Yibani nathi

Yibani nathi is an initiative geared towards helping adoptive families raise their South African born children in a Finnish context and culture. It is an effort to introduce the families to south african culture, heritage, customs and traditions and is aimed at empowering the children in a way that they can grow up owning and embracing their south african roots. We address issues of identity, ancestral connections, languages, inclusion, diversity, representation and more day to day aspects of south african culture. Yibani nathi was conceived in 2016 and is gradually growing in its reach and footprint.


There are many challenges and realities that adoptive families have to face in the process of raising wholehearted and well rounded children in a context where whiteness is the standard.Embracing difference becomes an issue of paramount importance. Sometimes it may take a lot to inculcate a sense of belonging to one who is visibly different in an otherwise homogeneous community or society. Addressing issues of otherness becomes almost inevitable. It is our desire at Yibani nathi to be of help in finding ways of helping the children and their families navigate various spaces safely and confidently through collective support from individuals from all walks of life, who are in the position to help in any which way. Yibani nathi has become a collective initiative.