Los Angeles’ Angel City Chorale is set to sing their hearts out for the Amy Foundation, set to benefit scores of young, underprivileged South Africans.

Los Angeles, USA (22 October 2024) — The City of Los Angeles is preparing for a special concert to benefit South Africa’s own The Amy Foundation thanks to a team-up with the Angel City Chorale—a premier choral group!

The Amy Foundation is well-respected by many people both in South Africa and America. Founded in honour of Amy Biehl—an activist who lived decades ago and was dedicated to supporting the advancement of democracy and equality in South Africa ahead of the 1994 elections.

Amy lost her life in 1993 in Gugulethu due to political mob violence—a loss felt the world over. Her parents extended the epitome of the new South Africa’s ethos—an incredible act of forgiveness—and set up the Amy Biehl Trust (now the Amy Foundation) in honour of their daughter’s belief in a better South Africa.

Today, the Amy Foundation supports youth empowerment through education, afterschool support, as well as arts and sports programmes, breaking the cycles of poverty and violence through opportunity and hope. Over 1,400 young people benefit from their work every day.

The benefit concert will be raising funds for the Amy Foundation’s programmes underway in 7 centres in underserved communities.

The people and voices of Los Angeles coming together for South Africans is a reminder of Amy’s legacy: that no matter how different our backgrounds may be, we can’t have a better world unless it’s a better world for everyone.

For our readers in the US, the concert is on 27 October 2024, and you can grab tickets here.

Back home, you can support the Amy Foundation in a myriad of ways, like supporting their products, bistro or volunteering your time. 

Sources: The Amy Foundation 

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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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Two young women are getting to step into the world of STEM thanks to the Barbie Dream Gap Project that’s making more dreams possible!

Johannesburg, South Africa (21 October 2024)— In celebration of International Day of the Girl Child, which was observed on 11 October, Barbie teamed up with the TechnoGirl Trust to empower two girls from disadvantaged backgrounds by providing them with a job shadowing, dream-building and skills development opportunity!

Focused on advancing the opportunities of girls around the world, this feat of good news is part of the Barbie Dream Gap Project in South Africa—a project that’s helping close the gender gap earlier on in life.

Since its inception in 2018, the Barbie Dream Gap Project has been dedicated to providing equal opportunities. To do this, more barriers for young girls need to be removed; a process that requires education, confidence-building leadership skills and mentorship opportunities.

The TechnoGirl Trust is a non-profit committed to advancing the educational and career prospects of underprivileged girls in South Africa. They have seen 26,172 girls go through their structured programme, with around 75% of participants, on average, advancing to register careers in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics)!

Why STEM?

It’s no secret that fields like STEM have always been male-dominated. But, in a world that continues to reveal itself to be intertwined with technology, this stigma is one that needs to be shattered so that young women, especially those from underserved areas, are not left behind.

A lot of the hesitation for this kind of career path comes from the industry’s patriarchal reputation. That’s why it’s essential that young girls see themselves represented in these fields and further that they are provided with real-world opportunities and positive role models along the path.

Starting in Grade 9, two young teens will gain hands-on experience from professionals at IMCD offices for one week during each of their school holidays. The programme enables the girls to gain awareness about various careers, find the STEM career that they might like to go into and develop professional and life skills—all set out as part of a dream plan developed by the TechnoGirl Trust and approved by the Department of Education.

“The work readiness part of the programme was the most impactful for me, as I learnt soft skills like how to articulate myself in a work environment,” shares Felicity Dube who has gone through and benefitted from the TechnoGirl Programme herself.

“I think Barbie is committed to giving girls the resources they need, and support to believe that they can be anything. I encourage girls to keep dreaming and, make sure that they chase their dreams, asking for help when they need it,” she concludes.

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.

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In two doses of good news from the Bona uBuntu Programme, the White Cane Day March united communities who walked in solidarity for visually impaired youth while a four-year-old gained his sight thanks to their help in getting him the most important surgery of his life!

Kwadwesi, South Africa (20 October 2024) — The streets of Kwadwesi teemed with enthusiasm and energy earlier this month as 263 learners, educators and community members banded together for the annual White Cane Day Youth March!

