The Lunchbox Fund and the Development Bank have committed to providing meals to Zandile Mtungata’s organisation.

East London, South Africa (21 October 2024) — Last month GroundUp reported how a woman in Duncan Village, East London, was making a huge effort to daily feed dozens of children in her community. Zandile Mtungata told us at the time:

“When people come asking for food, whoa, I am happy I see the joy and hope. Because I am their hope, I am their hope.”

But Mtungata was battling. For one thing, she needed a new stove. She complained of receiving very little assistance from government to provide food.

Following our article an organisation called the Lunchbox Fund in partnership with the Development Bank of South Africa (DBSA) committed to providing over one million meals until the end of 2025 to Mtungata’s outreach programme, which she calls Healing of Broken Souls, and Inenjongo, an after-school homework tutoring project also in Duncan Village.

Lunga Schoeman, programme manager for corporate social investment at the DBSA, stated:

“From October until December 2025, a total of 1,099,440 meals will be served, ensuring that these children receive nourishing, warm meals daily.”

On Tuesday, Mtungata told GroundUp the food had not arrived on Monday, 7 October, as was stated in the email to GroundUp. This was reported to the fund and a day later the delivery was made.

Mtungata says she was visited a while ago by a representative of the fund and signed documents.

She was also visited for the first time by an official from the provincial Department of Social Development and encouraged to register her organisation at their offices in East London’s CBD four kilometres away.

“But I don’t have the money to go up and down,” she said.

Support has also continued with meals and a microwave from local evangelist Matthew Peake of Helping Those in Need.

Sources: GroundUp

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Do you have something to add to this story? Please share it in the comments or follow GoodThingsGuy on Facebook & Twitter to keep up to date with good news as it happens, or share your good news with us by clicking here or click the link below to listen to the Good Things Guy Podcast with Brent Lindeque – South Africa’s very own Good Things Guy. He’s on a mission to change what the world pays attention to, and he truly believes there’s good news around us. In the Good Things Guy podcast, you’ll meet these everyday heroes & hear their incredible stories:

Or watch an episode of Good Things TV below, a show created to offer South Africans balance in a world with what feels like constant bad news. We’re here to remind you that there are still so many good things happening in South Africa & we’ll leave you feeling a little more proudly South African.

The post Helping Hand Offered to Woman Feeding Children in East London appeared first on Good Things Guy.

Greeting everyone you encounter. It’s a simple joy, but one that’s become sadly ‘outdated’ in today’s world. Unless, of course, you’re Papa Johnny of McGregor, who goes out of his way every day, to greet the whole town and spread as much love as possible:

McGregor, South Africa (14 October 2024) — In the small rural town of McGregor, a man affectionately known as Papa Johnny wheels hope and smiles throughout his community – daily.

Greeting everyone you encounter seems like a tall order for most modern people. But there was a time when this was common practice throughout many of the world’s communities, and still is in small but hopeful places like McGregor.

Papa Johnny is largely to thank for the ‘old tradition’ being kept intact. Day after day, he wakes up, gets to his bike and cycles throughout the town to bring greetings, love and life to the people he meets.

In a recent video shared by Visionary Voices—a skills-sharing and social empowerment initiative that connects experienced filmmakers to talents from disadvantaged backgrounds—we get to go on a ride with Johnny.

It’s a watch that’s hard not to feel warmed by. The smiles he evokes, the shouts of love and a voice that radiates so much energy; Johnny’s task is humble, but such an incredible reminder of how much something so simple can impact other humans.

For Johnny, greeting is a practice he learnt from a young age.

“I come from a good home where my mother and father taught me that greeting people doesn’t cost money.”

He shares that “it doesn’t matter who you are and what you look like, even if you are a poor man or if you are ugly or beautiful. So that we can all unite as one.”

As the narrator of the video puts it perfectly, small gestures do have great power. Especially for people who feel overlooked by society, greeting is the one thing we can all do to simply let others know that they are seen and recognised in the grander scheme of human connection.

