In recognition of LGBTQ+ History Month in October, the Colour Me Foundation is bringing visibility, pride and celebration to queer communities often overlooked in South Africa’s smaller towns and rural areas.
The organisation has launched the North West Rainbow Recognition Awards, the first initiative of its kind in the province to honour individuals and institutions making a difference.
Recognising Rainbow Excellence Beyond the Cities
Faith Edmunds, co-founder of Colour Me Foundation, explained the significance of hosting such an event outside South Africa’s metropolitan hubs:
“For so long, recognition of LGBTQI+ contributions has been centred around bigger cities, while smaller towns and rural areas have been left behind. This event shows that our stories, our resilience, and our achievements matter just as much. It is not just an award ceremony – it is a statement that the North West LGBTQIA+ community is here, thriving, and deserving of acknowledgement.”
Event Details
The Rainbow Recognition Awards will take place on 4 October at Cappello Mahikeng in the North West Province. On the night, Colour Me Foundation will announce and celebrate those selected for recognition.
Unlike traditional award shows with open nominations, the honourees have already been chosen by the Foundation’s committee after careful research in the province. The aim is to highlight individuals and groups in rural towns who rarely have the platform to showcase their work but who have made a meaningful impact on the ground.
“We wanted to acknowledge those who have been working tirelessly in their communities, often without recognition,” Edmunds said. “These are the people who show us that visibility and resilience matter, even in spaces where resources and support are limited.”
Award Categories
This year’s categories reflect the diversity, creativity and strength of the LGBTQ+ community and its allies in the North West:
• Queer Entrepreneurs of the Year in North West
• Activists of the Year
• Best Rainbow Parenting
• Most Inclusive TVET College
• Best Vocalists
• Most Supportive Creative Ally
Inspiring Visibility in Rural Areas
Edmunds noted that the awards aim to challenge stereotypes and reshape how queer people are perceived in smaller communities:
“Visibility in rural towns is powerful because it sparks conversations where silence has been the norm. It helps families, workplaces, schools, and faith communities see LGBTQI+ people not as distant ‘others’ but as neighbours, colleagues, leaders, and change-makers.”
The initiative also carries a special message for young people in the province who may be struggling with acceptance.
“For young LGBTQI+ people, these awards send a strong message: you are not alone, and your identity is not something to be hidden, it is something to be celebrated. By seeing role models and allies being recognised, young people can begin to imagine brighter futures for themselves.”
Building Lasting Change
Edmunds stressed that the awards are not only about celebration but also about sparking long-term change:
“Beyond the spotlight, these awards are about dialogue, advocacy, and action. They bring together leaders, institutions, and allies to reflect on where we stand and what still needs to change. By recognising individuals and organisations who are driving equality, we inspire others to follow.”
She added that partnerships are vital to sustaining this impact:
“No one can build inclusion alone. The Rainbow Recognition Awards create a platform for ongoing collaboration, whether in education, health, entrepreneurship, or policy – ensuring that inclusion is not a once-off celebration but a sustained movement towards equality in the North West.”
Shining a Light on Unsung Heroes
The Colour Me Foundation’s Rainbow Recognition Awards serve as a powerful reminder that LGBTQ+ history and contributions exist everywhere, not only in South Africa’s major cities, but also in the rural heartlands where visibility can change lives.
