Jesus said, 'You are the light of the world. Let your light shine before men, and they may see your good deeds and praise your father in heaven'.” Mathew 5:14-16

Lorna Philander (45), a mother of three, grew up as a street child in the Western Cape. As she matured she started realizing that a person can start building on their dreams. She rose above her personal predicament and now works to improve the lives of many helpless. She is involved in women's rights issues and matters affecting children and delinquents.

Lorna started out on the hard side of life. She was poor, homeless and alone. She had to learn at an early age how to fend for herself. She lived in the harsh and unforgiving streets of the Western Cape. As a girl she was prone to abuse and exploitation from the male street children and the gangs that engage in illicit trades of drugs and prostitution. Lorna is a living testimony to the strength of the human spirit and the will to change one’s life completely. Her life has been full of hardships including an abusive marriage and the death of three of her six children. She married young and divorced early. As a child, Lorna had always dreamt of taking all her friends from the streets into a safe haven. So she got involved in community projects. She established a soup kitchen. She got involved in women's rights issues and matters affecting children and delinquents. She has faced many dangers from various gangs that accuse her of intrusion. She is an active member of an organization that promotes urban farming. Lorna is a member of the Blaauwberg Early Learning Association, an organization that is dedicated to improving the lives of underprivileged children. She is the chairperson of the Mamre Farmers' Organisation, which is dedicated to reviving farming in urban areas. One of the missions of this organization is to empower women in farming and farm management.

Mamre Farmers' Organisation