SA: Successful George, Knysna Sunrise Summit

The George and Knysna Sunrise Campaign Summit was successfully held at Black Water River Lodge in Knysna from 5–6 November 2025. The two-day summit brought together 21 entrepreneurs who are part of the Sunrise Campaign to showcase their best practices and share their inspiring journeys of growth and empowerment since the inception of the project.

Participants delivered exceptional presentations that reflected the remarkable progress they have made in strengthening and sustaining their businesses. Their stories demonstrated the impact of the Sunrise Campaign in equipping women entrepreneurs with the skills, confidence, and resilience to thrive.

The summit concluded with a prestigious Awards Ceremony on 6 November at 18h00, celebrating excellence in two categories — Established Entrepreneurs and Start-up Entrepreneurs. In each category, awards were presented to the Winner, First Runner-up, and Second Runner-up, recognizing outstanding achievements and innovation among the participants.

Start-Up Category:

Winner: Fagmeeda Jansen

First Runner-Up: Sharon Swartz

Second Runner-Up: Elsie Pieterse

Established Category

Winner: Cecilia Williams

First Runner-Up: Beatrice Ruiters

First Runner-Up: Sulanche Booysen

Second Runner-Up: Ingrid Buys

All participants received Certificates of Participation, while the winners were honoured with Certificates and Medals – Gold for Winners, Silver for First Runner-ups, and Bronze for Second Runner-ups.

An inspiring highlight of the event was a keynote address by Francine Waggenaar, an experienced entrepreneur, who encouraged participants to remain steadfast in their journeys, reminding them that “it is possible, no matter what.”

Reflecting on the success of the summit, Naledi Masipa, Gender Links SA Sunrise Campaign Manager, said: “The growth we witnessed among our entrepreneurs is truly inspiring. Each participant’s story is a testimony of courage, determination, and transformation. The Sunrise Campaign continues to light the way for women to rise, build, and lead sustainable businesses that change lives.”

The summit served as a powerful platform for learning, networking, and celebrating progress, reinforcing Gender Links’ ongoing commitment to empowering women through entrepreneurship and sustainable development.