Hosted by the Bona uBuntu Programme, which teamed up with Khanynisa School for the Visually Impaired and Ilima Lombi—Kamva, the event brought together community members in the Eastern Cape to raise awareness about the challenges visually impaired individuals face and to promote a culture of accessibility and inclusion.

The Bona uBuntu Programme is an NGO that supports empowerment and education for visually impaired children in the Eastern Cape, while White Cane Day is observed globally and celebrates the independence of people who are blind or visually impaired. A big part of this independence comes from accessibility tools, hence its name—the white cane!

“This event is more than just a march; it’s a movement towards a future where visually impaired youth can thrive without limitations,” commented Robyn Fick, the Programme Coordinator at Bona uBuntu.

“We [walked] for their independence, for their right to access education, and for a community that embraces inclusivity.”

The day also featured musical performances from the Khanyisa School Choir, representatives from special schools, and mainstream schools in Kwadwesi, which were a true melting pot of solidarity.

In other uplifting news from the Bona uBuntu Programme, four-year-old ‘Ollie’ (not the child’s real name) has received cataract surgery that was needed to restore his sight after years of disappointment for his family due to a lack of resources.

Bona uBuntu helped the little one get an appointment with the ophthalmology department at Cecilia Makiwane Hospital in East London within a week, and soon thereafter, he underwent the surgery that gave him his sight back!

Sources: Supplied; Bona uBuntu Programme 

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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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In an ever-changing, tough job market, ‘After School Programmes’ across the country are holding down the fort to help young South Africans level the playing field and access opportunities!

South Africa (16 October 2024) — The pressure of matric finals’ is weighted enough as it is. But it’s also one of many other pressures young South Africans face today. At the top of the pressure list is the big question: ‘What happens next?’ To which an infamously tough job market in our country stares back, often blankly.

Inflation, a recovering post-Covid market, technological advances replacing traditional jobs and a multitude of other reasons have all contributed to the bleakness of the job market for young people.

And the evidence is in the stats and social landscape of our country. South Africa has a ridiculously high unemployment rate of 32.9%. An under-resourced school system that doesn’t focus enough on bridging educational gaps that are often very wide due to underprivileged circumstances and, of course, the disproportional spread of opportunities.

But in the midst of the bleak picture is a light with huge potential to expand. That light lies in After-School Programmes (ASP) that are emerging as something of a hopeline for thousands of South Africa’s most vulnerable youth; providing them with imperative upskilling measures!

This year, the fifth annual Lights On After School campaign was launched; a campaign that’s about sharing and showcasing what ASPs are capable of. Led by non-profit The Learning Trust in partnership with the Western Cape Department of Cultural Affairs and Sport Youth Office, ASPs are proving to be a source of empowerment in the face of the tough job market; all while equipping future generations with resources to become adults they are proud of.

Here’s How ASPs Help

Critical Intervention

“ASPs act as critical interventions that can safeguard South Africa’s youth against significant barriers to economic participation. These programmes are stepping in to equip learners with digital literacy, technical skills and critical soft skills like problem-solving and emotional intelligence to thrive in a future workforce,” explains Charlene Petersen Voss, the Executive Director at the Learning Trust.

A Bridge for New Opportunities

While ASPs can be a bridge for educational gaps, they also act as a path for future opportunities largely through mentorship.

“The ASP sector is essential in levelling the playing field by providing access to mentorship, job shadowing, and other opportunities that are typically out of reach for marginalised youth,” Charlene says. 

For Sophumelela Ketelo, the Chairperson of the Sophumelela Youth Development Programme, an ASP in the Eastern Cape, it’s a matter of meeting young people where they’re at and bridging off from that place.

Sophumelela says that he doesn’t blame the youth for being underprepared for the ever-changing job market.

“We often expect learners to be ready for the workplace while treating them like children, which delays their growth and readiness. In some cases, everything is done for them, making it difficult for them to appreciate the efforts of those supporting them. After school prgroammes are essential in adressing this gap, offering more than just academic support. They help build the confidence, literacy and life skills that learners need to succeed in an ever-changing world,” he says.

