KZN-based non-profit, Trulife, is taking a public stand against gender-based violence with their “WeSeeYou” awareness campaign – where runners across the world have signed up to complete 100 kilometers in 10 days.
Now in its second year running, the campaign will launch on Human Rights Day – the 21st of March. The aim is to increase awareness of Gender-Based Violence – and its many nefarious forms – that are rife in South Africa. This is done in two ways; by challenging each participant’s physical limitations as a constant reminder of drawing near to a victim’s pain, and secondly, to raise funds for Trulife’s nationwide GBV awareness programme in schools on BackaBuddy.
Colin Edmonds, founder and director of Trulife, explained the concept behind their WeSeeYou campaign like this;
“GBV is a silent, behind-closed-doors killer. The WeSeeYou movement is about shouting aloud to both victims and perpetrators that we’re bringing this issue into the light. The campaign hopes to send a strong message of support to victims of GBV – one where their fellow South Africans and global community stand with them in solidarity, making a choice to ‘run, so they don’t have to’.”
The ultimate goal is awareness and prevention, and so the funds generated from the campaign go directly towards Trulife’s annual schools campaign, helping the organisation reach more schools with GBV Awareness training. In 2023, Trulife hopes to raise over R600 000 to expand their project into Gauteng and the Western Cape, visiting over 120 schools from April 2023 – November 2023.
How does the challenge work?
Participants may enter as an individual or a team (with a max of ten members) on the Trulife website – https://trulife.org.za/weseeyou.
The registration fee is R300 which includes one WeSeeYou branded running shirt.
Teams may split the 100km amongst themselves as long as they collectively complete the target distance by day 10 of the challenge.
Each registered individual or team will have a profile created on crowdfunding platform, BackaBuddy with a fundraising goal of R5 000. For every R5000 raised, Trulife match the donation through private funding to take GBV training into a new school.
Runners are encouraged to join the WeSeeYou club on Strava to log their runs and receive motivation from their fellow participants. https://www.strava.com/clubs/1020892
The Project:
As a non-profit that exists to help young people make brave choices for a better future, Trulife’s Gender-Based Violence project aims to bring long-standing change in the way our country, and ultimately our youth, value themselves and others on the basis of gender and equality. Trulife hopes to empower through education and awareness, bringing to light issues of violence against women, children and other vulnerable groups.
As Linda Malevu, senior facilitator from Trulife explains, “the concept of a tree is used to drive the message home – for too long South Africa’s roots, our beliefs and values, have been poisoned. No wonder we see such rotten fruit in our people’s behaviour. By changing those roots, we can establish a new way of thinking, inspiring this generation to make a change for the better.”
In order to do this, the team has created a Primary and High School anti-GBV programme that uses multimedia and group discussion to address the underlying issues that contribute to GBV culture, prevention tactics, and where to get help. Trained facilitators from the Trulife team have already traveled throughout all 11 districts of KZN in 2022, delivering this important message to over 70 primary and high schools, and creating safe spaces for learners to come forward to share their stories or find help. This was made possible through the R549 000 raised from the first WeSeeYou campaign, alongside complementary funding from the Solidarity Fund and GBVF1 Response Fund.
Trulife is calling on businesses, communities, running groups and families to take up the challenge and change the tide of GBV in South Africa – one learner, one school, one community at a time.
To embrace a shared sense of purpose and camaraderie around the event, a kick-off run will take place on Tuesday the 21st of March at Forest Hills Running Club (Forest View) at 8:30am – with the option to complete a 5k or 10k walk/run. All are welcome!
About Trulife
Trulife is an NPO that works to improve the lives of South African youth through educational and creative content in the form of live productions, workshops and seminars. With over 11 years of experience, Trulife work with schools, universities, and the public to create relevant, home-grown videos and materials that address social and health issues including bullying, peer pressure, drugs and alcohol abuse, human trafficking, mental health, identity, leadership and more.
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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 R380 Million.
Ukrainians observed the solemn anniversary of the Russian invasion that disrupted their lives and threatened Europe’s security on February 24, 2022.
One year on, the scars of war remain fresh as individuals remember the lives lost, the homes destroyed, and the families torn apart by the conflict.
In a statement, Ukrainian President Zelenskyy acknowledged the resilience of the Ukrainian people, saying they demonstrated their invincibility during “a year of agony, sorrow, faith, and unity.”
As the world continues to watch the devastation unfold, many have come together to provide humanitarian relief to the people of Ukraine.
To support South African humanitarian organisation, The Gift of the Givers, who are working tirelessly to uplift the lives of Ukrainians affected by the war, 5 individuals have launched crowdfunding campaigns on BackaBuddy, hoping to make a difference.
Soup Kitchens in Kyiv
Natalia Venter, a 46-year-old originally from Kyiv, Ukraine, who now lives in Cape Town, has launched a crowdfunding campaign with her husband Div Venter (49), to provide warm, cooked meals to people affected by the war in Ukraine.
The B50 Field Kitchen has prepared and distributed over 1 million meals with the support of the Gift of the Givers, which has received an official certificate for their continuous support.
