Ember Travel Diaries: Seeing Community Mental Health In Action In South Africa
Jan 27, 2026
In this travel blog, Head of Strategic Operations Abi Robertson shares reflections from her first visit to South Africa - from seeing community work in action, attending the 7th Global Mental Health Summit, and spending time with the team, to an adventurous hike up the Table Mountain.
And it begins...
My journey to Cape Town began on Tuesday, 11th November, 2025. I arrived at Heathrow 3.5 hours before my flight, just in case…and of course I was checked in, bags dropped and through security in about 15 minutes…That was fine, though, more time to chill and get some food! Opted for Korean BBQ vegetarian chicken and spicy chips, with a side of curry sauce. No judgement on my food combos, please.
Boarding was pretty straightforward, all the way to the back row. It was nice not having anyone kicking the back of my seat, although my already restricted legroom was even more so by the time the person next to me had decided to use half of my space for their own leg room… Luckily, though, I ate my meal (tomato pasta, apple crumble, and custard!) and went straight off to sleep for the bulk of the overnight flight.
Conference Day
I touched down in Cape Town on Wednesday morning and headed straight to my hotel to freshen up before heading to the conference. The Ember team attended the 7th Global Mental Health Summit, hosted by MGMH (Movement for Global Mental Health) and Aves Mental Health, formerly Global Mental Health Peer Network, who are a part of the Ember network of innovators.
I met with my team members, as well as some of the amazing people we work with, including community-based mental health organisations, Huertomanias, Dlalanathi and InsideOutNPO from the Ember network of partner innovators.
I grabbed a (very, very good, I have to say!) iced coffee and headed to some of the afternoon sessions. I listened to talks on psychological disorders in Namibia from Emic and Etic perspectives (a person’s perspective within a particular subject culture vs an objective external viewpoint using theories or an external researcher's own culture), scalable mental health interventions in South Sudan, the impact of primary school environments impact on children’s mental health, and leveraging religiosity as a protective factor for mental health.
We reconvened as a team for the plenary and closing remarks, along with MGMH, Aves, and City Hall volunteers. It was great to see everyone come together to celebrate the week among philanthropists, academics and inspiring speakers. The volunteers even showed off some of their dance skills, keeping everyone in high spirits!
We then went up to stand on the balcony where South Africa’s first black President, Nelson Mandela, addressed the nation after 27 years behind bars at Cape Town City Hall. We took in the view and reflected on the day as a team before heading back to our accommodation.
The Table Mountain Hike: A steep climb, so worth the views!
After a restful evening, I was up at 7:00 AM on Thursday, ready to climb Table Mountain. I was told it was a difficult hike, but 15 minutes in, I really started to believe it…June, Nikita, Costi, and I made the 4.5-hour very steep climb up, stopping at the reservoir and taking in the sensational views along the way. A lot of scaling rocks, climbing waterfalls, a huge intake of water, a flurry of interesting conversations reflecting on the MH Summit and our time in Cape Town so far, some twisted ankles and stubbed toes later, we reached the summit with an even more breathtaking view.
Friday rolled around, and I felt like I’d already seen so much of the beautiful city of Cape Town and met so many extraordinary people.
Seeing Ember Innovators
“This was my first time seeing a programme we support in action”
On Friday morning, we met Jaco Van der Linde, the Founding Director of the Innovator Pedal Project. We spoke about the project, investments and strategy, and were lucky enough to be driven to Phillipi Village to see part of the project in action. Local school children attend two sessions a week throughout the course of the programme, checking in with their mental health and learning about wellbeing and support during the reading days. The second day is their participation in bike riding, proven to have a positive impact on mental health, around a purpose-built bike track and paths situated in the large outdoor space within the Village. It was so rewarding to see the smiles on their faces and know that this was a highlight in these children’s weeks.
On Saturday, we met with team members of the innovator InsideOut NPO. They exist to nurture healing, learning and leadership in communities affected by oppression, violence and inequality. Through transformative training, mentorship and collective action, they empower individuals and organisations to confront historical wounds, break destructive cycles and build sustainable pathways to justice and dignity.
We did a working session with them where we witnessed their methods and activities, and discussed their needs, vision and additional support.
“Fundraising in the community can be a particular hardship, and with minimal funding or government support in the community, that doesn’t match the aspiration held, and growth envisioned for the leaders of this organisation; it is disheartening and may limit the feasibility and impact of the programmes.”
We spoke with InsideOut team- Founding Director Judy Kennedy and Programme Manager Dezz about their methodology, strategy and the impact their programmes have within the community, and it is clear to see they bring so much positive change and effort to break down barriers within Cape Town.
Final Reflections
I had some time before my flight to reflect on the trip, learnings and think about how I can support people and projects moving forward.
This trip opened my eyes in so many ways, visiting a new country and experiencing a new culture, meeting inspirational people making real change and feeling so proud that I am even a tiny part of that. Experiencing this firsthand and being more aware of my privilege has sparked even more passion to continue working with and supporting, however I can, community-based organisations who are making a positive difference in the world.