Tasneem Bhula (32) from Johannesburg, Gauteng, leads one of South Africa’s most remarkable sanctuaries for girls who have endured the unimaginable. As Executive Director of Guild Cottage, a specialist residential treatment centre in Parktown West, she and her dedicated team provide more than shelter. They offer safety, therapy, and the hope of healing.
Founded over a century ago, Guild Cottage has become a beacon of compassion and resilience, supporting sexually abused girls aged six to eighteen. It’s the only centre of its kind in South Africa, where each child receives psychological care, family therapy, education, and the chance to rediscover trust and purpose.
A Legacy of Care and Courage
Guild Cottage’s roots trace back to 1907, when the Guild of Loyal Women established it to care for orphans of the Anglo-Boer War. Over the decades, the home evolved to meet the changing needs of society. By the 1980s, as awareness of child sexual abuse grew, Guild Cottage became a specialised treatment centre, pioneering trauma recovery for young survivors.
“The girls who come to us have faced unimaginable pain,” says Tasneem, “Our mission is to show them that they are not defined by their trauma, that they can rebuild their lives.”
Through environmental therapy, individual and group counselling, and life-skills development, each girl learns to reclaim her confidence. The Cottage even has a vegetable garden, where tending to plants becomes an act of calm and renewal.
“Healing is not linear,” Tasneem adds, “but every step forward, every smile, every small success, is worth celebrating.”
Healing Hearts, One Day at a Time
A day at Guild Cottage is designed to feel like home. The girls wake up, share breakfast, attend school, and receive therapy sessions. Evenings are for homework, dinner, and quiet moments of reflection. On arrival, each girl receives a teddy bear, symbolising comfort and safety, a reminder that they are not alone.
Tasneem describes the process with warmth: “We tell them: it’s not your fault, and it never was. You are not alone. You are loved.”
And for those struggling with self-harm or suicidal thoughts, Guild Cottage provides intensive support and safety planning.
“Children who have suffered abuse often carry invisible scars,” Tasneem says. “But through community, therapy, and love, healing becomes possible.”
Stories of Strength and Second Chances
Amid the challenges, there are powerful stories of transformation. One young woman, admitted in 2018, passed her matric in 2024 with three distinctions and earned a nursing bursary at Mediclinic. Two others have recently been reunited with their grandparents, flourishing in their new lives.
These are victories born of consistency, compassion, and a trauma-informed approach.
“Every meal shared, every therapy session held, that’s what your donations make possible,” explains Dr. Francesca Maraschin, a board member and campaign creator who now works as a paediatrician in London.
Francesca joined the Guild Cottage board in 2019 and recently helped launch a crowdfunding campaign to help keep its doors open.
“In the wake of COVID-19, funding for social care has dwindled,” she says. “But the need has never been greater. Without ongoing community support, we risk losing a lifeline for hundreds of girls.”
The ‘Growing Givers’ Campaign: Building a Village of Hope
On 3 March 2025, Guild Cottage NPO launched its second crowdfunding campaign through BackaBuddy; Save Guild Cottage. The campaign follows a successful effort in 2024 that raised R20,817.84 from 28 donors. This year, with 81 generous contributors, over R79,000 has been raised toward a R100,000 goal.
Funds will cover essentials like food, school fees, therapy, and maintenance, as well as training for staff who deliver trauma-informed care to the girls and families. It costs roughly R250,000 per month to sustain operations, a formidable but vital expense.
Francesca explains: “Our goal is to create a movement of ‘growing givers’, people who give not once, but regularly, ensuring that Guild Cottage can thrive long-term. Every donation, no matter the size, helps us keep hope alive.”
If the campaign surpasses its goal, extra funds will support sustainability projects such as installing solar panels, reducing running costs, and keeping the home energy-secure.
Conclusion: The Power of Community Care
The story of Guild Cottage is one of faith in humanity, of strangers uniting to protect the most vulnerable. Donations, large or small, don’t just keep the lights on; they keep dreams alive.
As Tasneem reflects, “Every girl who walks through our doors deserves safety, dignity, and a future filled with possibility. Your kindness makes that future possible.”
