Your #EpilepsyPledge starts here

This year Epilepsy South Africa is launching a bold new national campaign – Epilepsy Pledge: Epilepsy In Action – calling on all South Africans to take one meaningful step to support persons with epilepsy. This year’s theme, “Epilepsy In Action,” reflects our shared commitment to challenging stigma, expanding access to care, and fostering inclusive communities where people with epilepsy can thrive.

The campaign aligns with International Epilepsy Day on Monday 9 February 2026 and the worldwide launch of the 2026 Epilepsy Pledge campaign, a global movement encouraging individuals, schools, workplaces, and communities to commit to one concrete action that improves understanding, safety, and inclusion.

The #EpilepsyPledge is our collective step forward

The #EpilepsyPledge invites individuals, community groups, schools, workplaces, and epilepsy organisations to take one concrete action during 2026 that strengthens:

Awareness

Safety

Inclusion

Community understanding of epilepsy

Any action counts — big or small — as long as it’s real, achievable, and completed in 2026.

Not everyone can change policy. Not everyone can run a programme, write a guideline, or fund a research study. But everyone can take one action.

-> Dispel one epilepsy myth.
-> Share a story that needs to be heard.
-> Speak up when you hear stigma.
-> Learn seizure first aid.

Change begins with someone choosing to act. Make your #EpilepsyPledge — and let that action be yours.

How The #EpilepsyPledge Works

Using the #EpilepsyPledge hashtag is a way to stand with the estimated 50 million people worldwide who live with epilepsy.

You might be someone living with epilepsy, a caregiver, a friend, or an ally who wants to make a difference.

A pledge is more than a hashtag; it’s a commitment to act, to raise awareness, to challenge stigma, and to help improve the lives of those affected by epilepsy.

An Epilepsy Pledge can take many forms. Below is guidance to help you turn a hashtag into meaningful action.

Step 1 — Choose Your Pledge

Take a pledge as an individual or on behalf of a group.

1) Community Pledges

For schools, sports clubs, libraries, services, and public bodies.

2) Individual/Public Pledges

For anyone, anywhere, who wants to make a difference.

3) Business Pledges

For employers and enterprise representatives.

Step 2 — Make Your Pledge

For example, you can use this simple structure to shape your commitment:

By [date], [organisation/individual] will [take one concrete action] so that [who benefits] can [what change will occur].

Step 3 — Post Your Pledge

Share your pledge on social media and encourage others to join.
Use #EpilepsyPledge and #EpilepsySouthAfrica in your socials please 🙂

You can TAG us on the following:

Facebook: epilepsy.southafrica

Instagram: epilepsy.southafrica

TikTok: epilepsy.south.africa

X (formerly Twitter): EpilepsyZA

YouTube: SAEpilepsy

LinkedIn: epilepsy-south-africa

Step 4 — Register Your Pledge

Registration here allows individuals, community organisations and businesses who want to be part of the 2027 global showcase to be included.

Registration helps us:

✔ add your action to the global impact map

✔ feature your organisation’s achievement in 2027

✔ reflect collective progress across countries

Note: you also have the option of remaining anonymous if you so choose 🙂

Pledge Examples
Not sure where to start?

These examples show the kinds of actions individuals, schools, workplaces, services, and epilepsy organisations can take. Each one is small enough to be achievable, but together, they create meaningful change. Use them for inspiration and shape a pledge that fits your role, capacity, and community.

Community Pledge Examples

By May 2026, [name of school] will provide one seizure first-aid briefing for all teachers so that staff can respond more safely to students with epilepsy.

By June 2026, [name of library] will host one public talk on epilepsy awareness so that local families and community members have better information and understanding.

By September 2026, [name of sports club] will train coaches on basic seizure response so that athletes with epilepsy can participate more safely.

By December 2026, [name of transit company] will introduce simple seizure-awareness guidance for station staff so that public transport becomes a safer and more understanding environment for people with epilepsy.

Individual Pledge Examples

I pledge to learn seizure first-aid so that I can respond more safely if someone has a seizure.

I pledge to challenge one myth about epilepsy so people with epilepsy can be understood, not stereotyped.

I pledge to share one accurate piece of information about epilepsy so more people understand what seizures really are.

pledge to check in on someone living with epilepsy so they know they are valued, supported, and not alone.

I pledge to share campaign messages and resources so more people know how to support epilepsy awareness.

I pledge to use respectful, people-first language when talking about epilepsy so conversations are grounded in dignity.

Your #EpilepsyPledge starts here