The exciting and informative years of my personal development and also an awakening of the strength and power of women in society.
At the age of 50 I found my voice and each day am challenged by the extraordinary ways in which I can influence what I say and do in order to bring about wholeness in the lives of people that I meet.. I am an Executive Director of the Western Cape Blind Association which gave birth to the Light and Healing Centre which provides employment to blind and partially sighted men and women in Aromatherapy Massage. I have learnt so much about myself working amongst the visually impaired and carry these building blocks as I proceed through life.
My name is Avril Hoepner and I am a mother of four and grandmother of five. I am married to Lawrence Who is my husband, friend and soul mate. We have been married for 42 years. During the apartheid Years I was an activist and involved in the dismantling of apartheid. These were exciting and informative years of my personal development and also an awakening of the strength and power of women in society.
I am also Chairperson of IPDM (Institute Promoting Disability Manpower and the Western Cape Network of Disability
My Passion:
I am extremely passionate about our country and the belief that we can all benefit from this extraordinary rainbow nation. I have hope that one day my children and their children will reap the benefits of a lifelong struggle for freedom in our country. My passion in the area of development feeds me daily as I witness the profound rising up of individuals from dark and deep depression and poverty from victim to victorious in their circumstances. I love dancing and sewing where I can abandon my fears and doubts and breathe in the world of colour and music.
My Dream:
My dream is that we shall all wake up one day and see each other with new eyes. That race, religion, colour and culture differences will not be a stumbling block but a building block to a new South Africa that we dreamt about in 1994. Alluta Continua!
How I would change our world:
Listen instead of talking. Hear with the inner soul which brings healing. Stop judging each other and try and understand the reason why people behave in destructive ways. Reach out and touch each other with a newfound hope and healing in our land. These are the building blocks that I have received from my years of friendship with blind and partially sighted men and women.
