In 2018, 45-year-old, Sheehama Onesmus fell victim to a crime when his vehicle was stolen outside his house in Imizamo Yethu (Mandela Park) in Hout Bay.
Sheehama started Sky Transport just over four years ago, a small transport business that supports his partner, Sue Anne (31), his 2 daughters, Saskia (16), Ningeni (9) and his son, Tulonga (4).
After receiving a tip-off, his vehicle, which he uses for work, was eventually found in Gugulethu, but to his dismay, his vehicle was stripped, burnt to a crisp and then abandoned.
After receiving a tip-off, his vehicle, which Sheehama uses for work, was eventually found in Gugulethu stripped and burnt to a crisp.
Hoping to restore Sheehama’s livelihood and get him back on his feet, fellow Capetonian, Pierre De Wet (43), who ownsAnything Goes Furniture decided to do something special for his friend and transport provider.
“Sheehama is more than just the guy with a truck who moves furniture, he has become my friend and has really helped me grow my business. This week his livelihood was stripped from him when his truck was stolen, and with it went his business and means of looking after his family. ” – says De Wet
Sheehama Onesmus and Pierre De Wet outside Anything Goes Furniture in Cape Town.
Pierre launched a campaign on donations based crowdfunding platform, BackaBuddy which raised over R56 000, thanks to the contributions from 54 generous donors.
This helped Sheehama purchase a new truck and he got to keep his business.
We caught up with Pierre De Wet who’d love to share his gratitude to the generous donors.
Not only is Sheehama’s business back, but it is rocking. I speak to him almost every single day to arrange collections or deliveries for my shop. I honestly don’t know what I would do without him!
“Thank you again to each and every one of you for what you did for Sheehama, and I’m so happy to report that thanks to you, he can continue to provide for his family and run a business that he is not only good at, but that he does with pride.” says Pierre
To further support, if anyone needs anything transported or collected in the Cape Town area please contact Sheehama – 0743808113.
Thank you to the 54 incredible donors who supported Sheehama in purchasing a new truck and helped him keep his business.
Joanie & Clyde Smith | WilliamReith | Chatz Charity | DanielleGair | O Donovan | Bobby Perel | Ruby’s Cottage | Schopman Marijke | Connock Mary | Damien de Gouveia| Chris Cheetham | Gillespie Shirley | The Warners | KellyPhelps | Bartlett Anon | Scheepers Anon | de Klerk Disco + fam | Mary Jakins | Holmes Ryan and Paula | De Ferry Luisa | Cheetham | Neumann Debbie | KarinNeill | Finnemore Lindsay | Raubenheimer Nate | Rainbow Dreams Trust | Fedder Linda | Teague Nicola | Alexander Desmond | Campbell John | Hall Trevor | Piet Du Preez | Lindley Stuart | Maierhofer Petra | Carmen Potgieter | Adler Warren | Tee Louise | Joshua Brown | Marais Chane | Belinda Louw | McCleland Jess | Schneider Katherine & Frank | Lizet Meyer | LisaGoosen | Deary L | Stumpf Rudi&Marise | William & Walter De Wet | Vicci Butler | Du Plessis Keith | Monja Conradie | Margit Roberts | Joan De Wet | Catherine Du Plooy
After discovering hungry children in his community three years ago, Joshua Roos (12) who lives with his grandmother, Manda, in Gordon’s Bay, Western Cape, was inspired to start his own soup kitchen to feed the vulnerable and support various charitable institutions.
As Joshua and his grandmother get by on her disability pension, together they launched a crowdfunding campaign on BackaBuddy, to better serve their community by providing food parcels to young children and the elderly during lockdown.
Since the project’s launch in June 2020, donors both locally and abroad have contributed over R24 000 towards his fundraising target of R50 000 to expand the soup kitchen and feed hungry tummies. Donate here.
Like most businesses, Joshua’s soup kitchen was tremendously impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic with it being difficult to gather donations to continue helping the less fortunate.
To keep his dreaming alive, Joshua has had to think of other alternatives by starting his own Jalapeno Product Range by smoking various types of meats, and with the profits gained from this venture, he donates it to various causes that’s close to his heart.