Pictured above: Natalia Venter
The campaign aims to raise funds to purchase fresh produce, ingredients, packaging materials, and hygienic products to support the B50 Field Kitchen and other soup kitchens on a regular basis.
The cost to support the B50 Field Kitchen is around R30,000 per week, while other smaller soup kitchens cost an additional R30,000 per week for products and gasoline for deliveries.
Since the launch of the campaign, more than R6 075.16 has been raised towards the target of R500 000.
Madelaine Reader, a 47-year-old from Rustenburg Johannesburg, has started a crowdfunding campaign to raise funds for #LOVERENI, a movement that supports Michele Potgieter’s mission in Reni, Ukraine.
The mission provides education, health, and socio-economic projects and services to residents, including refugees and displaced people affected by the War in Ukraine.
Pictured above: Madelaine Reader
The funds raised will be used to sustain vital services such as providing fuel for generators, humanitarian aid, food for refugees and vulnerable people, and coal for heating during winter months for the Raduga Children’s Home and The Ark Shelter. With continued support, #LOVERENI will be able to provide necessary aid to help those in need.
Since the launch of the campaign, more than R2500 has been raised towards the target of R100 000.
Kateryna Tertiienko helping orphans and children in Ukraine
Kateryna Tertiienko (39) who is originally from Kyiv, Ukraine and now lives in Cape Town started a crowdfunding campaign on BackaBuddy, to provide humanitarian aid for orphans and children who became orphans during the conflict in Ukraine.
Pictured above: Kateryna Tertiienko
Funds raised will be used to purchase essential products for preparing wholesome meals for children, fresh vegetables, and fruit, as well as non-perishable foods that require less electricity for preparation.
“Ukraine is my home, and it has been really difficult to not be right there and help during those hard times. Although we are on another continent, I would like to do everything in my power to send some help back to those who need it.” – says Kateryna Tertiienko
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 R390 Million.
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David Klinkradt (17), a young man living with Down syndrome and autism from Brackenfell, Cape Town , is gearing up for his ninth Cape Town Cycle Tour alongside his partner, Brett Chilcott (46).
Though David cannot ride a bicycle independently, he takes on the challenge in a buggy attached to Brett’s bicycle.
The two have built a beautiful relationship over the years of cycling together, not only benefiting David, who loves to be out on the road, but also using events like the Cape Town Cycle Tour to raise funds for a cause close to their hearts: Raising Hope South Africa.
David’s older sister started Raising Hope South Africa, an NPO that supports individuals and families living with disabilities through various projects such as food hampers, parents support groups, church ministry programs, and inclusive sports such as cycling and golf.
David is passionate about making a difference in his community. He began his social advocacy work as part of the Chaeli Campaign’s Ambassadors program when he was 9 years old in 2015. He remained an ambassador until 2021. He started doing awareness talks with his sister around Down syndrome and autism at age 8, and became actively involved with Raising Hope South Africa when it was founded in 2016. Currently, David also serves as Durbanville Leo (a branch of Lion’s international).
Since 2014, David and Brett have been cycling together. David relies on Brett to keep him safe and to make sure his needs are met while on the road, so that together they can succeed. From not knowing each other when they started, David’s face lights up at the mention of cycling with Brett, or the opportunity to spend time with him.
Pictured above: Brett Chilcott and David Klinkradt with Gavin Rossouw (Image: Action photos)
“Sport, and in particular cycling have provided some of the best experiences of my life. A bike is one’s first sense of freedom, the ability to move off on an adventure and explore your surroundings. The feeling of the wind in your face as you ‘fly” downhill or the view as you round a corner, these are special and precious things. I decided to ride with David to try and expose and give a young boy the opportunity to experience this for himself. Over the last 10 years I’ve watched David grow, overcome more challenges and obstacles than are fair. We are more than riding partners, we are friends, a team, and he’s changed my life for the better, forever” – says Brett
With this year’s event David and Brett are aiming to raise at least R20 000 through a crowdfunding campaign on BackaBuddy. These funds will go towards the Hampers of Hope feeding program run by Raising Hope South Africa, which supports learners at Paarl School in Brackenfell and their families over school holidays with food hampers.
Each hamper costs R450 to put together and provides canned and dried foods to assist families with staple food items. These learners are impacted by cerebral palsy, autism, and other physical disabilities. Should David raise additional funds, these will go towards supporting the Raising Hope Golf Academy.
Pictured above: Raising Hope delivering food hampers to Paarl School
David and Brett will be taking on the 109km Cape Town Cycle Tour on 12 March 2023, supported by riders, Gavin Rossouw (45) and Steven Burnett (43) along the way who will assist in pushing the duo up the challenging parts of the course such as Smits Winkle, Suikerbossie, and Chapman’s Peak when the going gets tough.
David’s passion for sport and his community is inspiring, and we can’t wait to see him and Brett succeed in the Cape Town Cycle Tour and raise funds for families with disabilities
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 R390 Million.
Raise funds for an individual or cause.
Register your non-profit organisation.
Create a crowdfunding campaign to raise funds for a non-profit organisation.
Nontuthuko Mgabhi (36), a dedicated ultra-runner from Richards Bay, is set to take on a new challenge: the Ultra ASIA, 160km Race in Vietnam from 6-9 March 2023.