Watch: Papa Johnny in Action!

Sources: Email Submission

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Or watch an episode of Good Things TV below, a show created to offer South Africans balance in a world with what feels like constant bad news. We’re here to remind you that there are still so many good things happening in South Africa & we’ll leave you feeling a little more proudly South African.

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Cataracts cause blindness, but they are also completely preventable. In an effort to give more people their sight back, the OSSA Right to Sight Trust will perform more than 1,000 free cataract surgeries throughout the year with just over 700 conducted in October!

South Africa (13 October 2024) — Cataracts remain the leading cause of blindness globally despite being completely preventable. In South Africa, an estimated 250,000 people are blind due to untreated cataracts.

Even though cataract surgery is one of the most cost-effective medical interventions, between 40-60% of those suffering from visual impairment experience vision loss directly due to cataracts, with a detrimental effect on the overall social, psychological and financial well-being of individuals and their family members.

According to Dr Bayanda Mbambisa, Chairperson of the Right to Sight Trust, the non-profit initiative of the Ophthalmological Society of South Africa (OSSA), although cataracts develop gradually after the age of 40 due to normal eye changes experienced, accelerated vision loss is found in younger patients or those diagnosed with diabetes.

She says in South Africa, access to care remains a major challenge for patients due to many public hospitals that lack ophthalmologists, necessary equipment, or even the consumables required for surgery, resulting in an ever-growing backlog of patients, with some waiting more than a year for surgery.

Combatting Preventable Blindness

To combat this preventable cause of blindness, the OSSA Right to Sight Trust will perform more than 1,000 free cataract surgeries throughout the year, with just over 700 conducted in October as part of its commitment to offer the precious gift of sight to those in need.

One hundred nine ophthalmologists in private practice across the country have generously donated their skills and time to assist financially disadvantaged patients who are either partially sighted or blind due to untreated cataracts.

Their efforts are supported by 35 private hospitals that provide free theatre time and essential services. Funding partners, individual donors, and medical device companies contribute lenses and surgical consumables to make these surgeries possible. Members of the public and organisations can contribute their financial contribution by supporting their efforts to give sight to many in need.

Over 4000 Free Cataract Surgeries in Under a Decade

Over the past nine years, the OSSA Right to Sight Trust has successfully performed 4,446 free cataract surgeries, equating to more than R124 million worth of medical services dedicated to preventing avoidable blindness.

“Our mission is to restore not only sight but also hope and dignity to patients. Based on a conservative estimate, for every individual impacted by cataract surgery, six other people in their household are positively affected. This means that over 26,000 people have indirectly benefited from our work,” Dr Mbambisa explained.

She says the positive ripple effect is undeniable. “Families, who previously had to provide constant care, are freed from this burden, allowing them to resume educational, employment, and social activities. These changes contribute to greater economic and social stability within communities.”

What Causes Cataracts?

Dr Mbambisa says cataracts occur when proteins in the eye’s natural lens break down, causing the lens to become cloudy, resulting in blurred, hazy vision and diminished colour perception. Over time, cataracts can lead to complete vision loss if left untreated.

“The most significant contributing factors for cataracts include, smoking, eye injuries or surgery, and long-term exposure to sun without UV sunglasses. Regardless of the type of cataract you have, you will need surgery to treat it.”

The signs of cataract are:

• Having blurry or clouded vision as if looking through a dirty window
• Trouble seeing at night
• Seeing halos around lights
• Sensitivity to light and glare
• Seeing double or a ghosted image
• Double vision
• Requiring brighter light for reading
• Having trouble seeing well at night
• Seeing bright colours as faded or yellow instead

Dr Mbambisa urges everyone to take care of their eye health by:

• Having an annual eye exam for those older than 65, or every two years if younger.
• Protecting their eyes from UV light by wearing a hat and sunglasses that block at least 99 percent UV.
• Quitting smoking
• Make eye-healthy food choices, but eat plenty of fruits, vegetables, leafy greens, nuts, and whole grains.
• Using brighter lights for reading or a magnifying glass
• Limiting driving at night once night vision, halos or glare becomes a problem
• Managing other health problems, such as diabetes
• Immediately visit an eye care specialist if vision loss impacts one’s regular activities.

