8 849 bras displayed at Constitution Hill to raise awareness about GBV
The EmpowerHer: 8 849 Bras for Humanity Exhibition opens at Constitution Hill during the 16 Days of Activism campaign.
Image: Supplied
The Impilo Collection Foundation has launched the EmpowerHer: 8 849 Bras for Humanity National Exhibition at Constitution Hill.
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.
The Impilo Collection Foundation aims to turn despair into action. Through empathy, education and solidarity, the organisation is building a movement that calls on South Africans 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. On the mountain, she carried a single bra to the summit, an act inspired by a young girl who once asked her, “Please bring me a bra next time.”
The exhibition invites South Africans to take a stand against GBV through art and collective action.
Image: Supplied
The request revealed a need in many under-resourced communities where bras are not easily available. For women and girls who have survived violence, the absence of such a garment can add to their loss of dignity.
Yeung’s climb represented South Africa, with each of Everest’s 8 849 metres symbolising a story and a stand against violence. The gesture has grown into a national installation featuring 8 849 bras - one for every metre of the mountain.
Constitution Hill was chosen as the exhibition venue. Once a site of oppression, it now represents South Africa’s democracy, justice and human rights. The project is linked to 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 uses art, activism and community storytelling to turn public spaces into platforms of awareness.
Each of the 8 849 bras represents a metre of Mount Everest and a call to end gender-based violence.
Image: Supplied
Visitors to the exhibition will experience:
The Mountain of Bras: a sculpture representing unity and collective strength.
A panel discussion exploring themes of dignity, gender and healing through art and activism on 26 November 2025 from 10am to noon.
Interactive pledge walls where visitors can commit to ending GBV.
After its Johannesburg debut, the exhibition will travel to all nine provinces in 2026 under the theme “Carriers of Courage.” The Impilo Collection Foundation is engaging corporate sponsors and logistics partners to help make this national journey possible. Each provincial stop will end with 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 foundation invites South Africans, individuals, corporates and communities to take part in the initiative.
How to support:
Donate towards the washing, packaging and labelling of the bras (project cost: approx. R100 000).
Partner to support logistics, transport, accommodation and meals for the national roadshow team.
Collaborate as a corporate or community partner to extend the reach of the EmpowerHer initiative.
Every contribution forms part of the Mountain of Hope, aimed at restoring dignity, sparking dialogue and promoting safety and respect.
Event details: Venue: Constitution Hill, Johannesburg Opening: November 26, 2025 Closing: December 10, 2025 Public viewing: Daily 9am – 6pm (during 16 Days of Activism)