Since Covid19 started it has been a real struggle to gather donations to continue to help the less fortunate which has been his dream (A dream which has no end) as everyone has gone through their own difficulties, that’s when Joshua started his own Jalapeno Product Range together with Smoking various meats and with the profits gained from this venture he donates it to various causes that’s close to his heart he wishes he is able to have at least once a month a day where he is able to give a hot meal to the less fortunate people around the community. Whilst all this has been going on granny’s health has also been deteriorating but still try to help where she can to enable his dreams but sometimes she is not able to. He has a project up his sleeve for the 16th of December for about 60 kids and everything is coming out of pocket as funds are very low at this point.
As funds have been slowly coming in, donations towards his cause and dream are still welcomed on his BackaBuddy page here.
South Africa’s leading crowdfunding platform, BackaBuddy has supported more than 10 000+ individuals and charities in setting up fundraising campaigns for medical fees, tuition and various causes in South Africa. The platform has thus far risen over R290 Million.
In 2018, Andrew Patterson (39) from Sea Point, Cape Town, successfully climbed Table Mountain every day for a year to raise funds for 3 non-profit organisations, Habitat for Humanity, One Heart and Sunflower Fund on BackaBuddy.
Through the summer sun and winter rain, Andrew pushed his body to the limits and committed to his cause in hopes to inspire South Africans to look out for their fellow man and make the world a better place.
Taking the last step of his 964 hour, 2429km journey (including 262km of vertical climbing – which is equivalent to climbing Mount Everest 71 times) on New Year’s Eve, Andrew was thankful to the 738 climbers who joined him along the way, as well as the 485 donors who pledged their support.
“The people I got to meet, the conversations that we have had on the mountain, the enthusiasm for people to get behind this to make a real difference in this country was mind blowing. It goes to show that you can never fully grasp the full power of an idea until you act on it and start to see it blooming. It was hard to put into a few words what that year meant to me, the entire experience was even greater than I ever imagined. I developed a greater understanding of listening to my own inner voice, intuition and gut.” – says Andrew
Deliver books to 3 of the Western Cape’s poorest schools in Stellenbosch, Klapmuts and Kayamandi in connection with One Heart for Kids.
Upgrade the homes of 10 struggling families living in shacks in Baphumelele, Khayelitsha with Habitat for Humanity.
Add 60 donors to the Sunflower Fund by running 2 donor drives to help those living with leukaemia.
Taking on the challenge, Andrew learned a powerful lesson about what we can accomplish together when we push through our own fears and insecurities.
“I learned when I choose to focus on solutions to challenges rather than become weighed down by the challenge itself – whether climbing or the societal challenges at large – I feel far more empowered. There is always a solution. I just have to decide I have the dedication, perseverance, and depth of faith to go as far as is needed.” – says Andrew
Andrew hopes South Africans will be inspired to conquer their own mountain.
“Whatever your challenge – just get started. Table mountain from afar seemed insurmountable, but seeing the next few stairs ahead of you makes you think ‘why didn’t I start sooner’. Focus on today and what you can do right now to make South Africa better” – says Andrew
On crowdfunding for his cause, Andrew had this to say:
“Partnering with BackaBuddy gave me the freedom to focus 100% on my challenge and know that the finances were taken care of. The transparency with which donations are shown and the ease with which people could donate from around the world made them a joy to work with.”
Rudy’s Challenge
Inspired by Andrew, Rudy van Dieman (26), a tour guide for Table Mountain Aerial Cableway, hopes to achieve 365 summits up Table Mountain in 2022 to help buy a safe house for children in Mitchells Plain. Read More.
“Rudy first contacted me in 2020 to tell me he wanted to tackle this challenge. Climbing Table Mountain every day for a year is a mammoth undertaking — but once I heard why he wanted to do this, I had absolute faith in him. Rudy is an incredible man with big dreams and an even bigger heart. I’m incredibly proud of him and supporting him with every step he climbs.” – says Andrew
Andrew with Rudy in 2018
Thank you to the 486 incredible donors who supported Andrew on his life-changing journey to make a difference.
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Kirsty Olwagen (32) a school bus driver from Pietermaritzburg, was a breech baby, born with a dislocated hip, which has placed tremendous strain on knees her whole life.
Pictured above: Kirsty and her husband, Sefas.
At only 2-years old, doctors at Mediclinic in Kwa-Zulu Natal, realised that Kirsty’s hip had grown past her socket, and without surgery, she might not have been able to walk for the rest of her life.