Visit www.righttosight.org to support the Trust in reaching more patients during Eye Care Awareness Month in October.

Sources: Supplied 

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Or watch an episode of Good Things TV below, a show created to offer South Africans balance in a world with what feels like constant bad news. We’re here to remind you that there are still so many good things happening in South Africa & we’ll leave you feeling a little more proudly South African.

The post Combatting Cataracts: 700 Free Surgeries Conducted in October! appeared first on Good Things Guy.

Once a park people were cautioned about visiting, today The Wilds enjoys a gorgeous reputation; blossoming with community spirit, creativity and hope for Johannesburg. But how did this massive change happen? Well, it all started when James Delaney’s dog Pablo needed to go for a walk:

Johannesburg, South Africa (08 October 2024) — If you visited The Wilds today, it would take some mental gymnastics to fathom that there was once a time when the well-loved park, now brimming with life and community, was actually a neglected space.

It’s hard to consider that over a decade ago, this was a place people would look at you sideways for visiting. In fact, they’d urge you to reconsider. But, if one man hadn’t ignored all the cautionary glares and ventured into the then ‘no-go’ green, The Wilds as we know it today wouldn’t exist. That man is James Delaney.

In a recent Tedx Talk, James shared the story of how he found The Wilds and turned it into the place we know and love today.

It’s a story about taking matters into your own hands. Challenging a narrative through creativity. And uniting a community through the simple idea that things get better when you decide they should.

Pablo the Dog Needs a Walk

 

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A post shared by The Wilds Nature Reserve (@thewilds.jozi)

James had moved into an apartment that just so happened to overlook The Wilds. While it sounds ideal now, it certainly wasn’t back then.

“I thought, ‘This is crazy. I live next to this big green space and I can’t go there’,” James recalls.

Down but not out, James decided to go exploring anyway. After all, he had a dog (Pablo) to walk!

What he ended up finding in this sworn-off place was something of a wonderland in the rough. A place that just needed someone to care about it. Luckily for The Wilds, James was just the person for that.

A lover of plants, James started taking small steps to manicure the vast space. Some trimming here, some fixing up there. Soon, these actions grew into bigger ones as each weekend passed. If James was lucky, people would brave The Wilds and join him. Soon, a hopeful new chapter for the park began.

Art Starts to Offer Hope

 

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A post shared by The Wilds Nature Reserve (@thewilds.jozi)

James explains that the more work this small group did, the more it seemed there was to do. And before long, it became clear that they needed more hands on deck.

After adopting the space from City Parks, James realised that to get more people to fall in love with the Wilds like he had, he had to shift their perspectives on its poor reputation.

Using his creative talents, he came up with an idea to make the space more inviting with unique art installations. Fittingly, the first of these installations were 67 colourful owls for Mandela Day.

“I realised art can play a strong role in reimagining public space,” he says, remembering how for the first time he saw the car park full with those curious to see Owl Forest.

But there was a problem. People were coming for the art and not necessarily staying to explore the rest of the wilds. It was then that James realised he could use his creations to act as breadcrumbs—leading people down the rabbit hole of all the Wilds had to offer with more animal sculpture installations.

Help Needed, Please!

 

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A post shared by The Wilds Nature Reserve (@thewilds.jozi)

Now that word of The Wilds not being a fearsome space was starting to spread, a lot more good work lay ahead of James and those helping him transform it.

It was time to start a Facebook page to recruit volunteers—something James didn’t have much faith in people joining at the time. However, to his surprise, the page began to blossom with thousands of people—each with something unique to offer to the growth of the park.

James credits the volunteers as a huge turning point in The Wilds’ story. What some lacked in ideas, they made up for in labour. What some lacked in labour, they made up for in ideas. It had started to become clear, as James puts it, that people had started to see the Wild not as someone else’s park or the City’s but as their own.