When South African wellness practitioner Suré Tredoux first heard about the Sunshine Centre in Walvis Bay, Namibia, she was deeply moved. The stories of children living with disabilities, their laughter, courage, and will to thrive despite immense physical challenges touched something profound in her. Suré, a long-time advocate for holistic self – healing and the co – founder of several Body Stress Release (BSR) outreach programs across Africa, knew instantly that this was a community where hope could take root in extraordinary ways.
Above – Suré Tredoux
Now, through a pilot Body Stress Release outreach set to run from 26 October to 5 November 2025, Suré and her team of three BSR practitioners are bringing gentle, non-invasive care to children who have never had access to such support. The goal: to ease their daily pain, enhance their mobility, and help them rediscover the simple joys of childhood.
A Gentle Touch that Transforms Lives
Developed in South Africa in 1981 by Ewald and Gail Meggersee, Body Stress Release is a gentle hands-on technique designed to identify and release stored tension caused by physical, emotional, or chemical stress. By helping the body and brain reconnect, BSR promotes natural self – healing, reduces pain and spasms, and improves overall well-being.
“Every child deserves to feel ease in their body and joy in their spirit,” says Suré Tredoux, Chairperson of the Body Stress Release Foundation.
“At Sunshine Centre, we’ve met children who live with cerebral palsy, spina bifida, and developmental delays, conditions that make daily movement an ongoing struggle. BSR won’t cure these disabilities, but it can ease tension and bring comfort. That comfort can change everything.”
The pilot program will support 90 children, each receiving three sessions over ten days. Every R250 donation sponsors a single session, covering vital outreach expenses such as travel, accommodation, and hygiene materials. To date, R8,883.60 has been raised from 18 generous donors, bringing the campaign closer to its R50,000 goal.
For these children, each session could mean more restful sleep, less pain, and a chance to experience their world more freely.
Sunshine in Every Sense of the Word
Founded in 1996, the Sunshine Centre has long been a beacon of compassion in Walvis Bay’s Erongo region. What began in a social worker’s waiting room with five grandmothers and their grandchildren has blossomed into a vibrant community hub serving over 100 children and youth, as well as 18 adults with disabilities. Under the leadership of Ms. Wendy Huschfieldt and a dedicated team, the Centre offers education, therapy, meals, and transport and, most importantly, a place where every individual is celebrated for what they can do.
Suré describes the Centre as “a place that feels like sunshine – even on days when the Namibian coast is grey. You walk in, and you feel the love, the laughter, and the light that the children bring.”
Two of those children, Dimitri and Poppy, embody that spirit. Dimitri, who has spina bifida, faces daily physical strain but dreams of attending a mainstream school.
“With BSR,” Suré explains, “we hope to ease the tension in his body so he can move with more stability and comfort.” Poppy, a young athlete and singer, radiates joy wherever she goes.
“She’s an Olympic gold medallist in spirit,” Suré says fondly. “If we can help her body move more freely, her brilliance will shine even brighter.”
From One Visit to a Lasting Legacy
Though this is the first BSR outreach at Sunshine Centre, Suré and her team dream of making it a regular program. The long-term vision is to establish annual or bi-annual visits, train local practitioners, and eventually create a BSR bursary for someone in Walvis Bay inspired to continue this work.
“Even the smallest gift can bring real change,” Suré reminds supporters. “Your donation doesn’t just fund a project, it gives a child comfort, hope, and the chance to experience life with more ease.”
In the words of Sunshine Centre’s founding philosophy, Nothing for us without us, this collaboration represents more than therapy; it’s a partnership rooted in respect, inclusion, and shared humanity. Through passion, perseverance, and compassion, the team hopes to plant seeds of self – healing that will grow for years to come.
A Call to the Heart
As the first children in Walvis Bay prepare to experience Body Stress Release this October, the message from Suré and Gail Klinkert at the BSR Foundation is clear: every act of kindness counts. Whether through a once-off donation or a small monthly contribution, supporters are helping to rewrite what’s possible for these remarkable children.
Together, they are turning relief into resilience, and making sure the Sunshine Centre continues to live up to its name, one gentle touch at a time.
Inspired by Suré Tredoux’s uplifting mission to bring self – healing and hope to children with disabilities in Walvis Bay? You too can make a difference in your own community. Whether you’re raising funds for medical needs, education, disaster relief, sporting tours, funeral costs, or simply paying it forward to someone in need, BackaBuddy provides a trusted platform to share your story and rally support.