Guiding the Youth

ASP’s roles are heavily to do with guiding young people, especially those who cannot afford tertiary education, as Louise Retief, Programme Manager for the Rogz Academy shares. Rogz, who focus on Youth Development largely through its YearBeyond Programme in partnership with the Boost Africa Foundation, have been a part of helping guide many young people toward new avenues of hope.

The YearBeyond Programme helps Not in Education, Employment, or Training (NEET) members of the youth with over 3500 opportunities annually.  The youth are then able to support over 60,000 learners across the Eastern and Western Cape.

Expanding Access

Further opportunities for youth are created by The Learning Trust’s Catch-up Coalition, which forms part of the Social Employment Fund (SEF). Funded by the Public Employment Stimulus (PES) through the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC), the SEF addresses both unemployment and education at the same time by employing young people in roles that directly enhance educational outcomes.

Through partnerships with over 50 community-based organisations, SEF has helped create more than 10,000 paid work opportunities, benefiting over 180,000 children and youth!

“In the last year of SEF, we have seen 52% of youth exiting to permanent employment, with 44% pursuing further studies,” says Petersen Voss.

“We continue to advocate for government funding for initiatives like the Social Employment Fund and National Youth Service, which not only creates job opportunities and workplace experience for young people but also addresses our education crisis.”

You can find out more about The Learning Trust here.

Sources: Supplied; The Learning Trust

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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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Non-profit, The Character Company, is on a mission to heal a big part of South Africa’s trauma with volunteers who step up as positive male figures to fatherless boys.

South Africa (14 October 2024)—The trauma of the individual can become the trauma of a country. It might seem like a big statement, but when you get down to the nuts and bolts and unpack why so many of South Africa’s challenges exist, you start to see a common thread. The good news is that many threads don’t have to continue in perpetuity. And with non-profits like The Character Company stepping in to heal the gaping wounds in our society, hope is high.

A big part of South Africa’s trauma stems from fatherless boys and those without positive male role models. Especially in underprivileged communities, these boys can grow up into adults who perpetuate cycles of abuse, poverty and gangsterism, largely because of learned behaviours.

In fact, 70% of South African children grow up in single-parent homes, as The Character Company states. It’s estimated that 4 out of 5 boys with absent fathers don’t have even one other consistent, positive male role model in their lives.

These circumstances can permit chronic trauma. Because trauma is not a cookie-cutter experience, it has to be understood relatively.

Jaco van Schalkwyk, founder of the Character Company, explains:

“We must understand trauma is not just physical hurt. Trauma can also be created by our experiences in life that are not necessarily violent or abusive. The lack of a positive male role model is such a devastating experience for a young boy. It’s a trauma that goes much deeper than sadness at missing out on playing rugby with your dad.”

Jaco adds that a boy’s identity and sense of self are positively shaped by having a father or male caregiver. This is someone who “pays attention, makes time and serves as a guide for him as he grows.”

“Such a boy needs no proof, he just knows that he is ‘good enough’ and that he is someone who his father believes is worth standing up for. By contrast, a boy with an absent father constantly wonders: ‘What is wrong with me?’ He is constantly churning about and seeking answers as to why he is not ‘good enough’ and why he isn’t worth making time for. Psychologically, this is an ongoing traumatic hurt that impacts on boys’ development, behaviour and social relationships. Without intervention, it shapes the man he will grow up to be.”

Depression, aggression, substance abuse, bullying and both poor performance as well as over-performance are all ‘side effects’ that can follow.

Dr Joan van Niekerk, Child Rights and Protection consultant at organisation Jelly Beanz, explains that the absent father is a form of neglect.

“The impact on boys results in a lack of guidance on social relationships and on how to use their physical strength to protect others and not to harm and or hurt. Boys with absent fathers and without positive role models then take gender role guidance from other sources such as television, social media and, if they have access to them, gang members.”

When it comes down to healing what is often a generational cycle, the goal is to instil traits associated with positive masculinity.

The Character Company focuses on balancing consistent social elements of positive male mentorship with healthy experiences to create a social fatherhood model.

“Our programme of consistent mentoring and healthy, outdoor activities is a model of social father hood that we are implementing so that boys with absent fathers have the much-needed opportunity to engage with male role models who are intentional, committed and accountable to them.”

