Zane Groenewald, Author at BackaBuddy

Friends Refurbish Local School in honour of a Hero that sadly passed away.

by Zane Groenewald | Feb 1, 2019 | Impact

Ian Macdonald who dedicated the last 2 years of his life to students of Hillwood Primaryin Lavender Park sadly passed way in a head on collision on the 20th February 2018, the day after his 44th birthday.

The Noordhoek resident and father of 3, was actively involved with non-government organizations since 2002, supporting street children and sharing feel good South African stories in his role as the editor for popular site SA Good News.

Through his involvement with the Partners for Possibility Programme (PfP), an initiative that pairs successful businessmen and with school principals, Ian was instrumental in improving Hillwood Primary’s infrastructure and programs. To celebrate ‘The Year of The Teacher’ in 2017, he helped modernized the staff room and organized a staff development program. He introduced new extra mural activities such as boxing and surfing to the school and helped the reading NGO Shine establish a program.

“Ian was committed to having a positive and lasting impression on the students of Hillwood Primary. He loved feeling that he was contributing to society and using his network to help those in unfavorable circumstances. The program itself is only expected to last a year, but Ian had stayed on for almost 2 years and was committed going forward” – says friend Rob Broster.

Following the tragic news of Ian’s untimely passing, Rob set up a campaign on donations-based crowdfunding platform, BackaBuddy, to honour a friendship of over 25 years in special way.

“Ian didn’t just talk about what must be done. He just did it. When Ian passed, I found myself asking ‘What would Fella do?’ Besides his career he has always strongly argued for making a difference and for using privilege and network for positive change.” – says Rob

Rob’s determination to do something in Ian’s honour was shared among friends and family who felt the need to celebrate to Ian’s life by continuing his good works in his absence and with that “Fella’s Army” was formed, an informal taskforce of his friends that includes builders, architects, interior designers and project managers.

“There was a sense of introspection amongst many of us when Ian passed. He made the world a better place, and many of us felt that we needed to carry on his work – hence Rob’s hashtag #WhatWouldFellaDo. There was a groundswell of goodwill amongst friends and family, and so the concept of Fella’s Army evolved and at the moment Rob and I are just one of the few who are putting our energies towards Ian’s projects.” – says cousin, Suzie.

The campaign went live on the 15th of March 2018, aiming to raise R90 000 to refurbish the Grade 1 classrooms at Hillwood Primary to create an environment that promotes active learning. Within 24 hours the campaign raised an astounding R32 682.00 and in less than a month generated a total of R130 451.66 with contributions from over 62 donors.

“We started this campaign to help the educators at Hillwood by creating stimulating, colourful, well-resourced classrooms where learners want to be, and that enable learning in the best possible way. The project will include painting, fixing broken chairs and desks, repairing broken windows, reflooring. With additional funds we are hoping to improve the Grade 2 and 3 classrooms as well.” – says Rob

To donate to this project in honour of Ian Macdonald please click here

Everest Base Camp climb raises R1.8 million for SA children affected by fires.

by Zane Groenewald | Feb 1, 2019 | Impact

The fifteen members of the team representing the Avela Foundation are finally back in South Africa after a challenging yet extremely rewarding trek to Everest Base Camp (EBC).

The 9 day day trekking route began at an elevation of around 2,840 metres at Lukla, Nepal on the 2nd of May 2018 and ended in triumph at 5,364 metres, at the base of Mount Everest, the world’s highest mountain in the world on the 9th of May.

“All our hard work and preparation have paid off”, says Cami Palomo, founder of Avela Foundation that helps children with serious burn injuries on their emotional and physical road to recovery.

“The efforts by this group of determined people prior and during our trek resulted in Avela raising nearly R1.85million on donations based crowdfunding platform, BackaBuddy. The funds generated by the campaign will be used to kick-start our U-Matter program and help refurbish the Kimberley Hospital’s burn unit”, says Palomo. (U-Matter is a psychological support network for burn survivors and their families.)