Transoranje School for the Deaf, nestled in Pretoria West, Gauteng, is home to an extraordinary group of young people who are showing South Africa, and the world, that music is not confined to hearing. The school’s Hands of Harmony Choir, made up of profoundly Deaf learners, recently completed a life-changing Karoo tour spanning five provinces and more than 3,000 kilometers, leaving audiences inspired and eager for more.
The tour saw the choir performing in towns such as Sutherland, Merweville, Bloemfontein, Kimberley, and Wolmaransstad, with their main highlight being a moving performance at the Merweville Dankfees in the heart of the Karoo.
Everywhere they went, they were met with standing ovations. Audiences, many of whom had never experienced music visually before, were astonished as songs were interpreted into South African Sign Language (SASL), rhythms were felt through vibrations, and stories were told with hands, faces, and spirit.
For the learners themselves, the journey was equally transformative. They discovered the power of vibration through church organs that shook the wooden floors beneath their feet, or the deep hum of motorbikes at the Bloemfontein Bikers Club. They marveled at natural wonders like the Gariep Dam’s rainbow spray when the sluice gates opened, the Kimberley Big Hole, the giant wind turbines, and even the magic of the night sky at Sutherland’s planetarium. For many, these were first-time experiences, as unforgettable as the performances themselves.
As one choir member explained: “I feel the rhythm through the floor and speakers, and I watch my conductor’s hands, body movements, and facial expressions.”
How the Deaf community creates music
To many, the idea of a Deaf choir may sound impossible. But at Transoranje, music is about more than sound, it’s about connection, presence, and creativity.
The learners use vibrations as their compass. Deep bass and organ notes resonate through floors and walls, allowing them to physically “feel” rhythm. Their conductors, Megan Bester and Carmen Bredenkamp, guide them visually through expressive gestures, facial cues, and body movements. Lyrics are translated into SASL, making each performance a blend of language, rhythm, and storytelling that bridges Deaf and hearing audiences.
Music collaborator Rudi van Wyk, who toured with the choir, describes the experience as life-changing:
“Deaf people do not want to be defined by their hearing ability, they live full, normal lives, with the same hopes, dreams, and needs as anyone else. This journey changed the way I see music, communication, and the power of human connection.”
Rudi shared how everyday environments became part of the music: the pulsing vibrations of motorcycles, the rushing water at Gariep Dam, even the silence of the Karoo night sky, all woven into a sensory tapestry the learners could experience. “Waar Stilte Sing (Where Silence Sings) showed us that rhythm can be felt, dynamics can be seen, and music is truly a universal language,” he said. “Waar stilte sing” was composed by Prof. Theo van Wyk from the University of Pretoria, with lyrics by Rudi van Wyk. Prof. Van Wyk is a leading South African organist and composer, known for bridging tradition with innovation. They were inspired after realising that Transoranje learners experienced the powerful vibrations of the organ. This moment sparked the vision to write a composition built on sound that can be felt as well as heard, allowing Deaf learners to fully share in the music. Rudi’s lyrics capture the vast Karoo landscape and its silent beauty. The work was premiered and officially released for the first time on the Karoo Tour.
Lessons for audiences and learners alike
One of the most moving elements of the tour was watching how audiences engaged with Deaf culture for the first time. Instead of clapping, crowds quickly learned to raise their hands in the traditional Deaf way of showing praise. Children in the audience asked questions about SASL, eager to try their first signs. Concerts became moments of dialogue and awareness, not just entertainment.
Audiences were struck by the learners’ confidence and joy. Many said they had never seen music come alive so visually, and they left with a deeper appreciation for Deaf culture. They learned about traditions like sign names. This is where the Deaf community gives a specific “name” according to a physical feature that stands out to them from the person, as names are not finger spelled. This is a special gift as it can only be given by the Deaf community. They also saw that Deaf children’s lives, hopes, and dreams are no different from anyone else’s.
For the learners, the tour was just as enriching. They gained confidence, teamwork, and stage presence, learning to adapt to long travel days and packed schedules. Teachers reflected that the learners returned with a stronger sense of identity and pride: proof that “Deaf can”.
A campaign to keep the music alive
The success of the Karoo tour has sparked a renewed dream: to take the choir on a second regional tour in 2026 while also ensuring they can perform throughout the year at festivals, Deaf Awareness Month events, and community concerts. To make this possible, the school has launched a revamped crowdfunding campaign on BackaBuddy.
