Matthew James Barrett (25) from Sunninghill, Johannesburg is just 13 flying hours away from completing his Private Pilot’s Licence (PPL) — the crucial milestone toward becoming a commercial pilot. A full-time cabin crew member and dedicated student pilot, Matthew has already logged 31 hours, made significant sacrifices, and kept his dream alive through years of disciplined effort. But while determination has carried him this far, the cost of training now threatens to keep his wings on the ground.
A dream rooted in his grandfather’s legacy and his mother’s sacrifices
Matthew’s love for aviation began with his grandfather, who served in the Air Force and later trained at Grand Central Airport — the same Midrand airfield where Matthew now flies.
“My passion for aviation was sparked by my grandpa,” he says. “He was in the Air Force and later did his PPL at Grand Central. As a kid, I remember going to the library with him, looking at books about planes, and listening to his stories. The moment I truly knew I wanted to fly was when I would spend time with him. Now, being based at the same airfield he flew from is incredibly special to me. I can’t wait to take him up for a flight once I’m done.”
From the outset, Matthew knew this journey would demand more than talent. He has worked full-time while studying, squeezing in flight hours between shifts and cutting expenses to the bone. He sold his car to reduce costs, lives on the bare minimum, and even uses gym reward points to help cover electricity at home. At 25, while many peers spend weekends unwinding, he trades leisure for the cockpit — one lesson at a time.
Behind him stands his mother, Joanne, who raised Matthew and his sister Tiffany as a single parent.
“From the moment Matthew was a little boy, he was a force of nature,” she says. “He was always kind, determined, and never gave up on what he wanted. I’ve seen him excel in sports, in CrossFit, and now in flying — he was born to fly. This dream is a family one. We’ve all made sacrifices to get him here, and I know he wants this not just for himself, but to give back to his family one day.”
A dream grounded by cost — and lifted again by community generosity
Flying is not only demanding; it’s expensive. Every hour in the training aircraft costs R3,500 plus a landing fee, and Matthew must still cover his remaining hours, exams, and final skills test. Beyond that, the cost of a Commercial Pilot’s Licence looms at close to R850,000 — a daunting number for a young man already stretched to his limits.
For many young people, the biggest barrier isn’t passion or ability; it’s funding.
“I applied for bursaries, reached out to companies, and tried every option,” Matthew says. “When nothing worked, I realised I couldn’t continue this journey alone. The support I’ve received so far has been truly inspiring and given me the hope and strength to carry on.”
Twelve days after launching his crowdfunding campaign, 31 donors have contributed more than R49,000 toward his R500,000 target.
Every contribution “literally translates into minutes in the air,” he says — covering outstanding flight hours, exam and licence fees, ground briefings, aircraft hire for the skills test, and transport to and from training.
For Matthew, crossing this finish line is about more than a licence. It honours his family’s sacrifices, carries his grandfather’s story forward, and opens the door to mentoring new pilots who don’t know where to begin.
And he has a message for every child who looks up at a passing plane and dreams of one day flying it: “There is no feeling more surreal than defying gravity and seeing the world from a different perspective. Feed that passion and never stop working and learning. You will have to make sacrifices, but in the end, it will all be worth it.”
With 13 hours to go, Matthew’s future in aviation now sits with the public to lift him higher — whether that’s a few minutes in the air or a full hour that gets him closer to the flight deck.
Zanele Princess Mrasi (45) from Cape Town (Western Cape) is the warm-hearted nursery teacher inspiring a city to lace up during Women’s Month. Diagnosed with aggressive breast cancer on 11 June 2025 at Mitchells Plain Hospital, she is meeting the moment with grace and grit while her school community launches “Miles for Ms Mrasi” — a 21 km Gun Run and a 5 km walk — to raise funds for transport, nutritious meals, and care for her teenage son during treatment at Groote Schuur Hospital. The campaign, started on 28 July 2025 by one of the moms, has already raised R78,000 from 69 donors toward a R100,000 goal — a Women’s Month reminder that when women move together, they move mountains.
A Teacher Who Builds a Second Home
Ask any little girl in her class and she’ll tell you: “Miss Mrasi’s classroom feels like home.” That’s by design.
“For me, teaching is about creating a safe space where students feel valued, capable, and supported,” Zanele says. “I’ve always believed in the transformative power of education — I wanted to be that source of encouragement for someone else.”
Her path to that classroom wasn’t easy. Born in Mnyamanzane village near Butterworth, she moved to Cape Town at nine, studied Early Childhood Development, and worked her way from assistant to teacher while raising her son, Sethu, now 19. When Sethu needed specialised support for learning differences, she paused her own degree to stand beside him. Years later, she completed her studies and, in 2022, became a nursery teacher at one of Cape Town’s most prestigious schools.
“It’s true that when you really want something, it’s never too late,” she says. “It takes a village — and I’m grateful for mine.”
