Nadine Dirks
- Award:Junior Ranger Youth VolunteerAwarding Organization:South African National ParksDate Awarded:October 15, 2010
- Award:Junior Rangers Youth Education VolunteerAwarding Organization:South African National ParksDate Awarded:December 12, 2011
- Award:Junior Rangers Youth VolunteerAwarding Organization:South African National ParksDate Awarded:December 12, 2012

I serve as a Communications and Advocacy Associate. I have provided project management, planning, media, implementation & advocacy support for advocacy workshops entitled: advocacy & champion building for increase access to comprehensive sexual & reproductive health care on modern contraception methods, affirming history taking, which has had me come into contact with 400 nursing & medical students across SA. The advocacy workshops are dedicated to providing students with science based information regarding modern contraception education & the law. I run the Instagram and Twitter accounts for Nalane for Reproductive Justice. I am a peer education on family planning. I have been on radio and national news re family planning. I have done media & advocacy for a condom usage workshop.
Growing up in post-Apartheid disadvantaged community - I was reliant on the public sector for my health care needs. When I was in my teens, I developed symptoms, which turned out to be endometriosis. Faced with being unable to afford assistance due to stigma, which could have likely helped lessen my pain earlier if I were given hormonal therapy. Experiencing the stigma & ridicule firsthand & seeing others have their rights stripped away from them has fueled my quest for family planning for all.
My family planning work has included being in charge of the My Body My Choice campaign in 2018 to present, for Nalane for Reproductive Justice. I was entrusted with mobilising stakeholders to show up on the day. I assisted with campaign messaging development & lead the way for the organisation on social media in order to get our message out. I communicated with & lead stakeholders, & media ahead of 500 protesters. I galvanised support & received 250 signatures toward the cause.
I would use $1000 to get a laptop as all the work I have been doing has been on my phone. I would also purchase the needed software to create a variety of content which I can produce & house on a blog site. I would use skills I would learn in storytelling & advocacy to mentor young women, as this would help me reach a gender equitable SA wherein young girls don't leave school because of pregnancy. I would use my platform to gain insights to share with my disadvantaged community.