Sometimes Change Requires a Little Rebellion

In a kickass moment for the rebirth of The Wilds, James and a team of builders risked getting arrested for building a universal access path that had gotten the red light. Despite a face-off with police, the team pursued the idea that would help a myriad of more people enjoy the park and continued building the middle of the night.

This would play a massive role not only in the park’s accessibility but in doing what was best for the community, even if it was at great risk.

Little by Little

 

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A post shared by The Wilds Nature Reserve (@thewilds.jozi)

In between then and now, there have been countless moments of improvement. From restored pathways to indigenous plants flourishing once more and, most importantly, people trusting the space—all of it has taken little action by little action to burgeon impressive change.

 

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A post shared by The Wilds Nature Reserve (@thewilds.jozi)

One of Joburg’s Best-Loved Parks

 

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A post shared by The Wilds Nature Reserve (@thewilds.jozi)

After learning about this story, it becomes evident that this isn’t so much a story about a park that got a makeover and called it a day. It’s actually a story about people who chose to believe in something beyond themselves and perhaps found themselves in that process.

All these years later The Wilds is one of Joburg’s top-visited parks. You’ll find it on a host of ‘What to Do in Joburg Guides’ and in a plethora of natural spaces to visit in Gauteng listicles. You’ll be recommended to go there on dates, with your kids or even by yourself for a breath of fresh air in the bustling city.

It’s described as breathtaking, peaceful, soothing, and every other adjective you’d associate with a marvellous outdoor space in all the places it was once described as fearsome. And, all because someone decided to care and then got other people to care too.

A Challenge

To this day, James still spends considerable amounts of time in The Wilds.

“It’s this wonderful space which gives me great hope and great joy,” he says before offering us all a challenge.

I challenge each of you to go into your city, our city. Find a neglected space. And give it your energy and your time and your love. You won’t just transform a space and give community interaction and hope. It will bring you benefits that you never imagined.”

You can watch James’ full talk here:

Sources: TEDxJohannesburgSalon/YouTube 

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Do you have something to add to this story? Please share it in the comments or follow GoodThingsGuy on Facebook & Twitter to keep up to date with good news as it happens, or share your good news with us by clicking here or click the link below to listen to the Good Things Guy Podcast with Brent Lindeque – South Africa’s very own Good Things Guy. He’s on a mission to change what the world pays attention to, and he truly believes there’s good news around us. In the Good Things Guy podcast, you’ll meet these everyday heroes & hear their incredible stories:

Or watch an episode of Good Things TV below, a show created to offer South Africans balance in a world with what feels like constant bad news. We’re here to remind you that there are still so many good things happening in South Africa & we’ll leave you feeling a little more proudly South African.

The post Into The Wilds: From a Forgotten Space to Top Joburg Park appeared first on Good Things Guy.

Baigum Abrahams has defended her title as South Africa’s Toughest Female Firefighter Alive thanks to her exceptional competition at the National Challenge held in Mossel Bay! As for the men’s champ, Emile Conrad, this marks his 7th time winning:

Mossel Bay, South Africa (04 October 2024) —The Toughest Firefighter Alive National Challenge recently saw the typically quaint harbour town of Mossel Bay light up with all the action as firefighters from across the country competed fiercely.

It was a beyond-busy weekend filled with enthusiasm and grit as competitors, young and seasoned, took to different challenges for the 9th edition of the Challenge. Here, the nation’s Toughest Firefighters Alive would be determined for 2024–a title not to be taken lightly.

From fire-simulator mazes to speed and strength tests, the Challenge saw over 400 firefighters battle it out at De Bakke Beach and quickly became the most successful TFA, as Mark Smith of Firefighters for Excellence shared.

But, when it came to the final countdown, there was only one woman fit for the title.

Baigum Abrahams is once again South Africa’s Toughest Female Firefighter Alive—an epic feat for herself, her fans and the City of Cape Town, who she represented so well!

