About Cornerstone Woman
Cornerstone Woman is a unique not-for-profit organisation that offers families and individuals, who are victims of the destructive cycles of abuse, the opportunity to make a new start.
Founded in 2016, by a team of dynamic women and men, Cornerstone Woman has been offering women living in cycles of abuse an opportunity to connect with women who understand them and can offer them a way out. The organisation has undergone many changes over the past seven years and has both refined and improved its model, collaborations and methodologies so as to better serve the ever increasing demands placed on the organisation.
Our Mission
At Cornerstone, our passion lies in aiding others on their journey to overcome the impacts of abuse. Our mission is clear: we're here to pave the way towards recovery for families and individuals who have endured long-term abuse. Through thoughtfully crafted steps and programs that offer unwavering support and empowerment to survivors, we aspire to bring hope and a brighter future to families and individuals who once felt trapped in hopelessness.
OUR SERVICES
Breaking out of an abusive cycle is one of the most difficult things to do. It’s most powerful adversary is independence – financial, emotional and psychological self-empowerment. Which is why we exist – to inspire women to take the steps they need to seek help for themselves and their families and live the life they truly are capable of
This unique program creates as a safe space, facilitates change, and once the change is accepted, provides the tools for the individual to be in true personal alignment. During the 8 years, Samantha was birthing Cornerstone Woman, she moved 60 times as she was invited into different people's homes. This unique opportunity educated her about personal dynamics and the contrast of her healing helped her realise that a truly emotional, mental, and physical support program did not exist, so she created one. This program exists to put you back in the driver's seat of your life so that you can make long-term changes and stop "circling the drain".
Meet the team
Samantha Le Roux is an enthusiastic, determined, and
passionate woman who left high school at 14, to run their family restaurant
business. She continued her career in hospitality both in South Africa and
London. Upon her return to South Africa, Samantha began a career in IT industry
with some of South Africa’s leading blue chip companies.
After achieving accolades for her consistent performance,
Samantha realised her true strength lay in developing people and left the IT
industry to establish a successful mentorship business. Her passion for
enlightening and uplifting those not fully resonating a life well-lived became
her focus. Today, Samantha is the inspirational founder of Cornerstone Woman born
out of Samantha’s personal experience of domestic abuse. She is the proud
single mother of three children..
Happy Molefe is currently a co-founder and a CEO of Bayajula
(Pty) Ltd, an advisory company focusing on Technology, Outsourcing &
Resourcing, Training as well as Business Management Consulting. Happy’s career
spans for about twenty years in human capital management, business management
consulting, corporate management and project management combined experience.
She has held strategic and executive positions in various companies, including
public services entities.
Happy obtained a Bachelor of Science (BSc) degree in Advanced Biology and
Genetics from Wits University. She holds a Certificate in Entrepreneurship
and Management through the University of Pretoria, a Post-Graduate Diploma in
Management Principles - Systems Thinking (PGDM) at the University Of Cape
Town School Of Business and a Master of Business Leadership (MBL) through Unisa
School of Business Leadership (Unisa SBL).
Kevin Van Der Byl has over 23 years’ experience in the
financial services and automotive sectors, with a focus on the marketing,
sales, account management, and asset-based finance industries. His core skills
range from marketing, product development and design, sales and business
management with a focus on business plan design, implementation and analysis,
corporate strategy and operational management.
Kevin has been married for 21 years and is the proud father of five children.
He enjoys his role as a youth coach at his local church, and lends his business
skills to assist organisations who provide social services. Kevin has a
marketing diploma with the North-West University and an MBA with Milpark
Business School
Testimonials
After deep childhood trauma, for over 20+ years I tried everything. Endless psychologists, coaches, workshops, etc. All of these had a great impact but there was a deep wound that I never felt safe enough to share, and that kept my mind hostage, it kept me in doubt, pain, fear, and disbelief. This was destroying me and all of my relationships. When Sam found me, I was beginning to lose hope, and I was in a very dark place. I constantly withdrew from life. Samantha’s masterful healing way was the strength I needed. Through her deep intuitive guidance and ability to help me see the truth for myself, I was released. After that, the REAL healing could begin. I have gained myself back and my connection to God is growing from strength to strength. I feel hopeful, joyous and alive... I am becoming whole and I cannot thank her enough for the blessings I am now open to. Truly a wOw experience!
I have always struggled to deal with my emotions and
struggled to control them. I found that psychologists never really helped me.
It got to the point where I attempted to take my own life but was found in
time. I was referred to Cornerstone Woman by my grandmother who then introduced
me to Sam Le Roux. Sam changed my life in many ways. She showed me that I had a
purpose and she actually saw the pain I was feeling and did not invalidate my
feelings just as everyone else did. Sam told me that one day if I was willing
to, I could tell my story to the world and help people in doing so. I felt safe
and understood when telling my story for the first time which for me was
usually impossible. I was taught that life can be hard and painful but that is
makes you into the person you are. I am strong because of what happened in my
life doesn’t define who I am anymore. My mom left when I was a baby and I
always believed it was something it did wrong or maybe I was not the child she
wanted to have. In this journey with Sam she helped me realize that I was not
the problem. My mom had her own problems growing up and was not ready perhaps
to be a mother which is not an excuse for her, but knowing this helped me get
the closure I deserved. Since being counselled by Sam, I’ve realized my worth.
