Loide
“To my younger self, there is no dream that is too big for you, and your dreams should not defeat you. You are never too young to dream.”
Loide is a burn survivor and activist who has overcome unimaginable adversity. After undergoing multiple procedures to treat the injuries she sustained from her attacker, she has dedicated her time to helping burn victims receive proper treatment and rehabilitation through her work in the organization Children of Fire. Her voice has brought hope and change to communities impacted by tragedy, and her platform has driven the topic of body positivity to the forefront of conversation. She is defined not by the physical marks of hardship, but rather by the unwavering resilience, leadership, and optimism she has shown in its aftermath. Meet Loide. This is her story.
Photo by @nickboultonphotography
K: Please introduce yourself!
L: I am Loide Ndemueda. People call me Lolo. I was born in Bela-Bela, in the Limpopo Province, but grew up in and out of hospitals in Johannesburg, Gauteng Province.
K: Describe yourself in your own words
L: I am a phoenix, no matter how hard the storms, fires, obstacles come to destroy me. I fight against all odds and brighter I shine. Because I am unstoppable, positive and know that there is no situation that has the power to stop me from embracing who I am.
K: What is your favourite thing about yourself?
L: The favourite thing about myself, I am positive and my ability to accept situations and forgive, and still love and treat everyone equally.
K: Tell us a story. Have you had an experience that has defined you or made you stronger?
L: On the 13th of July 2010, a man deliberately set me and 16 other children on fire with a poison gas. Since that day, I have become stronger and nothing has the power to destroy me.
K: What is one piece of advice you’d give to your younger self?
L: To my younger self, there is no dream that is too big for you, and your dreams should not defeat you. You are never too young to dream.
K: What does being a woman mean to you?
L: Being a woman, means I carry a prestigious identity and entrusted by the universe to bring life on earth. I am powerful and unstoppable.
K: Who is one woman that inspires you? What would you say to her if she were here now?
L: My mu inspires me a lot. She taught me the spirit of standing in solidarity. If she was here, I would thank her for being a great woman.