As for the Men’s champion, Emile Conrad, representing the Garden Route, reigned victorious, making this his 7th time holding the title.

Baigum recently competed with her male counterpart at the World Firefighter Games, where Emile made SA super proud by ranking in the Top 20 of the World’s Toughest Firefighters Alive list!

Sources: Various (Linked Above); Supplied 

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Or watch an episode of Good Things TV below, a show created to offer South Africans balance in a world with what feels like constant bad news. We’re here to remind you that there are still so many good things happening in South Africa & we’ll leave you feeling a little more proudly South African.

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Angela Yeung is at her mountain expeditions once again, this time with Ama Dablam on her radar in a height-defying effort to raise awareness on gender-based violence femicide:

Koshi Province, Nepal (02 October 2024) — Angela Yeung, the legend who made history as the first South African to climb Mount Manaslu at a striking height of 8,163 metres and founder of the Impilo Collection Foundation, is preparing herself for another test of altitudes and endurance with the South African flag on her back—climbing Ama Dablam.

Situated in the eastern Himalayan range of Koshi Province in Nepal, Angela’s climb is set to be another one for the books. But, it’ll also be a climb in which she carries the spirit of others—namely those who have been impacted by the gender-based violence femicide (GBVF).

Angela will be climbing the height of 6,812 metres all to raise awareness about the harrowing world that is GBVF—a mountain many women have to climb by no choice of their own. The brave climber hopes that her efforts will channel funds toward an education program that will empower and uplift women.

“I am ready to face the mountain we are all climbing; one that symbolises the path to a young woman’s voice, and her ultimate empowerment through education,” says Angela of climb set to take place from 9 October to 3 November.

“This journey is only but a small stepping stone to the same independence and self-reliance we are all fighting for.”

The Impilo Collection Foundation extends Angela’s hopes, largely through its #EmpowerHer campaign. The collection of nearly 9,000 bras was a representation of of the height of Mount Everest—a unique pursuit of activists everywhere who stand loudly and proudly against GBVF. The campaign’s display of thousands of bras at Joburg’s Constitution Hill, along with their distribution to GBV shelters two years prior left a huge impact—an impact Angela hopes will be felt once again atop Ama Dablam.

“Ama Dablam means ‘mother’s necklace which has been very much part of my inspiration to climb for my cause; the long ridges on each side are like the arms of a mother (Ama) protecting her child, and the hanging glacier is thought of as Dablam, which is the traditional double-pendant containing pictures of the gods, worn by Sherpa women,” Angela explains.

“Our quest for anti-GBVF demands the collective efforts of supporters, followers, climbers, and allies. My gratitude goes out to all those that are helping us raise mountains together. Collectively, we will make this vision for good an impactful reality, I know it!”

Those who become benefactors of Angela’s climb will be commemorated with a special keepsake of their solidarity that symbolises the metaphorical mountains, scaled together.

Everyone who wants to take a stand against GBVF is encouraged to support the campaign (you can find it here).

Sources: Supplied 

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Or watch an episode of Good Things TV below, a show created to offer South Africans balance in a world with what feels like constant bad news. We’re here to remind you that there are still so many good things happening in South Africa & we’ll leave you feeling a little more proudly South African.

The post Angela Yeung Climbs Ama Dablam to Raise Awareness about GBVF appeared first on Good Things Guy.

Activists with disabilities are raising awareness about climate change

Johannesburg (25 September 2024) — On a warm afternoon in Tembisa, local resident Phillip Masitenyane can be found knee deep inside a garbage skip sifting for recyclable materials.

Masitenyane is visually impaired and has hearing loss. He uses his hands to feel for different materials in the rubbish – paper, plastic, metal tins and glass.

“Because I have to use my hands to touch and feel for items I don’t wear gloves, so it can sometimes be a bit dangerous if there is a sharp item or object inside here,” said Masitenyane.

Masitenyane is part of the Visually Impaired Community Development Organisation (VICDO) an NGO founded in 1995 and run by visually impaired activists in the Tembisa area.