Writer Lanie van Reenen, one of the six Capetonians to join Avela to EBC, describes a remarkable, yet challenging climb:

“A few days in we reached the ‘above the trees’ part of the mountains. It is then when every member of our team had to confront our bodies’ reaction to altitude. It affects people in varying degrees and you are unprepared for the first onset – a vice-grip headache, nausea, sluggishness, sleeplessness and a lack of appetite.

We had to dig very deep to find that strength within ourselves in an effort to continue. Failure was not an option as were embarked on this journey not for ourselves, but for the thousands of South African children who are in such desperate need of burn care.”

She describes the welcoming tea houses where their weary bodies could rest every day, the sense of wonder with the first glimpse of the highest mountain in the world and the team’s joy and pride upon reaching their goal. “We were on top of the world!”

Van Reenen says completing the expedition was also a personal achievement for every single member of the group – ordinary people that decided to embark on an extra-ordinary adventure for a noble cause.

Among the hikers, the Head of the Avela Mentorship Programme, William Baartman, who at age of three years old, was a victim of gross Human Rights violation when his home was petrol bombed by local students. He sustained 75% burn wounds and lost his younger sister, Grace in the fire.

“When I met William Baartman in 2015, he was a timid, soft-spoken man that barely looked me in the eye when we spoke. William’s story is not of self-pity and hate; it is of triumph, courage and positivity and that touched my soul and didn’t let go. He has become a brother to me over these years and has blossomed into a leader and healer and is changing the lives of the children who are burn survivors every day. “ says Lindiwe Suttle, of the Avela Foundation.

“I was too afraid to leave the house because I was scared of what others might think and now I have climbed to Mount Everest base camp ! I hope to send a message to those hiding from the world, that there’s hope for them, hope they think doesn’t exist.”- says William

The triumphant team may be back in their comfortable homes after having to endure true hardship but that is not where it ends.

“We have raised the funds and have come together as a team; we have collected memories that will last a lifetime and we have formed solid friendships. That is however only the beginning,” says Palomo. “The hard work will now truly start.”

It is estimated that 3.2% of the South African population annually sustains serious burn injuries and an astonishing 68% percent of South African children younger than 14 have experienced scalding burns in their short lifetime.

“We provide hope to those kids who are in desperate need of physical as well as emotional care after having suffered life- threatening or debilitating burn injuries”, says Palomo.

The physical pain of a burn is horrific, but the worry, fear, and emotional pain it causes to survivors and their families can be just as difficult. Emotional support is crucial for recovery. By providing the right psychological support to burns survivors and their families, burn survivors will become an asset not a liability to our society. ” Says Palomo.

If you would still like to contribute to Avela’s campaign, you can do so here

The campaign has thus far raised a total of R 1 845 871.27.

Meet the Climbers

Cami Palomo (Founder of the Avela Foundation) from El Salvador who now lives in Cape Town.
Roger-Michael Raad (South African)
Lanie Van Reenen (South African)
Natasha Nicolakakis (South Africa)
Derrick Swartz (South Africa)
William Baartman (South Africa) burn survivor
Mosidi Modise (South Africa)
Teddy Mohlman (USA) Son of Cami Palomo
Katie Mohlman (USA) Daughter of Cami Palomo
Alexa Cajiga (Mexico)
Adriana Sol (USA)
Connie Sol (El Salvador)
Christine Schnarr Chiarello (USA)
Maria Lowe (USA)
Alex Stanford (USA)

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Finding forever, ‘semi-wild’ homes to protect lions from exploitation and the Bone Trade

by Zane Groenewald | Feb 1, 2019 | Campaign

Committed to ethical conservation, The Wild Heart Wildlife Foundation in Johannesburg works to support several Ethical Sanctuaries and Rehabilitation Centers across Southern Africa to ensure that Wildlife, including threatened or protected Species, get the help they need.

Having been approached by Governing Authorities, the organization has embarked on a new project to protect more than 20 captive-born, parent-reared lions, and find them safe, ethical, forever home sanctuaries. As the current facility is overcrowded, they will need to be relocated to ensure their survival.

Phase 1 of the project is already underway:

Vasectomies have been performed on two of the breeding-age males to ensure that they cannot father any cubs, and are protected from exploitation by the canned hunting and lion breeding industries.