There are five values imperative to the organisation, namely:

• Respect
• Honesty
• Self-discipline
• Courage
• Kindness

Boys are also provided safe spaces to talk about their feelings and develop emotional intelligence and empathy.

Jaco explains that their work is not a quick fix but a committed, long-term process.

“While the extent of fatherlessness in our country seems overwhelming, there’s so much opportunity for South African men to become part of the solution and contribute to healing the generation now, and those to come. To walk this journey over time with a boy is enriching for our mentors and we hope to see many more South African men step up to the challenge of becoming intentional, committed and accountable social fathers.”

You can learn more about The Character Company here and more about becoming a mentor 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.

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From rhinos with wings to rainbow rhinos and even a futuristic cyborg, schools across KwaZulu-Natal have positively shot the lights out with their creations as part of Project Rhino’s initiative! Take a look at some of the epic rhino creativity:

KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa (11 October 2024) — What began with just 8 rhino frames and high hopes that schools might have fun decorating them while learning about conservation has become an entire movement in KwaZulu-Natal. Rhino creativity became all the rage this year for schools across the province thanks to an idea by Project Rhino; one that holds huge potential for positive change in conservation!

The idea came about at the beginning of the year as a means to measure once and cut thrice. How do you raise awareness, educate younger South Africans on important eco/wildlife topics and fundraise for rhino conservation all at the same time? You host a rhino creativity contest!

“Every submission has just about made my jaw drop!” Gwendolyn Isaacs of Project Rhino tells Good Things Guy.

“The schools have showcased creativity and deep thinking way beyond what we initially anticipated. What the schools have come up with is truly mind blowing.”

Remember those eight wireframes? Well, they were soon joined by many others, with 40 in total making up the crash.

The schools were challenged to get as creative as possible under the theme ‘Future Rhino’. They needed to consider what the world of the rhino might look like with advanced technology, sustainable living and coexistence with humans. This was to be brought to life through using recycled materials; helping students learn about the magic of upcycling in the process.

“The campaign has united schools, businesses, and communities, creating a shared platform for conservation,” adds Gwen.

Gwen tells GTG how each Rhino has something uniquely special to it.

Kloof Senior Primary’s rhino, Echo, has its own wings that might represent a future in which rhinos are lifted up from the plights they currently face. St Mary’s Rhino, Mary, is a fantastic example of how plastic can be beautiful when upcycled; and its measures like upcycling that help protect the environment for all wildlife.

Haibo, the rhino from DPHS is a tech wonder that has its own satellite and even a horn that lights up, while Rosie from Ashton is an epic example of unity for conservation as every student and teacher in the foundation phase made a flower out of plastic bags just for Rosie.

Then there’s Thingo the rainbow rhino made from bottle caps. Thingo’s school, Hermannsburg Primary, decorated their rhino with bottle caps and held a fundraiser where each student guessed how many caps made Thingo (the answer is A LOT); representing how every bit of support can make something great.

Nandi the rhino represents resilience as her students at Birdsview Academy jumped into action to rehabilitate her after she survived a monkey attack, while Treverton High and Primary concocted a cyborg rhino!

While the Project Rhino team are still in the process of determining finalists, what they do know is that this is an initiative they want to keep going.

“We plan to grow the initiative. The population will be growing! Next year, we hope to expand by having schools decorate rhino calves as a continuation of this year’s effort, reflecting the ongoing importance of conservation,” says Gwen.

And, all the rhino sculptures have a future of their own.

“[Some schools] are opting to keep them for ongoing fundraising efforts, while others will see their rhinos auctioned to local business custodians or exhibited at prominent locations. Plans include showcasing them at the Durban Botanical Gardens Holiday Light Show, Project Rhino events, and other key spots across JZN as part of a broader roadshow,” Gwen concludes.

Sources: GTG Interview 

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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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Holy Rosary School for Girls began the year with a successful ‘phone-free’ campaign to combat digital addiction. Keeping the momentum going, they followed this challenge with another time-warping mission: giving their students old-school phones to live like it’s 1999!