Their target is R55,000, which will cover essentials such as:
Transport and tolls – R16,000
Meals and catering – R10,000
Accommodation – R5,000
Performance wear and uniforms – R9,000 total
Festival entry fees – R5,000
Other performances across the year – R9,000
During their first campaign, the choir raised R12,400 from 8 generous donors, funds that helped make their Karoo tour possible in 2025. With additional in-kind sponsorships and donations, they stretched that budget to cover essentials like travel, food, and even a much-needed bass speaker. Now, as they look ahead to their next dream, a regional tour planned for 2026, the school has set a new target of R55,000. At present, fundraising for this upcoming goal has yet to begin, making community support more vital than ever.
As the school explains: “This is about more than another tour, it’s about creating opportunities for our learners to showcase their talent, share Deaf culture, and inspire communities across the country.”
More than music
For Hands of Harmony, music is not simply performance, it is identity, advocacy, and hope. Through every song, they remind audiences that Deaf culture is rich, proud, and full of talent. They show that inclusion is possible, that art transcends barriers, and that silence can indeed sing.
By supporting their campaign, South Africans can ensure these young performers continue to grow in confidence, explore the country, and prove that “Deaf can.”
Fred Benning (88) from Fish Hoek (Cape Town) is proving that determination and love can carry you through even the trickiest online hurdles. As South Africa marks Deaf Awareness Month this September, his story highlights what’s possible for people living with hearing loss who want to raise funds and share their voices. Profoundly deaf and a bilateral cochlear implant user, Fred launched a crowdfunding campaign on 20 June 2025 to support his wife of 86 years (and also as a birthday present), Denise, who is now paraplegic after White Spinal Cord Syndrome and requires full-time care. With patient guidance and a little humour, he turned devotion into action—one careful step at a time.
A determined love story, 64 years and counting
Denise is the kind of person who has spent a lifetime giving: a mother, community volunteer, and quiet doer. After a rare post-surgical complication left her permanently paraplegic, daily life changed overnight. Full-time care, wound care, physio, supplies, and non-chronic medication now stretch well beyond what medical aid covers. The family’s goal is simple: dignity for Denise, comfort at home, and a little breathing room each month.
For Fred, the decision to act was immediate. He might be 88 and profoundly deaf, but he is, in Tess’s words,
“an extremely determined bugger.”
Early messages landed in the customer-support inbox flagged: “PROFOUNDLY DEAF, WHATSAPP ONLY.” A chuckle followed—and then the work began.
There were dropped lines and do-overs; at one point, after Tess emailed to say Patience, the carer, could help set things up, Fred replied asking how on earth she knew about “Patience”—possibly forgetting the thirty-minute phone call that happened the week prior, with Patience relaying every sentence to Fred as it progressed. Through it all, the love story stayed centre stage: a husband doing everything he could for the woman who has given so much to others.
What it takes to start a campaign when you’re living with hearing loss
Step by step, the team and family became Fred’s champions in the truest sense: supporters who helped navigate the platform while keeping the campaigner’s voice at the centre.
“We painfully went through every step very slowly over the phone,” says Tessa Rae Van Rensburg from the BackaBuddy team. “Just like my granny, Fred can be quite hasty in pushing buttons—we had to start over a few times. If this experience didn’t teach me patience, I don’t know what would. It also showed me that 88-year-olds can indeed use the platform when the love is strong enough, and being deaf doesn’t have to hold you back.”
The breakthrough came when Fred’s son, Alex Benning, joined as a co-champion. With Alex on board, uploads, forms, and verifications fell into place. Patience stayed close, relaying instructions and keeping spirits steady. Fred’s cochlear implants helped a little; clear written steps, screenshots, and kind repetition helped a lot. In the end, the page went live with photos, a heartfelt story, and a transparent breakdown of costs that donations would cover: Patience’s salary, Denise’s medication, and any outstanding medical bills or shortfalls not paid by medical aid. In every sense, this was inclusive crowdfunding in action—guided by champions, owned by the family’s voice, and built on patience.
