Loss-iLahleko is a creative psycho-social program that draws on the unique knowledge and value of indigenous cultures and languages, working through creative writing and our inner sources of healing. The programmes’ mission is to educate and empower women, children and youth who are the most vulnerable to GBV.  Although GBV affects people of all classes and races, our NGO focuses on helping children, youth and women living in rural areas as they are the most marginalized group in South Africa. Rural communities struggle with some of the most basic services and opportunities, namely access to social services, access to opportunities in the arts industry and even access to art which has the power to both heal and liberate. South Africa also has a beautiful and tragic history with its diverse cultures, with many South Africans finding themselves now having to fight to hold on to their indigenous languages which not only retain a part of our identities but also hold our personal and ancestral memories. Rooted in indigenous languages, Loss-iLahleko, explores loss of body, mind, trust, faith and language; and seeks to find alternative creative ways of healing.

At the beginning of 2020 Qhali had just moved to a small town in the Eastern Cape with her two children. She had moved to Makhanda to take time to heal after suffering a great loss. Loss was a theme that had gripped the nation at the time. In response to the upsurge of GBV cases and a great need to connect with others, she began to curate Loss- iLahleko (a national choreopoem) held together by poems and stories from women across South Africa in all the official indigenous languages.  The book was inspired by Qhali’s thesis which explored her own experiences of loss, loss for a black woman, a child and a mother.  In 2021 Qhali established Loss-iLahleko as the flagship programme for the QS Youth Creative Mission (NPC) bringing together the world of art and development to empower and support disadvantaged children, youth and women.  The programme invites others to read, write, share and tap into their own creative source of healing. 

The Loss-iLahleko indigenous book series is now South Africa’s first multilingual, inclusive and all-female written poetry and prose guidebook series that gives insight into the shadow pandemic that has long gripped South Africa and the globe. Through a collection of poetry, short stories, and songs, all interwoven into a multilingual choreopoem; supported by guidelines and key themes, these books will take you through a journey of personal loss, whilst providing insight into the injustice that has thus far evaded the globe. But, along the journey you will be called to hope, to reflect and to heal with others because no one should be alone on this journey. The stories in the collection give insight into some of the harshest realities that millions of children and women are living through, right now. Written by twelve remarkable South African female voices from across the literary scene, in the various official SA languages, with a cover illustration by one of the country’s trailblazing young illustrators. 

The Loss-iLahleko outreach program is the flagship program of the QS Youth Mission. With workshops formed around the contents of the books, the main goal of the programme is to contribute towards achieving the global goal of Gender Equality. The program works to bring Gender Equality and GBV awareness to children, youth and women, through innovative and engaging mediums which include arts-centred capacity building workshops, where everyone receives free copies of the Loss – iLahleko books, free access to the Loss – iLahleko audio-visual website and care packages. 

New Indigenous Arts Creations

To date the Loss-iLahleko book series has produced:

• Loss-iLhaleko (a national choreopoem) which is the original anthology and survival guide and the book that gave birth to this multidisciplinary mission. 
• 10 literary translation works of the original book, translated by the incredible women across SA, in several South Africa’s languages. These ten volumes contain poetry, stories, themes and guidelines on GBV.  
• A bilingual children’s guide book with original artwork and poetry created for children between the ages of 10 and 13. 
• The Loss-iLahleko audiobook which transports the listener into the worlds of many children and women, weaving together music, sound, and poetry.

Our objectives are: 

• To encourage the preservation and use of indigenous languages
• To spread awareness and information about GBV and Gender equality 
• To discourage and reduce GBV amongst young people 
• To spread awareness on and provide support for Mental Health linked to GBV 
• To encourage youth and women to seek help and actively heal 
• To contribute towards social cohesion and nation building 
• To motivate and encourage young people and women of colour   
• To encourage self-expression and healing through arts and writing