I see life with a more positive mind set and see myself worthy of love, whether
it be from friends or family. My father’s mindset has not changed much since
my journey started, but I have learnt to not let it affect me or the way I see
myself. Cornerstone Woman has changed my outlook on life which I will be
forever grateful for.
I am truly grateful to have had the opportunity to work with
Sam from Cornerstone Woman. After going through a challenging divorce, I found
myself feeling stuck and doubting my own worth and abilities. It was a
difficult time in my life, and I wasn't sure how to move forward positively. That's
when I came across Sam's wOw experience. From the moment I
joined, I felt a shift in my perspective.
Sam's guidance and support helped me see that I am not worthless; in fact, I
have a multitude of talents and strengths that I had been overlooking. Through
her insightful coaching and empowering sessions, I regained my
self-confidence and discovered my true potential. The wOw experience
provided me with a safe and nurturing environment to explore my personal growth
journey. Sam's unique approach, filled with empathy and encouragement, allowed
me to confront my doubts and fears head-on. Her program helped me break free
from the limitations I had imposed on myself, and I started to embrace new opportunities
with a renewed sense of excitement. What sets Sam apart is her genuine dedication
to her clients' well-being. She tailored her guidance to my specific needs,
allowing me to make progress at my own pace. Her unwavering belief in my
abilities became a driving force behind my personal transformation. Thanks to
Sam and the wOw experience, I am now on a path of self-discovery
and empowerment. I've learned that my worth is immeasurable, and I'm excited to
continue growing and pursuing my passions. I can confidently say that working
with Sam was a turning point in my life, and I wholeheartedly recommend her
program to anyone seeking positive change and personal growth. Thank you, Sam,
for helping me see my own light and guiding me toward a brighter future..
My husband and I had been having marital issues for many
years. This was due to infidelity on his part, my health issues, financial
stress, and the stress that comes with being parents of 3 children. After the
most recent incident with my husband, I believe it was to be the straw that
broke the camels’ back. I discussed the issues with Samantha from Cornerstone,
thinking she could walk me through the valley of death towards the divorce.
What I received was quite the opposite. Samantha and I had many discussions,
and eventually brought my husband into a meeting as well. We were reminded of
the covenant which a marriage essentially is, and that this should not be
broken. We were given tasks in order to remind ourselves of the reasons we were
married in the first place. After much guidance, we were on our way to
restoring our broken marriage. In order to strengthen our relationship with
God, we were introduced to Happy and Morgan. Our walk with them has just begun,
but they have already had a profound influence on both of us. Reminding us of
God’s love for us, and helping us to connect better with Him. Through all of
this, our insecurities and doubts are brought out into the light in order for
us to deal with them, therefore helping us to get to a point where we truly
love and care for one another again. I want to give a huge thanks to the team
at Cornerstone. I thank you for being mentors, for being friends, and for
providing brutally honest feedback even when it’s painful to our egos.
In 2017 I became involved with a man. A man I was intrigued
by and a man my son was crazy about because he took him fishing. He lived in a
beautiful Estate, somewhere I’ve always wanted to live. A man who was a drunk
and a cocaine addict, a man who emotionally, financially and eventually
physically abused me. During my time with this man, I became small and
insignificant, and lost all sense of reality as I joined in on the misuse of
cocaine and alcohol. I knew it was wrong and I knew it was not the kind of
atmosphere I wanted my son in, but it was fun and most importantly it numbed
the pain. Most of the time, the man and I were ok but when we fought it was
mean. He called me unrepeatable names, accused me of indescribable sins and
worst of all, alienated me from all my friends and even my family. A true
narcissist. I would crumble, mostly because I wanted it to work out, I wanted
to stay because my son was happy. The day this man kicked me after much verbal
abuse, was the day I came to my senses. This was the day I called on my friend
Sam from Cornerstone Woman. We had spoken many times before and she easily
recognized evil in this man. She told me he was not right and that I should
leave, but sadly I stayed until the final blow. By this time, he had turned on
me and on my son, blaming him for trying to kill his dog! Through many chats
and a few nights spent over at Sam’s, my son and I realize that there was no
going back. We deserved more and better, we were worthy of REAL love and care.
I remember Riley being so angry, we were leaving the Estate where he could
fish!! Sam and I managed to calm him down and explain to him the true goings on
in the household. I am forever grateful to Sam and Cornerstone Woman for the
care, love and kindness given at a time when we felt like all was lost. The
moment we left this man, I stopped taking cocaine and abusing alcohol. My son
realized and saw this man for the true evil he was and even though he was never
exposed to the drugs or abuse dished out to me, he knew I was happier away from
that relationship. I am now with a partner who loves and appreciates me. Riley
loves him too. Thanks be to God and Cornerstone Woman’s wOw experience!