As a South African Company it is our goal to enrich the lives of the people that make this a beautiful country to be part of. To this extent our Social Investment committee aim to partner with organisations and campaigns that are relevant to our brands and work hard at improving the lives of those less fortunate.

Innoxa and O, The Oprah Magazine give back through creating Circle of Women. Celebrating the generous spirit of South African women.

This year, O, The Oprah Magazine and Innoxa launched the Circle of Women campaign, which is aimed at harnessing the collective power of women to uplift themselves and others in their communities, by sharing hope and healing. As born nurturers, women are naturally wired to give to those in need and band together when something needs doing. The campaign was launched in the January 2010 issue of O : Each month one group of women is profiled in the magazine and Innoxa is contributing towards their cause and needs.

"When women join forces, life just seems to get better, which is why we are lauding groups who, through their circle of friends, have identified causes to support within their communities," says Samantha Page, editor of O, The Oprah Magazine. "O magazine is a fitting platform to celebrate women who are not just talking about giving, but are doing so on a daily basis because living a life of service is core to O."

"We are truly excited about this campaign as it is embodies our philosophy of giving back", says Tracey Rowles, group brand manager of Innoxa. "Ten percent of profits from the body pampering range are donated to communities working to uplift South African women. We hope that this drive in O magazine will help us to identify and assist more projects where women are Involved in helping their communities."

How to enter:
To nominate a circle of women who have found hope and healing through banding together, write a 500-word letter of motivation, telling us who you are nominating and why. Include the names of the women and their contact details. Post your letter to: Innoxa Circle of Women/ O, The Oprah Magazine/ P.O. Box 3687/ Cape Town 8000, or e-mail it to oprahcomp@assocmags.co.za with "Innoxa Circle of Women" in the subject line.

Alternatively SMS O, The Oprah Magazine on 34778. Begin the SMS with Innoxa Circle of Women and give your name and contact number or go towww.innoxa.co.zato find out more or to submit your entry.

Whether in or out of the water, the members of the Amabele Belles dragon boat-racing team share an affectionate camaraderie. These women, all breast cancer survivors from Cape Town, have been paddling together, twice a week, since 2006. "[We] choose not to focus on the disease while being part of this team, but on living life to the full." Although the exercise is beneficial, they are "first and foremost a floating support group." Their support spills over to other women, too, as they visit oncology patients, hand out informative pamphlets and give inspirational talks. Courtesy of O, The Oprah Magazine and Innoxa, each "belle" received a hamper of Innoxa's luxury body-pampering products, plus a sweep oar for their dragon boat that needed to be imported from Canada, to enable the whole team to train together more effectively.

"Bobbi Bear has taught me patience, love, confidence and, most importantly, strength. I have overcome all my hurt and can now direct my energy and passion into the children we serve at Bobbi Bear," says Eureka Olivier, a member of the Bobbi Bear team. The women who work at Bobbi Bear all have their own story to tell - some were orphaned; others were victims of physical and sexual abuse - but they have turned these negative experiences into something positive. Together with Bobbi Bear founder Jackie Branfield, they now work tirelessly to ensure the safety of at-risk children in their community. And Bobbi Bear has become their place of safety too. "Jackie is my mother and Bobbi Bear is my family," says Bobbi Bear child safety officer and counsellor Mildred Ngcobo. Innoxa will assist Bobbi Bear with the upgrading of their new safe home in Durban, by paying for the installation of a much-needed security door for their new premises.

Amanda Sickle's dream was to help young women in her community of Mitchells Plain to become independent, and grow from being victims to victors, especially in their relationships. But she knew she couldn't do it alone. "I told my three closest friends I needed them, and they didn't hesitate." None of the women are trained counsellors, but they offer support to others by sharing from their own life experience. The group has grown from 10 ladies to over 40 women of all ages. "When women talk to women, you can see them restoring each other," says Amanda. Innoxa and O, The Oprah Magazine is giving the four founding members the chance to attend counselling training courses, plus luxurious hampers of Innoxa body-pampering products.

"Women today face many responsibilities and demands, as we juggle our careers, studies, relationships, marriage, motherhood and more," says Moroesi Simelane. "That's why we need to share special moments with female friends." Her circle - a group of eight twenty-something professionals - recharge once a month with an informal "She Talk" session at one of their homes, where they share ideas, offer guidance and support, and just have fun. The group recently started a Big Sister initiative, in which each of the members "adopted" a girl (a relative, neighbour or family friend) between the ages of 13 and 21. "We each identified a younger girl to mentor. Our role is to be hands-on, Involved in every aspect of our little sisters' lives." Innoxa and O, The Oprah Magazine are joining in the spirit of giving by providing each of the young girls with everything they need for winter, including blankets, uniforms and winter woolies, while each friend has received a hamper of Innoxa's luxurious new products.

Like many South Africans, Susie Pather loves cricket - so much so, that her friend Thabile Mangale suggested she use her passion for the sport to help others. "I decided to set up a women's cricket team that would contribute to social upliftment in some way," says Susie. The Collegian Women's Cricket Team has come a long way since 2006. Today it is registered with the KZN Cricket Union and competes against other women's teams in the province. The cricketers act as sporting mentors to 20 disadvantaged girls in grades three to five at Addington Primary School, who train with the team every Saturday at the ABSA Stadium in Durban. Although they always have fun, without sponsorship it has been challenging to get all the women and girls to the stadium or to away games. Innoxa and O, The Oprah Magazine are sponsoring the teams transport costs this coming season, and each woman will receive a hamper of luxurious body-pampering produces, to restore and refresh after those long cricket matches.

Six years ago Linda Diedericks was invited to join 10 other women in a grocery club, (buying groceries together, in bulk, to save money). As the women got to know each other, the huge savings they envisioned making were augmented by something infinitely more valuable - real friends. "Groceries were often the last thing on our minds; we were more interested in discussing matters close to our hearts - the death of a loved one, a painful divorce, dealing with teenage children or starting a new business," says Linda. "Being away from the group since relocating has taught me the value of belonging to a women's network." Linda still keeps in touch with the club, who now use their grocery money to help a favourite charity each year and arrange fundraising activities to support women's empowerment organisations, like the WHEAT Women's Fund. Since the grocery group believe in giving back, they've asked Innoxa and O to provide food, blankets and other necessities for two children's homes in the Western Cape - the Home of Hope and Zonnebloem Home for Children. Each of the ladies will also receive a luxurious hamper of Innoxa products.

Media contact:
Jaco-Louis Groenewald
PR Manager - Associated Magazines
Tel: 021 464 6250
Cell: 083 234 0760
E-mail: jacolouis@assocmags.co.za
Gabi Louw
PR Consultant - Innoxa
Tel: 021 671 8955
Cell: 083 455 4774
Email: gabi@upfrontmarketing.co.za