accessing or providing safe abortion care.

I'm proud of the 40-page report I’ve drafted. It is a comprehensive resource that addresses key issues such as self-managed abortion (SMA), eliminating misinformation and redundancies in abortion-related education, prohibiting belief-based denial of care, and recognizing abortion providers as human rights defenders. Unfortunately, providers are often wrongly labeled as “murderers,” a harmful perception still present in both public and private healthcare settings. This stigma discourages many trained professionals from offering abortion services. Through conversations with healthcare workers, I learned that religion, especially Christianity, is a major factor influencing some pharmacists, nurses, and doctors to refuse care. In response, I added a section that presents both legal and religious arguments in support of abortion, particularly from a Christian perspective, as almost 80% of South Africa follows Christianity.

What could have been done differently?

One key area I could have approached differently this week was time management. I found myself falling behind on the toolkit, which ultimately led to pull an all-nighter in order to complete it within my internal deadline. In hindsight, I should have broken the task into smaller, manageable parts and set clearer deadlines for each stage. Prioritizing tasks and planning my week more effectively would have helped me avoid last-minute pressure and achieve a healthier work-life balance.

What did I learn about myself when working with others?

Working in a team at the Women’s Rights Unit taught me an important lesson about my own communication style. Sometimes I hesitate to share my ideas when I feel others in the group are more confident or outspoken. In the past, this made me second-guess the value of my contributions. However, this experience helped me understand that my input is just as meaningful, and that offering my perspective can add depth to the discussion and help move the project forward. I learned that even if an idea isn’t immediately actionable, bringing it to the table allows the group to consider it for future planning. There is no harm in speaking up; in fact, it often leads to greater collaboration and stronger outcomes. This realization has encouraged me to be more confident and proactive in group settings.

What did I learn about leadership?

I learned that leadership is not just about taking charge, but about creating space for others to thrive. A good leader listens actively, encourages diverse perspectives, and helps bring out the strengths of each team member. This week, I had the opportunity to sit in on budgeting and financial meetings, which gave me valuable insight into how project officers manage resources carefully and strategically. I saw firsthand how the Centre operates with remarkable resourcefulness, making the most of limited funds to achieve meaningful impact. Seeing the role my supervisor played in the meeting, it was clear to me that leadership can be quiet. It can mean setting the tone, asking the right questions, or supporting others when they take the lead.

What do I want to develop or focus on next?

Next week marks the final, sixth week of my LiA experience. By Monday of this week, I plan to have the completed and polished version of the Abortion Advocacy & Action Toolkit fully finalized. This includes ensuring that the entire toolkit is graphically designed and visually appealing, using Canva to create a user-friendly format. My focus is to make sure every element is thoroughly reviewed and refined so that the toolkit is not only informative but also accessible, engaging, and inspiring for its intended audience.