Government officials, law-enforcement officers, industry executives, and community champions gathered at the Artistry in Sandton for AWARE.org’s Impact Celebration and 2026 Strategy Preview an evening that showed how powerful joint action can be.
“A shared purpose drives real change, and this year proved it,” said AWARE.org CEO Mokebe Thulo. He pointed to strong partnerships with the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality, the Gauteng Department of Transport, the Gauteng Liquor Board, and the Eastern Cape Department of Social Development, saying these relationships shaped the organisation’s progress throughout the year.
These partnerships allowed AWARE.org to expand its impact across the country. By the third quarter of 2025, the organisation had reached more than 112,000 learners and 14,500 parents through underage drinking interventions, supported 3,456 roadblocks resulting in 6,145 DUI arrests, and engaged more than 3,400 women through Sober Pregnancies initiatives. Mokebe noted that their work is recognised both locally and internationally, with honours at the MARK, Next Gen, Shorty, Loerie, and Anthem Awards. “Most importantly, it is recognised by the lives we touch,” he said.
Celebrating Partners Driving Change
The evening honoured partners working on the ground to reduce alcohol-related harm. From NPOs to law-enforcement teams to private-sector contributors, each organisation plays a role in shifting behaviour and building safer communities. Deputy Minister of Women, Youth, Children and Persons with Disabilities, Mmapaseka Steve Letsike, praised AWARE.org’s whole-of-society model. “Real impact happens when communities, businesses, and government move together. Our efforts meet at the point where safety and dignity matter most,” she said.
Human Stories That Bring the Work to Life
Youth sports coach Boitumelo Mahlangu shared how AWARE.org’s programmes change young people’s paths. Through her work with Altus Sport, she helps teenagers understand the risks of underage drinking. She spoke about Bikiri, a boy once pulled toward drinking who now champions sober choices and dreams of becoming a Doctor. “Being AWARE isn’t about the T-shirt. It’s the choice you make and the action you take,” she said.
A Vision for 2026
AWARE.org Chairperson Jordi Borrut-Bel spoke about the organisation’s progress across its three pillars, saying the results reflect what happens when people and institutions pull in the same direction. “When we work together, behaviour shifts, communities grow stronger, and lives move forward,” he said.
Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) came up repeatedly throughout the evening as partners reflected on the realities facing families across the country. The condition develops when alcohol is consumed during pregnancy and can affect a child’s learning, memory, attention, social skills, and coordination. Its impact varies widely, but one point remained clear FASD is entirely preventable. That understanding shaped much of the conversation, with partners calling for more consistent awareness efforts and stronger support systems for mothers and children, particularly in communities where the risks often go unnoticed.
Implementation Partner Awards 2025
The celebration closed with the AWARE.org Implementation Partner Awards, which recognised teams driving meaningful work across all pillars. SANCA Central Ke Moja, United Through Sports, the Eastern Cape Liquor Board, NMBMPD, TMPD, RTMC, JMPD, School of Hard Knocks, NxtGenWomxn for Mothers, and FARR received honours for their commitment. “These awards salute partners whose work produces real and lasting results,” Thulo said.