Strength is a through-line in Zanele’s life. A devoted Christian and church leader, she mentors young women through the Young Women’s Manyano and helps run Sunday School. She is also a single mother, proudly supporting Sethu as he writes his matric exams and steps into manhood.
In her classroom, Zanele greets children in isiXhosa, sprinkles in songs in English and Afrikaans, and is often found on the carpet with one child curled into her lap and others gathered around. Parents use one word over and over:
“happy.” As one mom shared, “She speaks with calm kindness, makes even the smallest task feel meaningful, and is never too busy for a cuddle.”
When the Community Laces Up for Women’s Month
The diagnosis arrived on a busy school day.
“I was devastated,” Zanele recalls. “I kept asking, ‘Why me?’ But I knew I had to be strong for my son and my girls at school.”
“My sisters and family have been my rock,” she says. “My colleagues and the parents at school remind me I’m not alone.”
Her colleagues and the moms of her class didn’t hesitate to answer that strength with their own.
“Somewhere between the chatting and the running, it just clicked — we should run in her name to rally support,” says one of the moms behind the campaign. “Within minutes, moms were entering the Gun Run, pencilling in training days, and planning coffee dates. One message turned into a movement.”
What began with two runners swelled into a small army of moms jogging the 21 km and others walking 5 km, with the children dreaming up a solidarity walk of their own. With Zanele’s blessing, the crowdfunding page went live — and donations poured in, many carrying messages as generous as the amounts.
“The response has been overwhelming,” she adds. “In the first 72 hours, we nearly hit our initial target. It reminded us that a school is a second family.”
This surge of solidarity lands in August, South Africa’s Women’s Month — held in honour of the 1956 march to the Union Buildings. “Wathint’ Abafazi, wathint’ imbokodo” — You strike a woman, you strike a rock — now echoes in trainers and race bibs, in packed lunchboxes for hospital days, and in the steady love of a community carrying one of its own. On National Women’s Day, 9 August, families across the school shared notes of encouragement with Zanele, a living lesson for the girls about courage, compassion and collective action.
Faith, Family and an Unshakable Why
The campaign is intentionally practical: funds are being used for transport to and from hospital, nutritious food to support recovery, and care for Sethu while his mom undergoes treatment — everyday costs that cancer magnifies.
“Because of your support I can focus on treatment without the constant worry,” Zanele says. “Your kindness inspires me every day, and I look forward to giving back.”
This run of love is becoming a bridge back to the classroom that so dearly misses her. The total isn’t just a number; it represents steady steps through treatment toward the moment when children once again run into her arms. It steadies a family so a son can finish matric with his mother cheering from the sidelines. And it reminds an entire country — especially during Women’s Month — that ordinary steps taken together can rewrite a difficult chapter.
Before the final kilometre, there’s a simple invitation: join them. Share this story with someone who needs a little hope today. Donate if you can. Help carry Zanele Princess Mrasi through this chapter with dignity, love, and strength — step by step, back to the happy, singing classroom she built for so many.
In Their Own Words — A few Messages from the Girls
— Asma: “I miss Ms Mrasi. I love her because she taught us isiXhosa songs. The songs and dancing were so funny — they’re my favourite memory.”
— Ivy: “My favourite thing was when she gave us bee stickers on our birthdays. She plays with us so we feel safe. I also like how she teaches us isiXhosa.”
— Ava: “My favourite thing about Ms Mrasi is her lovely snuggles. On Wednesday in the old Busy Bee class she told us a story in a funny voice. She’s the best. Ms Mrasi, when are you coming back to school? I miss you and I love you.”
(These are just three of the messages — watch the video to hear more of what makes Ms Mrasi so special.)
In July and August 2025, Nikita Van Rensburg (32) and her brother, Ricki Van Rensburg (38) rallied support for the Gatjie settlement (Cape Town) with a winter shoe drive and a follow-on crowdfunding initiative that is already changing daily life. The first drive launched on 17 July 2025, raising R21,500 and—together with sponsors—turning a hired hall into a day of dignity with hot meals and brand-new sneakers for children who’d been walking barefoot through winter mud. On 18 August 2025, she launched a second recurring donations campaign that has raised R22,500 so far toward a R200,000 goal to keep food on the table and repair leaking shacks. In total, 18 donors have given across both campaigns, including two anonymous R10,000 donations in the first three days, and many more partners have contributed goods, time, and heart. A surprise video call from Springbok captain Siya Kolisi on the day of the shoe drive also became a powerful spark for courage and belonging for the community of Gatjie.
A legacy of love, carried forward
“In 2018, my mom started handing out hot meals on a field in Diep River,” Nikita says. “She built deep relationships with the Gatjie community—hosting Christmas parties and fundraising for school supplies. She loved them, and they loved her back.”
When their mom passed away from a brain tumor, Nikita and Ricki promised to carry that legacy forward. The promise quickly turned into action: before a recent storm, they replaced roofs on a handful of shacks using their own funds.