How hope turns into help
This September’s focus on Deaf inclusion is more than a calendar moment; it is a call to action. Since launching on 20 June 2025, the campaign has received support from 11 donors—R18,100 given on the platform and a further R10,000 contributed off the platform—toward a goal of R300,000. Every contribution lightens the family’s monthly load and gives Denise the comfort and care she needs. It also honours a marriage of 64 years—and the relentless love of a husband who simply refuses to give up.
If you’ve ever wondered whether a loved one living with hearing loss could start a crowdfunding campaign, let this be your sign: it’s challenging, not impossible—and a champion makes all the difference. And if you’re deaf or hard of hearing and thinking this platform isn’t for you, think again. Find a trusted person to sit alongside you, create a short video with subtitles, add a few photos, and tell your story in your own words. If Fred can do it, so can you—and you’ll find a patient team on the other side, ready to walk you through one step at a time.
South Africa is full of ordinary people doing extraordinary things — from feeding hungry children, to keeping heritage alive, to creating inclusive spaces for those living with dementia. If you’re looking for a way to give back this year, here are a few inspiring initiatives you can support through BackaBuddy.
Here’s a list of charities you can support
Hope & Hunger: Feed the Children of Promiseland
In Promiseland informal settlement, Palmridge, Gauteng, Nonkululeko “Nonny” Mda has made it her mission to fight hunger where it hits hardest.
As founder and chairperson of Ikhaya Lethu (Our Home), Nonny provides hot, nutritious meals for 40 to 100 children and families at a time — many of whom would otherwise go hungry, especially over weekends when school feeding programmes aren’t available.
Running this initiative from her own community, Nonny works as a cleaner to contribute what she can, but relies on donations to keep the pots full. Between R6,000 and R10,000 a month is needed to sustain the project.
Every contribution — whether a once-off gift or a small monthly donation — helps fight hunger and bring hope to families who need it most.
In Diep River, Cape Town, lies a resilient community known as Gatjie. Families here face daily hardships: leaky shacks, hunger, and vulnerability during heavy rains. Yet, their spirit and sense of togetherness never fade.
This initiative honours the legacy of a mother who dedicated her life to helping others. Today, her family continues her work by feeding children, repairing homes, and creating safe spaces for play and connection.
Your support provides essentials like food, blankets, clothing, and building materials — helping children and families not just survive, but thrive.
Bringing Joy & Connection to Families Living with Dementia
Dementia doesn’t only affect the elderly — it touches families of all ages. That’s why Be in the World creates uplifting, inclusive workshops that use art, music, movement, and play to bring connection and dignity to those living with dementia and their loved ones.
After successful pilots in Lotus River and Woodstock, the programme is now expanding to Cape Town’s Deep South. Donations help cover facilitators, venues, nutritious catering, and accessibility needs so that no family is excluded because of financial barriers.
Your gift makes these spaces possible — transforming isolation into joy and shared moments that truly matter.
Stories are at the heart of culture, carrying values and lessons from one generation to the next. Yet in South Africa, 81% of Grade 4 learners cannot read for meaning in any language — a crisis that impacts the future of education.
That’s why FableReads is on a mission to make timeless global fables accessible in multiple languages, starting with isiXhosa. With your support, 25 stories will be translated, narrated, and published online, before being printed and distributed to under-resourced schools and communities.
Every donation helps expand access to mother-tongue literacy, ignite imaginations, and connect cultures.
This Heritage Month, Neighbourhood Old Age Homes (NOAH) is celebrating not just buildings, but the people who bring them to life.
One of their treasures is Pothier House, a listed heritage building that has sheltered elders for more than a century. But Pothier is just one of 11 NOAH houses — all providing dignity, companionship, and safety to older South Africans.
Your donation helps maintain these homes — from fixing leaking roofs to replacing geysers — ensuring that elders can continue to live with stability and purpose.
Support heritage by preserving the spaces, stories, and wisdom of those who’ve shaped our country.
While we celebrate what makes South Africa unique, let’s remember those who go without — whether it’s food, safety, literacy, or connection. Supporting these initiatives is a way to uplift communities, preserve heritage, and ensure no one is left behind.
Create your own crowdfunding campaign
South Africa’s leading crowdfunding platform, BackaBuddy, has supported more than 10,000 individuals and charities to raise funds for medical care, education, community projects, and countless causes across the country. To date, the platform has helped raise over R400 million for those in need.