Johannesburg, South Africa (09 October 2024) — It’s hardly surprising anymore to see a tiny tot—barely capable of stringing together a coherent sentence—glued to a smartphone or iPad. It’s a reflection of the world we live in today, one filled with relentless and seemingly unapologetic digital addictions. From toddlers to school students and many, many adults, digital addiction is both the most obvious addiction and the most overlooked. But is anyone doing anything about it? And what can actually be done?

Digital Detox Challenge

Holy Rosary School for Girls has been on a mission in 2024 to combat digital addiction in a hands-on fashion. Beginning the year with their successful ‘Phone-Free 40 Days Campaign’, the school knew that even if the results from that effort were positive (and they were), they needed to keep the momentum going.

In another bold move to combat digital addiction, delay smartphone ownership and build healthier mental health habits, the school decided on another challenge—80-Days: Phone like its 1999 Smartphone-Free Challenge!

Phone Like It’s 1999

Beginning in May, primary and high school students, as well as staff members, surrendered their smartphones to the school. In exchange, they received ‘feature phones’ (AKA, old school phones) to take them back in time to the 90s, when cell phones were primarily used for, well, phone calls!

Because the devices have limited functionality (calls, SMSes and maybe a few extremely basic games), they directly combat accessing social media—the biggest fueler of digital addiction. At the same time, they still allow for communication with parents and family members.

The challenge was driven by Principal Natalie Meerholz, who shared that the second challenge yielded positive results. 

“We are exceptionally proud of everyone who took part in our second challenge. Some of our girls have completed both challenges and been without their phones for 120 days, which is really impressive, proving it’s possible to break free from the digital trap. We were exceptionally excited that despite major fear of missing out and plenty of peer pressure, eight of our participants were in matric.”

Nearly 89% of participants completed the challenge in full.

The Positives

Both challenges have been part of a bigger mission for the school, which is dubbed The Smart Age for Smartphone initiative.

Principal Meerholz also participated in the challenge. “Navigating my own digital detox journey as an adult has proven challenging but I feel more focused, less distracted, and have tried out a range of new activities.”

For the kids, the benefits were similar. Some reported much better sleep, feeling less distracted and feeling more present.

A big win for everyone who participated was the sensation of feeling as though they had more free time. This helped prop up the other legs of the challenge, which included community service. Several fundraising events were integrated into the challenge, including a massive crocheting charity event that drew over 6,000 attendees and raised R60,000 to contribute to paediatric cardiac surgery.

Becoming a Movement

Other educational institutions have also started drawing inspiration from the initiatives in a bid to seek guidance on implementing similar campaigns of their own.

“Our ‘Phone-Free 40 Days’ and ’80 Days: Phone Like It’s 1999’ challenges are more than just school initiatives—they’re catalysts for a broader movement,” Principal Meerholz says.

Principal Meerholz deems it “a collective awakening,” adding that the link to the deteriorating mental and physical well-being of today’s young people has become irrefutable.

“By encouraging our pupils to disconnect from their devices and engage with the world around them, we’re nurturing the growth of capable, confident and happy adults.”

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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Hout Bay siblings Holly and Ryley Smith have been crowned Ocean Racing World Champions thanks to the huge splash they made in Madeira at Worlds!

Global (08 October 2024) — Holly and Ryley Smith from Hout Bay don’t just share DNA. They also share fierce determination, champions’ hearts and a serious skillset when it comes to navigating watery raceways—so much so that the sibling duo have been crowned Ocean Racing World Champions!

The siblings both competed in the Ocean Racing World Championship held in Madeira, Portugal, where they would both come home and be splashed with victory as the Mixed Doubles U18 World Champions.

It wasn’t an easy feat. Conditions were said to have been challenging, with flat waters, strong currents, and fierce headwinds to tackle. Nonetheless, the siblings pushed through it all to claim their shared win.

Both are young talents, with Holly being in matric and Ryley in Grade 10. Their school, Camps Bay High, couldn’t be more proud of their accomplishments.

“Holly and Ryley’s achievements are truly inspiring. Their dedication and commitment to the sport, combined with their teamwork as siblings, is something we don’t often see at this level. They are incredible ambassadors for both the school and South Africa,” said a proud Busi Ngcwama, the Head of Sport at their school.

