About Us
Introduction
We are a registered non-profit company with a focus on building capacity, skills and knowledge in female third generation caregivers, known in South Africa as GOGOs.
Our Vision
goGOGOgo is an innovation, knowledge and research hub which generates and manages programmes aimed at improving the health outcomes and life opportunities of GOGOs and the children they are raising.
Our Mission
To empower GOGOs as change agents to have the ability and opportunity to make changes to benefit themselves and the children they are raising to
Our Aims
Design and implement research-based programmes aimed at supporting and empowering GOGOs through improved health outcomes and life experiences.
Create a platform for advocacy, mobilisation, fund raising and policy development regarding GOGOs to recognise this group of women who hold families and communities together
Build a collaborative network of organisations, research institutions, funders, projects and individuals to recognise and support the role played by GOGOs in raising children.
Our Approach
INDIVIDUAL, CORPORATE AND BRAND PARTNERSHIPS
Connecting potential sponsors with communities, designing outreach activities and managing partnerships.
RESEARCH-BASED INTERVENTIONS, TRAINING AND WORKSHOPS
Community-based projects focusing on capacity development and knowledge generation in grandmothers.
POLICY DEVELOPMENT AND SOCIAL PLANNING
Leveraging findings and research from our pilot programmes to inform government policy and planning.
“If you can instil that thing in your grandchild’s mind, it makes him or her aware of the environment they are in.” - Catherine, gogo from Alexandra
A Brief History
goGOGOgo is a South African non-profit organisation dedicated to supporting grandmothers (known locally as GOGOs) as agents of change, empowering them to promote meaningful, positive life opportunities and health outcomes for themselves, the children in their care and their communities. Our activities include workshops, skills development and income-generating projects aimed at uplifting and empowering GOGOs and their communities.
goGOGOgo was founded in 2020 by Jane Simmonds who holds a MA in Public Health and grew out of her many years spent working with older women in Alexandra, Gauteng.
Speaking about the encounter that led to the founding of goGOGOgo, Jane says: “In 2014 I was asked to do a talk on HIV and AIDS with a group of grandmothers at a “Gogo Day” being hosted by an organisation in Alexandra. After the talk and discussion, I was approached by a grandmother of around 70; she asked me to please help her learn how to speak to her grandchildren about sex. She told me that three of her daughters had died from AIDS and had left her looking after a number of grandchildren. Faced with another generation of children- great grandchildren- being entrusted to her care, she was determined to address her fear of talking about sex in order to have a positive impact on their lives. At the time, I was studying for my Master’s in Public Health at the University of the Witwatersrand and I decided to do my thesis research on how to enable these older women to talk to the children in their care about sex, sexuality and HIV and AIDS.
Whilst doing my research I began to learn and understand more and more about these extraordinary women and the role that that they play in families and communities. Although often marginalised and vulnerable as older women, GOGOs are experts at raising children in very difficult circumstances. The strength, experience and knowledge that they bring to raising children, to families and communities needs to be recognised and celebrated. goGOGOgo aims to do exactly this.”
Where We Are
We operate in rural and urban communities throughout South Africa.
Our head office is based in Johannesburg
We have run programs in:
Gauteng
Alexandra
Diepsloot
Soweto
Limpopo
Hoedspruit
Western Cape
Eersterivier
Fisantekraal
