Impilo Collection Foundation Launches 8 849 Bra Exhibition to Confront GBV

The Impilo Collection Foundation has launched the EmpowerHer: 8 849 Bras for Humanity National Exhibition at Constitution Hill, transforming one woman’s mountain climb into a nationwide movement for dignity, equality and change.

Turning Pain into Purpose

South Africa continues to face one of the world’s highest rates of Gender-Based Violence (GBV). According to the South African Medical Research Council, one in three women will experience physical or sexual violence, and an estimated 2 700 women lose their lives to GBV each year.

In the face of this crisis, the Impilo Collection Foundation seeks to turn despair into action — using empathy, education and solidarity to build a movement that calls every South African to rise together.

A Climb for Change

Earlier this year, Angela Yeung, founder of the Impilo Collection Foundation, became one of the few South African women to summit Mount Everest. Her goal was not personal glory but social change.

On that mountain, she carried a single bra to the summit — inspired by a young girl who once asked her, “Please bring me a bra next time.” That moment revealed a hidden reality: in many under-resourced communities, bras are a luxury, not a basic necessity. For survivors of violence, this absence represents another loss of dignity.

Angela’s climb became a climb for South Africa. Each of Everest’s 8 849 metres came to symbolise a life, a story and a stand against violence. What began as a symbolic gesture has now evolved into a national art installation of courage, featuring 8 849 bras — one for every metre of the world’s highest peak.

A Venue of History and Hope

The exhibition’s home at Constitution Hill carries deep meaning. Once a site of oppression, it now stands as a living monument to South Africa’s democracy, justice and human rights.

At the heart of this exhibition lies Section 12(1)(c) of the South African Constitution:

“Everyone has the right to be free from all forms of violence from either public or private sources.”

The EmpowerHer Exhibition brings this constitutional promise to life, using art, activism, and storytelling to transform public spaces into platforms for healing and accountability.

Exhibition Highlights

Visitors to EmpowerHer: 8 849 Bras for Humanity can experience:

• The Mountain of Bras – a monumental sculpture symbolising unity, resilience and collective strength.
• Panel Discussion – exploring dignity, gender and healing through art and activism on 26 November 2025 (10:00–12:00).
• Interactive Pledge Walls – where visitors can commit publicly to ending gender-based violence.

A National Movement for Change

Following its Johannesburg debut, the exhibition will travel to all nine provinces in 2026 under the theme “Carriers of Courage.”

The Impilo Collection Foundation is engaging corporate sponsors and logistics partners to make this national journey possible. Each provincial showcase will culminate in the distribution of bras and dignity packs to women and girls in need.

“When I stood on the summit of Everest, I promised that every metre climbed would represent a voice for change,” says Angela Yeung. “This exhibition is that promise fulfilled — a reminder that healing begins when we stand together.”

How to Support EmpowerHer

South Africans are invited to take part in this national act of unity through the following:

• Donate – Contribute towards the washing, packaging and labelling of bras (project cost approx. R100,000).
• Partner – Support logistics, transport, accommodation and meals for the national roadshow team.
• Collaborate – Join as a corporate or community partner to extend the reach of the EmpowerHer initiative.

Every contribution becomes part of the Mountain of Hope, helping restore dignity, spark dialogue and advance a future where safety and respect are non-negotiable.

Event Details

Venue: Constitution Hill, Johannesburg
Opening: 26 November 2025
Closing: 10 December 2025
Public Viewing: Daily, 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM (during 16 Days of Activism)