In addition to their joint victory, both competitors also earned individual wins. Holly clinched silver in the Singles U18 Women event, while Ryley (who is an U16 athlete) took an impressive 6th position for his singles race in the U18 Men’s division.

If Holly’s name rings a bell, it’s because this is not her first World Champion rodeo. She is a three-time World Champ who has also won the Women’s Double U18 Canoe Marathon and the Women’s Singles U18 Ocean Racing event.

Young Ryley is following in his big sister’s footsteps epically, with this win marking his first World Champ title in Ocean Racing.

“Winning a World Championship is always an incredible feeling, but to do it with my brother in my final year of racing in the U18 category makes it even more unforgettable,” said Holly. 

Sources: Supplied; Camps Bay High School

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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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After creating a unique robot dubbed the Green Guardian, which is a solider in the face of climate change, a team from Gauteng will compete at the World Robot Olympiad finals in Turkey!

Gauteng, South Africa (06 October 2024) — After a hugely successful time for South Africa at the Robotics Olympics thanks to the SpringBots, another South African team are preparing themselves to face the best in tech in Turkey at the upcoming World Robot Olympiad finals!

This year, the World Robot Olympiad is helping foster innovative solutions in the face of Climate Change—something people around the globe are feeling, most notably in record temperatures.

To inspire the next generations of leaders in STEM, the World Robot Olympiad national events followed the theme ‘Earth Allies’. Here, teams tackled the challenge of creating a robotic solution to climate change. South Africa’s winning team from Curro Helderwyk in Gauteng came up with the ‘Green Guardian’, a robotic solution to ensure food security by protecting crops from sudden weather changes.

Their innovative system provides real-time weather monitoring to ensure 24/7 crop protection! It’s also super adaptable, solar-powered and savvy—able to withstand extreme weather conditions and, of course, loadshedding!

It was the Green Guardian that won the Helderwyk team their place at the finals in Turkey—an event the whole squad simply cannot wait for and where they’ll be joined by other South African teams.

“I love Robotics as it enables me to help engage in the world and contribute to society’s ongoing technological development,” says team member Veer Mansingh.

“I expect to have a fun trip to Turkey while being exposed to new experiences, interacting with other people, gaining more knowledge and learning new techniques.”

Khanyisile Magangane adds beautifully:

“I view robotics as a science and an art that allows for the expression of creativity through innovative solutions. It enables me to bring my ideas to life and make a meaningful contribution to the world. Robotics has the power to open doors for many young people, and I aspire to be one of those individuals. With a lot of hard work put into our project, I am confident that we can anticipate a positive outcome in the WRO international competition in Turkey.

Sources: Supplied 

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Riley Valentine has kept up his birthday tradition of gifting food donations to the Animal Welfare Society, making for a 13th birthday bash like no other.

Cape Town, South Africa (02 October 2024) — Riley Valentine’s 13th birthday was as special for him and his own family as it was for his friends at the Animal Welfare Society SA in Philippi. Staying true to what has become a birthday tradition for the young teen, Riley once again paid the organisation a birthday visit, baring gifts for the animals in their care to commemorate his big day.

Riley has had a big place in his heart for the AWS since the age of 9 when he became a volunteer for them. Just a year later, his ‘Cause-for-Paws’ birthday tradition would begin as a time where he’d ask friends and family for a pretty unique gift by 10-year-old standards—pet food for animals in need.

Riley donated the food goodies to the organisation in what was a record pet food donation for a birthday celebration. But, more heartwarmingly, he kept up the tradition year after year!

To celebrate the beginning of his teens, Riley knew he wanted to be surrounded by the animals he so adores while making their lives a little softer.

With food bags in tow, he visited the pooches, enjoyed a few cuddles, and of course, made sure they had party favours (pet food).

“[Riley] is a true definition of a hero and a great AWS ambassador,” reflected the AWS who further thanked their young friend for his continuous birthday places.

Sources: Animal Welfare Society of SA

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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 Riley’s Birthday Tradition Thrives; Feeding Animals!  appeared first on Good Things Guy.