A Summit With Purpose

Reaching the top of Mount Everest is a life-defining achievement. For South African mountaineer, entrepreneur and philanthropist Angela Yeung, however, the summit was only the beginning.

One year after climbing Mount Everest via the North Side, Yeung has fulfilled a promise made 8,849 metres above sea level – to collect and distribute one bra for every metre climbed.

Today, all 8,849 bras gathered through the Impilo Collection Foundation’s #EmpowerHer campaign are being distributed across South Africa’s nine provinces. The donations are reaching women and girls affected by gender-based violence, poverty and vulnerable living conditions through shelters, women’s organisations and frontline support structures.

Turning a Climb Into a National Movement

What began as a symbolic pledge became a nationwide call to action during 16 Days of Activism 2025.

The campaign reached a powerful milestone at Constitution Hill, where 8,849 bras were displayed beside the historic Women’s Jail. The installation transformed an everyday item into a bold statement of dignity, resilience and collective care.

For Yeung, the mission was always about what came after the climb.

“The summit was never the goal. The descent is. Delivering on what we promised – that is the real summit.”

The Simple Request That Sparked Change

The campaign was inspired by a single request Yeung once received: “Please bring me a bra next time.”

That moment exposed a harsh reality. For many women, access to basic essentials linked to dignity remains out of reach.

It became the driving force behind a campaign focused not only on donation, but on restoring confidence, comfort and humanity.

Delivering Dignity to 39 Shelters

With support from volunteers, donors and community partners, the Impilo Collection Foundation is now distributing the bras to 39 shelters across South Africa.

Feedback from beneficiary organisations highlights the campaign’s impact:

• “This donation is highly valued and promotes dignity and wellbeing.”
• “This is something we always need desperately.”

These responses reinforce how small acts of compassion can create meaningful change.

What Comes Next: #EmpowerThem

With #EmpowerHer reaching completion, the Impilo Collection Foundation is expanding its impact through #EmpowerThem, an initiative focused on education and early childhood development.

The foundation continues its mission to create sustainable social change through awareness, collaboration and community-led action.

More than 100,000 lives across South Africa have already been positively impacted through its #EmpowerHer, #EmpowerHim and #EmpowerThem campaigns.

The Legacy of the Climb

One year later, Yeung’s Everest journey stands as a reminder that true achievement is measured not by what is reached at the top, but by what is brought back down to uplift others.

This was never just about climbing a mountain. It was about carrying dignity home.