VICDO, which advocates for the rights of people with disabilities, has recently involved itself in an environmental awareness program to promote the voices of people with disabilities in conversations on climate change.

Minah Funani (left) with Phillip Masitenyane (right) at a waste collection site at the back of a local school.

The organisation has partnered with four local schools, where the schools’ waste is sorted into recyclable materials. Members of VICDO go to the schools daily.

When they have collected a reasonable quantity of material, they take it to a local facility to process and recycle.

Visually impaired activists use their hands to feel for recyclable objects.

Minah Funani, a founding member of VICDO, said, “We are trying to learn more about these climate issues and its impact on us as people with disabilities. We are also trying to share our knowledge with other people so that we can take collective action.”

Funani recently advocated for facilities for the visually impaired to be installed at her local library. She now has access to a braille printer to produce information pamphlets about climate change, which she distributes to other visually impaired people in the township.

She also organises workshops bringing together environmental activists with members of VICDO so that knowledge can be shared.

“We need to raise awareness and educate ourselves and others in our community about these issues, because this is something that affects all of us,” said Funani.

Members of VICDO from left, Minah Funani, Mita Mukwevho, Johannes Magaela, Johannes Moseki and Phillip Masitenyane

Sources: GroundUp

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Or watch an episode of Good Things TV below, a show created to offer South Africans balance in a world with what feels like constant bad news. We’re here to remind you that there are still so many good things happening in South Africa & we’ll leave you feeling a little more proudly South African.

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Bettering the Mdantsane community is Ben Rexana—a dance teacher who provides free lessons to kids and an animal lover who helps sterilise and feed community pets.

Mdantsane, South Africa (23 September 2024) — Benjamin Rexana isn’t your typical dance teacher.

For starters, his studio is a non-profit that’s accessible to the community of Mdantsane children as a means to fill their time with the joy of dance. Secondly, a big part of his work involves helping animals in need. At first glance, you might wonder what the thread is that connects dance, dogs and kids. But when you look deeper, you see what Ben sees: a community with happier children means more room to teach them about animal welfare and in turn, primes the next generation of animals to be in better hands.

Since 2008, Ben has been running CyfaDance K9-Care Community Development—a free dance lessons service for Mdantsane’s children.

The word of Ben’s efforts has spread far and wide out of Mdantsane, earning him a place as one of the 30 Young Mandelas circa 2022 in the Compassion category and inspiring people like East London’s Kirsty Monk who put his work on Good Things Guy’s radar.

“It is really is inspiring what he does with so little and much of an impact he is making on these young kids,” shares Kirsty, who adds that Ben’s work, beyond keeping kids off the streets is also making a difference for the animals in their area from feeding to getting the dogs sterilised.

“For me the kids I teach are [as] important as the dogs I care about,” says Ben. He adds that the children help him feed the dogs.

When he’s not actively feeding the community’s animals, working on a sterilisation campaign, connecting the pets to vets or empowering kids through dance, Ben works on educating the community on animal and child welfare, acting as a voice for those who cannot speak up for themselves and breaking stigmas. 

In very exciting news on the dance side of his community work, CYFA Community Development has been invited to the 2024 Intercontinental Dance and Battles Championship Finals—set to take place in Sea Point from 27 to 29 September!

The Championship Finals will see over 400 top dancers from Lesotho to Seychelles compete—the opportunity for the young dancers of Mdantsane.

Ben is currently looking for donations to help his dancers get to their big moment in the spotlight, and donations to the dream can be made here.

Sources: Website Submission

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Or watch an episode of Good Things TV below, a show created to offer South Africans balance in a world with what feels like constant bad news. We’re here to remind you that there are still so many good things happening in South Africa & we’ll leave you feeling a little more proudly South African.

The post Dance, Dogs and Doing Better for the Mdantsane Community  appeared first on Good Things Guy.