To help Kirsty re-align her hip with her socket, her legs needed to be stretched out into the splits, and she had to hang upside down, with the help of a T-shape mechanism, for 2-years, while she ate, slept and played.
Thankfully, the procedure worked, and Kirsty proved everyone wrong who thought she wouldn’t be able to walk.
Pictured above: Kirsty Olwagen at age 6.
Later in Life
Fast forward a couple years, and Kirsty’s problem with her hips manifested in a new way.
Developing large breasts at the age of only 13-years old, Kirsty felt tremendous pressure on her back, and eventually had to undergo a series of 5 knee operations.
Pictured above: Kirsty Olwagen at age 18
Like many women who deal with the burden of a heavier chest, Kirsty has struggled with weight gain her whole life, which has placed increased pressure on her knees.
She has since developed a more severe condition: Sacroiliitis in her left hip, which causes inflammation of the sacroiliac joints, as well as tension of the lumbar spine and pelvic joints.
To avoid Kirsty having to undergo a comprehensive back operation or hip replacement surgery, which could put her life at risk, doctors have recommended that she has Breast reduction surgery urgently, as her breasts weigh over 6kgs.
“I want nothing more than to enjoy life with my family, without being in constant pain and discomfort. My boobs and I have had a good run, but the party’s over and it’s time to go.” – jokes Kirsty.
Help Kirsty get a weight off her chest
As Kirsty’s medical aid has declined to cover the cost of her breast reduction surgery, estimated to cost over R94 000, arguing that it is a cosmetic procedure.
To help ease her financial burden, non-profit organisation, Porky’s People NPC, has launched a crowdfunding campaign to reach out to the public for support. Thus far, over R8300 has been raised with generous support.
Funds raised, which will be administered by BackaBuddy NPC and Porky’s People NPC, will be used to cover the cost of Kirsty’s medication, time in theatre, the surgeon and anaesthetist fee, as well as an overnight hospital stay.
“Everyone who knows Kirsty knows she is a big girl, with an even bigger heart. Having this operation will help her regain her confidence and finally live pain-free.” – says Kirsty’s sister, Natasha.
With public support, Kirsty could undergo her breast surgery in Pretoria before the end of year.
We understand that raising funds for a cause can be difficult and sometimes intimidating, which is why our team has put together our best advice for a successful crowdfunding campaign.
If you have any questions throughout your journey, please reach out to us, and we will be happy to guide you.
Your first donations and getting started:
Send your campaign to family and friends first with a short, personal message via WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger or email.
Here’s why:
Campaigns with initial support from loved ones creates trust in your campaign, and can help you raise 220% more funds.
Instant messages are also typically read within the first 3 seconds, which increases your chances of getting support for your cause in the beginning phase.
For sharing templates and advice on getting started, click here.
Avoid sharing your campaign to a wide audience with no funds raised.
Here’s why:
Just like no one wants to be the first person on the dancefloor, donors in the wider community usually wait until a campaign has a few contributions before lending their support – especially if they don’t know you personally.
Raise more funds
Fine tune your campaign message: Your campaign message should be simple, short, but emotive. The person reading it should know exactly who you are, where you are from, what your funding needs are and the impact donations will have on your life. Read more.
Tell your story with a short video: Create a 1-2 minute video with your cell phone that introduces yourself and your cause. This video can be loaded to your campaign via a YouTube link, if you don’t have an account, send us the clip and we will upload it for you! Read more.
FACT: Campaigns with videos tend to raise about 4 times more funds.
Reach out to a wider audience on social media: Sharing your campaign on Facebook, WhatsApp, Instagramand beyond will allow more people to see and share your campaign. We recommend waiting until you have at least 3 or 4 donations before sharing your campaign on social platforms.
FACT: Social Media can increase your campaign’s likelihood of success by 5 times
Haven’t received any funds yet? Try this:
Reach out to more people in your network: Have you contacted your extended family, neighbours, co-workers, social groups to support your cause? Have you shared your campaign on social media or contacted your local newspaper or radio station?
Interact with the online community: Depending on which social media platform you are most familiar with, share your campaign to different groups and forums in your area or that relate to your cause.
Share campaign updates: Post about your campaign more often on social media, through sharing updates, thanking your donors and sharing your fundraising milestones. You can also ask your BackaBuddy campaign manager to send an update to your donors.