Image credit: Vibrant Shots Mzwah
But it’s not about personal achievement or conquering the ultra-running world for Mgabhi. Her mission is much closer to home and about bettering the lives of rural schoolchildren in South Africa.
Through her various athletic adventures, including becoming the First Female from Africa to run 7 marathons on 7 Continents in 7 Consecutive Days, Mgabhi has raised over R3 million so far, which has been used to provide a variety of resources for learners living in poverty.
Her latest mission is to raise another R140 000 through a crowdfunding campaign on BackaBuddy to provide 500 new pairs of school shoes to learners at five different schools in Mseleni on KwaZulu-Natal’s North Coast, giving children from deep rural villages a fair chance at education.
“A school shoe is not a ‘nice to have’ for children from the rural village. A school shoe can stand in the way, and in some cases it does. Children in rural villages walk a long distance to school (+/- 6km), a school shoe is a necessity, it’s not about looking good but it’s about helping them walk the distance. A school shoe is a mode of transport.” – says Nontuthuko
“I too come from a deep rural village, the village of Mseleni, and it is my desire to inspire hope, especially in the children from the deep rural village. I believe in equal opportunities and it is my wish that children from rural villages get a fair chance to succeed.”
Image credit: Vibrant Shots Mzwah
“I consider myself very fortunate to have risen against all the odds and limited resources. I believe that my story is not unique as it is the same as the story of many young children in South Africa. It is for this reason that I dedicate my running to the children with whom I can relate, the children from the deep rural villages, who are confronted with conditions that are not conducive for learning and development.The same conditions that I was once exposed to (although in a different school or village). I myself know that they too have dreams and potential, they just need access to quality education, as they deserve a fair chance to succeed. Genius is equally distributed, it’s the opportunities that aren’t.” – says Nontuthuko
Dedicated to her cause, Nontuthuko, who works as a General Manager of Human Resources at Richards Bay Coal Terminal, currently runs 130-1340km per week, to prepare for the gruelling Ultra ASIA Race, where she will take on 6,000 metres of positive elevation and 7,000 metres of negative elevation, while carrying her own supplies.
In anticipation of her upcoming race, Nontuthuko, would like to share a message of inspiration to young students out there:
“I believe I have put in the necessary hard work in preparation for the race. I am ready to show up. Life is about Showing Up, and you must show up always. When it comes to your life and future, you must always double down on yourself. Do your Best with what you have. Life is always where you are. Slow and steady wins the race. Do not underestimate the power of small efforts and humble beginnings. One day you will surprise yourself, your family and the world.” – says Nontuthuko
*All funds raised will be paid directly to the relevant institution.
Create a crowdfunding campaign
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 R390 Million.
Raise funds for an individual or cause.
Register your non-profit organisation.
Create a crowdfunding campaign to raise funds for a non-profit organisation.
Greenside, Johannesburg, South Africa – The family of Mikaeel Poonan, a 19-year-old young man diagnosed with cystic fibrosis, has launched a crowdfunding campaign on BackaBuddy in hopes of raising R600,000 to cover his life-saving medication for the next year.
Mikaeel was born in 2003 and has undergone nine surgical procedures in his lifetime, including the insertion and removal of ports and feeding tubes, as well as bronchoscopies. He is now due to undergo another procedure on his sinuses.
Cystic fibrosis is a genetic chronic illness that mainly affects the lungs and pancreas, causing thick and sticky mucus to collect in the lungs and digestive system, resulting in a high risk of infections and digestion problems.
Mikaeel’s lung function is currently at only 27%, and he is not eligible for a bilateral lung and heart transplant. If his lung function drops below 15%, he will have only two years to find a donor.
To support his ongoing medical expenses and potentially life-saving medication, Mikaeel’s family hopes to raise R600,000 through their BackaBuddy campaign. So far, they have raised over R167 000 with kind contributions.
The treatment they are hoping to access is a drug called TRIXACAR, which is currently only available in Argentina. While the price has dropped to $3339 per box, it still amounts to R58,000 per month, which the family is unable to afford.
TRIXACAR is a highly effective therapy for the underlying cause of cystic fibrosis and has shown dramatic improvements in key measures of the disease, including lung function.
Mikaeel is a keen musician who plays the guitar, paints, draws, and is very creative. He is also interested in cars and has plans to study 3D animation at the School of Audio Engineering in Rosebank. However, his health condition has put limitations on his studies and social interactions with his peers.
Pictured above: Mikaeel with his mum and his core strength… His aunties Rubina, Aliya and Sameera.
“Morgan Grindstaff, a well known sufferer of Cystic Fibrosis once said, ‘Breathing with cystic fibrosis is like having a litter of kittens in your lungs that are clawing away.’ We couldn’t be more thankful for the support Mikaeel is receiving from the donor community. He is loved by all who meet him and has a smile that can light up the universe if given a chance at reaching our target.” – says Leila Poonan, Mikaeel’s mother.
Once Mikaeel’s campaign has reached R300 000, he will be able to receive the first 6 months of medication he desperately needs.
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 R390 Million.