When Janine Storman-van Zyl learned that the nearest SPCA was over 200 km away from Matzikama, she knew something needed to be done for the area’s animals in need. With upcycled coffee pods and a team of women warriors in her corner—the Angel Project has earned its wings.

Matzikama, South Africa (17 September 2024) — There’s a new team on a mission to better the lives of animals in Matzikama, and they’re doing it by upcycling coffee pods into gorgeous doses of angel decor. Meet the Angel Project!

Established just last year in August and officially registered as a Non-Profit Company in September that year, the Angel Project was sparked into creation as a response to the concerning lack animal welfare organisations serving the area.

“I saw that there was a great need for an animal rescue/welfare organisation as there is no SPCA in the Matzikama Sub-District, West Coast District where the Angel Project is based,” shares founder Janine Storman-van Zyl.

With the nearest SPCA being over 200 km away in Mamesbury, Janine was determined to give the animals of the area, including Vredendal and neighbouring towns, a fighting chance.

“There are many animals that are gravely neglected, abused and whose basic needs are not being met. So the idea was born to fight the explosion of unwanted and ill-treated animals. The thousands of animals in our area just don’t have a fighting chance without our urgent intervention,” she shares.

Coffee Pods, Women Warriors and a Whole Lot of Change

The small team of women who came together as the Angel Project took on a unique task to secure the main source of income for all the projects they carry out—’Angels of Hope’.

By turning Nespresso coffee pods into unique creations, the team have successfully created a means to their mission.

“We have people from afar keeping the used pods for us and once every three months we drive the 300km to Cape Town to go on a collection hunt for the pods, explains Janine whose efforts have already earned her a nomination in the South African Council for Business Woman Recognition Awards for 2024 in the Social Entrepreneur of the Year—Woman Warrior category.

The Impact!

The Angel Project have been able to put the pods to the best use; providing vaccinations and sterilisations for the animals as well as deworming and flea and tick treatments.

“Each animal that the Angel Project assists is then documented and wellness checks are done regularly to ensure that the animal is taken care of and that its basic needs are met.”

Understanding that animal welfare is a holistic endeavour, Janine explains that the team also take on educating pet owners and conducts an educational outreach programme.

Then there’s the feeding program that looks after dogs, cats and even chickens.

“These animals are dependent on the food that we provide as their owners are either unemployed or on SASSA grants. We feed roughly about 50kg of dry dog food a day plus cat and chicken food in the Vredendal,” shares Janine.

On top of this, the team make sure to send food to animal-focused volunteers other areas like Klawer, Vanrhynsdorp, Lutzville and Koekenaap as often as possible.

Angels for Cozy Causes

Thought that was all? Think again! In taking animals under their wings even further, the team are also working on providing as many kennels as they can to the areas in need—each with a blanket in a tow for the many pets who sleep outside.

Janine explains that true to their eco-savvy roots, they make their own kennels out of reclaimed wood and recycled PVC pipes or 210L food grade drums. For the cats, cat shelters and feeding stations are created from 25L plastic container and are said to be “a real hit” with the feral colonies.

Bigger Pods and Plans

Looking to the future, the team already have their summer plans mapped out.

Janine tells us that they have already begun their summer project—bringing fresh water to the animals—where plumber pipes will be manufactured into water stations.

Simultaneously, they’ve got big plans for their Christmas pods range this year and plan to make even larger angels, baubles and bells.

Beyond the pods, the Angels also make sure to host fun-filled fundraisers that help fan the flame of the community.

“We have monthly fundraisers from markets to dances to ladies brunches to evening dinners, auctions, might walks, pancake mornings at our local mall…” Janine lists, adding that the community has been hugely involved in backing them. 

Janine shares that a local artist has even started to make clay dog and cat inspired earrings to support their cause in a heartwarming reflection of the little ways people can make a difference.

“The community of Matzikama have been behind us all the way, this village has our back!” Janine beams. 

You can keep up with the Angel Project here, pop in for their next market at the Makam Mall in Vredendal on 28 September.

