Every story has a context. Every person deserves to be heard.
The Empathologist Foundation began with an adoption and a question: what happens to the mother whose story is so often left behind?
What followed was a journey that led us to look beyond one experience and begin exploring the circumstances, relationships and social realities that shape how women experience pregnancy, motherhood and parenthood.
Today, we are a South African non-profit organisation working alongside women and families, combining emotional care, practical assistance and skills development with a growing commitment to listening to communities and learning from their experiences.
We don’t believe there is one solution for every situation. We believe support should start with the person, not with a predetermined answer.
Where it began
The story of The Empathologist Foundation begins with one adoption.
Our founding directors, Jose and Wayne, experienced the profound joy of welcoming a child into their family through adoption. But alongside that joy came another story: the story of the child’s biological mother.
Learning about the circumstances surrounding her decision changed the way we understood adoption.
We realised that while adoption is often discussed through the experiences of the child and the adoptive family, the biological mother’s circumstances, wellbeing and future can easily become invisible.
We could not leave her story behind.
We began wondering about the many other women whose lives are shaped by difficult circumstances surrounding pregnancy, motherhood, adoption and parenthood.
That was the beginning of The Empathologist Foundation.
What started with a desire to support one woman has grown into a wider commitment to understanding women’s experiences and walking alongside them as they navigate their own circumstances and possibilities.
From one story to a wider understanding
Our work began with biological mothers who had placed their children for adoption. Over time, our understanding has grown.
The circumstances surrounding pregnancy and motherhood can be shaped by relationships, family pressure, poverty, stigma, access to information, social expectations, support systems and many other factors.
A woman may be navigating an unexpected pregnancy, considering adoption, living with the emotional consequences of adoption, raising a child alone or caring for a child within a wider family. She may also be facing economic insecurity or struggling to access opportunities.
These experiences cannot always be understood in isolation.
We have become increasingly interested in the wider ecosystem surrounding motherhood: the people, relationships, circumstances and expectations that influence women’s experiences, choices and possibilities.
This perspective informs both our direct support and our commitment to community listening through Community Conversations.
The first 1,000 days
Pregnancy, birth and the earliest months of a child’s life form an important period in the development and wellbeing of both mother and child.
Yet the circumstances surrounding these first 1,000 days can look very different from one family to another.
A child may remain with their mother, enter foster or family care, or become part of an adoptive family. Each situation carries its own relationships, needs and realities.
Our role is not to promote one particular outcome. It is to recognise the importance of care, stability, connection and informed support at the beginning of a child’s life, while ensuring that the women at the centre of these experiences are not forgotten.
The Values That Guide Our Work
Empathy
We believe in the power of empathy, fostering compassion and solidarity within our community.
Diversity
Diversity is celebrated as a strength, embracing unique perspectives and contributions.
Respect
Integrity
Integrity ensures
accountability and ethical conduct in all our projects and daily activities.
Transparency
Transparency builds
trust by maintaining openness and honesty in all our actions.
Collaboration
Transparency builds
trust by maintaining openness and honesty in all our actions.
The Team
Different journeys. Shared commitment.
The Empathologist Foundation brings together people from different backgrounds, professions, generations and life experiences. Some bring professional expertise; others bring knowledge shaped by their own journeys. Together, we share a belief in listening, empathy and human connection.
With a background in social anthropology, education, communication and business consultancy, Jose is deeply committed to fostering positive change through community-driven initiatives.
He specialises in participatory approaches and community-level processes, with a particular interest in creating spaces where people can share their experiences and have their voices heard.
Jose believes that meaningful change begins with listening, and that sometimes one conversation can be the beginning of something much bigger.
As a former Creative Director in the advertising and communications industry, Wayne brings creativity, strategic thinking and innovative problem-solving to the Foundation.
His experience in communication has shaped his belief in the power of good ideas to raise awareness, challenge perceptions and create practical solutions.
Wayne is particularly passionate about using creativity to address social issues and make difficult conversations more accessible and human.
The youngest member of the original team, Moss has an educational background in psychology, history and gender studies and is a writer and activist.
Moss feels compelled to use words to create a kinder future and has a strong interest in the individual stories and experiences that shape who we become.
As a trans individual, Moss became familiar with difficult personal processes at a young age. These experiences have contributed to a deep appreciation for identity, connection and the importance of creating spaces where people can be understood rather than judged.
After 15 years in corporate sales and marketing, Anneke took the plunge to become an entrepreneur and a single mother to her adopted son.
Today, her company, Mamamac´s Bakery, employs more than 25 women, many of them single mothers themselves, giving her a very personal understanding of the challenges women face, particularly in rural South Africa.
Anneke is passionate about the positive impact small businesses can have in the communities they serve, especially through access to opportunities, education and economic independence.
Although Laura is the only member of the Foundation’s core team living outside South Africa, her connection to the organisation and to the people we work with has been there from the beginning.
As a mother of two, she understands many of the joys and challenges that come with parenthood and brings empathy and commitment to her role as a Trustee.
From Spain, Laura has helped raise funds and build connections to support our work in South Africa. She is also developing Hamba Naye, our sister organisation in Spain, creating new bridges between the two countries and helping more people become part of the journey.
Community Engagement Team
As our work has grown, so has our team. Our Community Engagement team brings new voices, experiences and perspectives into the Foundation and into Community Conversations.
Nasiphi Dafethi — Community Engagement
Nasiphi is a social butterfly who enjoys connecting with people and hopes to use her business and communication skills to create opportunities for women across South Africa.
One of her happiest and most meaningful achievements was finally receiving her ID after struggling for more than three years to obtain it.
Seeing how documentation opened doors to opportunities for her future made her particularly passionate about supporting women who face similar barriers when trying to access essential documents and services.
Nasiphi values kindness, confidence and independence. She is committed to continuing to develop her own skills while helping create opportunities for growth and financial independence for women.
Noluvo Mbizo — Community Engagement
Noluvo is passionate about helping others, offering emotional support and giving people hope without judgement.
She values humanity and compassion.
One of her proudest moments was receiving her matric results at the age of 23. Just a week later, she became a mother, beginning another important chapter in her life.
These experiences strengthened her determination to continue pursuing her dreams.
Although she initially hoped to become a social worker, Noluvo has chosen to explore Early Childhood Education. As a mother herself, she is passionate about creating safe and supportive environments where children can grow emotionally, personally and confidently.
Avidas Qinga — Community Engagement
Avidas is an honest, diligent and driven young woman who takes pride in her work and is committed to creating opportunities that make a meaningful difference.
One of her greatest achievements has been remaining focused on her education and continuing to pursue her goals despite losing the support of a parent. This experience has taught her the importance of perseverance and believing in herself.
Avidas values confidence, accountability, self-awareness and good communication. Her vision is to become a successful entrepreneur who creates opportunities for herself and helps uplift mothers and women, encouraging them to persevere and overcome adversity.
Hamba Naye
Building bridges between Spain and South Africa.
Hamba Naye is the sister organisation of The Empathologist Foundation being established in Spain by Laura Olcina.
It has grown from the desire to extend the connections and learning developed through our work in South Africa, bringing together people who want to contribute their time, knowledge, experience and resources to initiatives supporting women, girls, families and communities.
Our work on the ground is shaped by listening. Jose develops programmes alongside the local team and, most importantly, alongside the women and communities with whom we work. Their needs, dreams, aspirations and ideas help shape the projects we develop.
Hamba Naye will help create bridges between Spain and South Africa, opening up new possibilities for collaboration and shared learning.
It is another way of making the circle wider.