From Everest to Constitution Hill - Impilo Collection Foundation Launches 8 849 Bra Exhibition to Confront Gender-Based Violence

The Impilo Collection Foundation is proud to launch the EmpowerHer: 8 849 Bras for Humanity National Exhibition at Constitution Hill, transforming one woman’s mountain climb into a movement for dignity, equality and change.

South Africa continues to face one of the highest rates of Gender-Based Violence (GBV) in the world. According to the South African Medical Research Council, one in three women will experience physical or sexual violence in her lifetime and an estimated 2 700 women lose their lives to GBV every year.

Against this reality, the Impilo Collection Foundation seeks to turn despair into action. Through empathy, education and solidarity, the organisation is building a collective movement that calls every South African to rise together.

Earlier this year, Angela Yeung, founder of the Impilo Collection Foundation, became one of the few South African women to summit Mount Everest not for glory but for social change.

On that mountain, she carried a single bra to the summit, a simple yet profound act inspired by a young girl who once asked her, “Please bring me a bra next time.” That request revealed a deep and hidden vulnerability: in many under-resourced communities, bras are a luxury, not a given. For women and girls who have survived violence, the absence of such a basic garment is another layer of indignity.

Angela’s climb became a climb for South Africa, each of Everest’s 8 849 metres representing a story, a life and a stand against violence. What began as a symbolic gesture has grown into a national art installation of courage, featuring 8 849 bras — one for every metre of the world’s highest peak.

The exhibition’s venue, Constitution Hill, was chosen for its profound symbolism. Once a site of oppression, it now stands as a living testament to South Africa’s democracy, justice and human rights. At the heart of this project lies Section 12(1)(c) of the South African Constitution:

“Everyone has the right to be free from all forms of violence from either public or private sources.”

The EmpowerHer Exhibition brings this constitutional promise to life using art, activism and community storytelling to transform public spaces into platforms of healing and accountability.

Visitors to the exhibition will experience:

• The Mountain of Bras: a monumental sculpture symbolising unity, resilience, and collective strength.
• A Panel Discussion: exploring the themes of dignity, gender, and healing through art and activism on the 26^th Nov 2025 from 10:00 to 12:00pm
• Interactive Pledge Walls: where visitors can publicly commit to ending GBV.

Following its Johannesburg debut, the exhibition is set to travel to all nine provinces in 2026 under the theme “Carriers of Courage.” The Impilo Collection Foundation is actively engaging corporate sponsors and logistics partners to help make this national journey possible, ensuring that each provincial leg culminates in the distribution of bras and dignity packs to women and girls in need.

“When I stood on the summit of Everest, I promised that every metre climbed would represent a voice for change. This exhibition is that promise fulfilled a reminder that healing begins when we stand together,” says Angela Yeung.

The Impilo Collection Foundation invites South Africans, individuals, corporates and communities to be part of this national act of unity.

How to Support:

1. Donate towards the washing, packaging, and labelling of the bras (project cost: approx. R100,000).
2. Partner to support logistics, transport, accommodation, and meals for the exhibition’s national roadshow team.
3. Collaborate as a corporate or community partner to extend the reach and impact of the EmpowerHer initiative.

Every contribution becomes part of the Mountain of Hope, helping restore dignity, spark dialogue and advance a future where safety and respect are non-negotiable.

Event Details:

Venue: Constitution Hill, JohannesburgOpening: 26 November 2025 – Closing: 10 December 2025Public Viewing: Daily 9AM – 6PM (during 16 Days of Activism)