Acacia Global presents 2024 Leadership Award to Lidiwe Ingrid Zide

Lindiwe Ingrid Zide was recognized with the Leadership Award on December 10th for her extraordinary dedication to uplift her community.

Fifteen years ago, Lindiwe founded the Sugarberry Soup Kitchen. What began as a humble effort selling bread, cakes, and soup quickly evolved into a mission to support the most vulnerable. Initially, she would share leftover food with those in need. When COVID-19 struck and customers stopped coming, Lindiwe witnessed the devastating impact on her community—especially on the elderly and children. In response, she began cooking samp and beans, leaving meals outside the kitchen to ensure people could eat safely.

After the pandemic, Lindiwe resumed selling meals to those who could afford them, but her commitment to feeding the underserved remained steadfast. For those who couldn’t pay, she continued to serve them with compassion. Together with her husband, Roderick, Lindiwe started a vegetable garden to enrich the meals they prepare. Today, Sugarberry Soup Kitchen serves more than 300 people twice a week, including more than 150 children. The income generated from food sales is reinvested into the kitchen, ensuring sustainable support for those in need.

To Acacia Global, Lindiwe exemplifies the spirit of selflessness, community care, and unwavering love and respect for humanity. Her leadership inspires us all to give back and uplift those around us.

Acacia Global

Acacia Global is a U.S.-based nonprofit that partners with non-governmental organizations and community leaders in South Africa to develop the next generation of leaders, meet basic human needs, and address social justice issues.

Founded in 2012, Acacia Global is led by a board of directors who have been involved for nearly 20 years with HIV/AIDS, nutrition, income-generation, education, and leadership development programs in the townships outside of Cape Town, South Africa.

Over the course of our work we have developed deep relationships with individuals and nonprofit organizations that make positive change in communities profoundly affected by poverty, disease, and a lack of educational and economic opportunities.

The places we work

South Africa has a population of 55 million people. Approximately 10 percent of these people control 90 percent of the country’s wealth. Despite the country’s reputation as an economic powerhouse on the African continent, fully one-half of all South Africans live in poverty. More than one in four people are unemployed and, in the townships, nearly seven in 10 young people are without a job. The lack of employment and quality education opportunities impacts daily life in the townships. Thousands of black Africans live in informal settlements. There is limited access to clean water and sanitation. Disease, mental health issues, and violent crime are major issues affecting poor communities.

The townships are also home to incredibly dedicated and talented community activists and leaders. The individuals and organizations with whom we partner are unwavering in their determination to improve the lives of the hundreds of thousands of women, men, and children who call townships like Khayelitsha and Guguletu home.

Learn. Earn. Lead. And Listen.

We got involved in South Africa when a pandemic — AIDS — threatened the future of the African continent. Today, two pandemics — COVID-19 and systemic racism — require us to think and act differently. It’s time for us to listen.

 In August 2020, Acacia Global hosted a listening session featuring important voices from the Black community here and in South Africa: Twin Cities actor T. Mychael Rambo and South African activists Vuyiseka Dubula, and Mandla Majola.

The parallels between the U.S. and South Africa are striking, from the impact of COVID-19 on the BIPOC communities to the on-going failure to address the injustices of apartheid and system racism. To donate to our presenter’s causes: Penumbra Theater Next Generation Program and South Africa Projects: AEDC and MCSJ

Please follow this link to hear a recording of the conversation.