Sources: GTG Interview 

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Do you have something to add to this story? Please share it in the comments or follow GoodThingsGuy on Facebook & Twitter to keep up to date with good news as it happens, or share your good news with us by clicking here or click the link below to listen to the Good Things Guy Podcast with Brent Lindeque – South Africa’s very own Good Things Guy. He’s on a mission to change what the world pays attention to, and he truly believes there’s good news around us. In the Good Things Guy podcast, you’ll meet these everyday heroes & hear their incredible stories:

Or watch an episode of Good Things TV below, a show created to offer South Africans balance in a world with what feels like constant bad news. We’re here to remind you that there are still so many good things happening in South Africa & we’ll leave you feeling a little more proudly South African.

The post How Upcycled Coffee Pods Make the Angel Project Possible! appeared first on Good Things Guy.

When champion of the vulnerable Nisha Varghese learned she wouldn’t be able to saddle up to support a charity close to her heart due to how it might impact her as someone with cerebral palsy, Tom and Tori Horse and Heart riders galloped to the rescue in the most heartwarming way.

East London, South Africa (17 September 2024) — Longtime champion of the vulnerable, Nisha Varghese, has done her fair share of epic things to better the lives of others.

Diagnosed with Cerebral palsy when she was just six months old, Nisha’s life was premised to be one filled with different experiences. What the doctors couldn’t diagnose, however, was just how much of a difference she would go on to make for vulnerable South Africans wherever she could!

For almost a decade, Nisha has been a force behind raising awareness and fundraising for people in dire need—from children with club foot and cleft palates to vulnerable babies and anti-trafficking causes. A Top 200 Young South African alumni, published author who wrote a book celebrating differences and a local legend, Nisha’s name is synonymous with inspiration.

But even those of us with lion’s hearts have limits.

The Ride of a Lifeline

Nisha had dreamed of riding a horse as part of a unique a fundraising rally for Breath of Life—a safe space for vulnerable babies that she’s been a longtime supporter of.

However, in what was a disappointing pill for Nisha to swallow, without a specialised saddle, the session would simply be too dangerous for her.

Cue Tom and Tori Horse and Heart—a horseback riding centre in Chinsta West.

The Tom and Tori team decided that they’d fill Nisha’s boots for this ride and offered to ride 22kms from Chinsta West to Cefani and back all for Nisha and Breath of Life!

As of yesterday, 16 September, the team successfully completed their ride—raising R39,544 of the R67,000 goal in the process.

Nisha couldn’t have been more excited that the team saddled up in her place and thanked them graciously for their effort. With the ride done and dusted, the call is now out to South Africans everywhere to help make the ride of a lifeline a success—which you can support here!

About Breath of Life

Based in East London, Breath of Life is a non-profit that offers abandoned and abused babies a safe and loving space until they find their forever homes or are reunited with family. Six little tots are cared for at a time to ensure they are given as much care as possible.

Nisha has been volunteering at Breath of Life for years, and is a huge supporter of their mission, sharing “I believe every baby deserves to start life on a level playing field.”

You can learn more about Breath of Life here.

Sources: Various (Linked Above)

Don’t ever miss the Good Things. Download the Good Things Guy App now on Apple or Google. 

Do you have something to add to this story? Please share it in the comments or follow GoodThingsGuy on Facebook & Twitter to keep up to date with good news as it happens, or share your good news with us by clicking here or click the link below to listen to the Good Things Guy Podcast with Brent Lindeque – South Africa’s very own Good Things Guy. He’s on a mission to change what the world pays attention to, and he truly believes there’s good news around us. In the Good Things Guy podcast, you’ll meet these everyday heroes & hear their incredible stories:

Or watch an episode of Good Things TV below, a show created to offer South Africans balance in a world with what feels like constant bad news. We’re here to remind you that there are still so many good things happening in South Africa & we’ll leave you feeling a little more proudly South African.

The post The Ride of a Lifeline: Riders Saddle Up to Support Nisha and Breath of Life!  appeared first on Good Things Guy.