Several lions have also received vaccinations, veterinary care and micro-chipping.
The lions have also been given additional shade while they wait to be rehomed.
The organization is also spending a lot of time and effort screening prospective homes to ensure ethical practices, and non-exploitative futures for the lions.

“Currently the lions are in a safe, ethical, non-breeding facility, with no human interaction, but their numbers are exceeding the recommended saturation levels as instructed by Nature Conservation. Consequently, we have received instruction from the Authorities to find the excess lions suitable forever homes, rather than risking the lions being euthanized.”

Founder/Director of The Wild Heart Wildlife Foundation, Paul Oxton.

CJ Carrington and Paul Oxton, founding members of The *Wild Heart Wildlife Foundation.*

To continue the rescue operation, which will take several months to complete, the organisation has launched a crowdfunding campaign, called Life4Lions on donations based crowdfunding platform, BackaBuddy. Thus far over R2300 has been raised towards their fundraising target of R27 500.

Funds raised will be used for Veterinary Procedures, Veterinary care and regular checks, Micro-Chipping, DNA sampling and recording, Vaccinations and Health Checks, and lastly, the Relocationand Transportation of these majestic creatures to their forever, ‘semi-wild homes’.

“These lions have the incredibly important job of being as happy and free as they can ever possibly be, without human interaction or exploitation. We have the incredibly important job of making it possible for them to do just that. There are just too many lions in captivity in South Africa, and the devastating reality is that far too many of them will end up being sold to canned hunting facilities, and be disposed of in the lion bone trade.”

To support this campaign, make a donation on BackaBuddy:

https://www.backabuddy.co.za/life4lions-phase-2

Alternatively, make a donation via Snapscan:

https://pos.snapscan.io/qr/life4lions-phase-2

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Zanele’s 648km Journey in aid of Suicide Prevention.

by Zane Groenewald | Jun 1, 2018 | Campaign, Impact

On the 18^th of January 2018, Zanele Hlatshwayo (33) from Orlando West, Soweto founded, non-profit initiative, Rise18, a movement aimed at creating a dialogue around mental illness and suicide prevention.

At only 24 years old, Zanele faced a world of unanswered questions, when her father, Phillip Hlatshwayo, took his own life at the age of 47. To cope with the weight of her grief and the unbearable loss she experienced in losing her ‘hero’, Zanele found comfort in running.

“At first, I was running away from my pain. I couldn’t understand why my father had to leave me. I was angry, broken and ashamed that the strongest man I’ve ever known took his own life. But eventually, running became a coping mechanism for me. Now it has become my sacred space where I get to heal, clear my head, but most of all where I get to conquer” – says Zanele

“I decided to rise and raise awareness about depression and suicide: silent killers that are scourging our beautiful country. I want to demystify mental illness and create a dialogue so that people no longer have to suffer in silence. If my BackaBuddy campaign saves one life, my purpose on this earth would have been fulfilled.” – says Zanele.

Zanele has thus far completed 15 races totaling 389km. Asked about the most challenging leg of her journey, Zanele made mention of the Kosmos 3 in 1 (73km), a race she completed despite sustaining a back injury.

“I was worried that I wasn’t going to finish the race, but with the support of the crowds of spectators running along side of me every step of the way I was able to pull through. I was once again reminded that as much as this is my personal journey, this is also about the hundreds of families like mine who have lost a loved one due to suicide.” – says Zanele

In a few days, Zanele will take on the 89 km Comrades marathon , A 10 km send off race on the 8th of July, and finally the mammoth Washie Miller, a distance of 160 km.

“This will be my third time running the Comrades and this year will be particularly special. It was the race that made me realize that anything is possible if you have an ounce of passion and that has given me the confidence to take on the Washie!” – says Zanele

With her last marathon, Zanele would have run a total of 648km, not including the vigorous amount of training it has taken to have come this far.

“This journey has been a physical and emotional rollercoaster, but I wouldn’t trade it for anything. It has been a healing experience in the way I didn’t expect. I found strength in my vulnerability and found a way to deal with my father’s tragedy through those who have shared their pain with me. I believe with Rise18, we have just scratched the surface, there is still so much that needs to be done”