“One elderly husband stepped inside to see the dry floor and collapsed, sobbing with relief. I’ll never forget that,” she recalls.
That moment—simple, human, unforgettable—captures the heartbeat of the campaign: practical love that keeps families warm, dry, and fed. It’s also why gestures like Siya Kolisi’s call matter so much—seeing a national captain show up for Gatjie tells every child their story is worth showing up for, too.
The August shoe drive answered an urgent need. Through a contact at Adidas, more than 80 pairs of brand-new sneakers arrived. New Balance added R10,000 and three pairs of socks per person—hundreds of pairs—so feet would stay warm and dry on muddy footpaths. With the funds raised online and meals donated locally, the team fitted little feet, served steaming plates, and reminded families that they are seen. All content and photographs from the shoe-drive event were captured and donated pro bono by Cape Town creative Ramon Mellett (Instagram: @ramonmellett).
“Some kids cried with happiness,” Nikita says. “One boy keeps his shoes in the box after school, so they stay nice.”
From shoes to shelter and supper
Shoes were the start, not the finish line. Cape Town’s winter rains turn thin, rusted roofs into sieves; mattresses, blankets, and clothing stay wet for days.
“We’ve made a priority list of homes needing repairs,” Nikita explains. “It costs about R2,500 to replace a roof, and some homes just need patchwork.”
Food is another urgent need. When storms close soup kitchens, children go to bed hungry.
“I’ll never forget a 3-year-old dipping her lollipop in water and saying it made her feel more full—because that day, they could only afford the lollipop.”
The plan now is year-round: provide meals, fix roofs, and host regular kids’ days filled with play, learning, and love—safe spaces where children can simply be children. The funds raised will go directly to food, clothing and blankets, and the materials and labour needed to repair shacks so families can sleep without fear that the roof will collapse.
Women’s Month, dignity and dreams
This Women’s Month, the work took on special meaning. On the day of the shoe handout, the children received a surprise video call from Springbok captain Siya Kolisi. He spoke courage into a young boy who’d been bullied; that night the child told his mom he was going to dream about meeting his hero. Even one of the bully’s moms came forward to apologise afterwards.
“The kids kept asking why Siya would speak to them,” Nikita says. “They need to know they matter—that where they come from isn’t something to be ashamed of.”
Girls also left with more than footwear. The Cora Project joined to run a pad drive and a powerful conversation about periods, confidence, and choice. They offered discreet bags for carrying pads—yet several girls chose to walk out holding their pads in hand, proudly. For Nikita, moments like these echo her mother’s heart: show up, feed people, and restore dignity.
Why this campaign matters now Gatjie is a small settlement with big hearts—and daily hurdles. Without sturdy shoes, children slog through sand and mud just to reach communal toilets; without intact roofs, families take turns sleeping for fear of collapse. Hunger makes it hard to learn; lacking basics erodes confidence. And yet the resilience is unmistakable.
“You can show up with nothing but yourself,” Nikita says, “and the kids will run to you for hugs.” Her long-term hope is clear: “I want to see at least one child from Gatjie grow up, leave the settlement, and be able to support their family. We can get there with nutrition, school supplies, sport, and connection.”
How you can help Every contribution stretches far: R2,500 can put a dry roof over a family; any amount helps fund weekly meals, clothing and blanket drops, and the next kids’ day. Corporate partners can donate shoes, socks, roofing materials, or food. Volunteers can cook, deliver, mentor—or simply show up. To connect about goods or time, reach Nikita on Instagram at @triggrGood. If you want to give right now, both campaign pages are live: the winter shoe drive here:https://www.backabuddy.co.za/campaign/winter-shoe-drive-for-the-gatjie-kids and the ongoing support drive here:https://www.backabuddy.co.za/campaign/helping-the-gatjie-community-together.
In just weeks, these efforts have raised R31,500 in cash—plus generous in-kind donations—and built a blueprint for hope that is practical, personal, and profoundly local. It looks like a dry mattress, a warm bowl of food, a pair of laces tied tight—and a child who believes tomorrow can be better than today.
If you’ve ever wondered what Ubuntu means—this is it. And this initiative is calling on the African spirit, and you, to climb on board and get involved.
Anastacia Marais, 22, from Meyerton, Gauteng, has been fighting acute myeloid leukemia since 2022 and is now racing to fund the bone marrow transplant that can save her life. On the 22nd of July, Ana’s boyfriend’s father, Christoffel Van Der Merwe, launched a community crowdfunding campaign in the hopes that Anastacia can receive the operation at a private Pretoria hospital with the right doctors, equipment and care. In the first 10 days, 44 donors gave R35,750 toward a target of R800,000—an early surge of kindness that mirrors Anastacia’s determination and the impact she has on those around her. Thanks to DKMS, half of the transplant cost will be covered; the campaign aims to raise the remaining amount so she can proceed without delay.
A mother who never left her side and a family that knows this fight
Christoffel started the campaign because Anastacia isn’t only dating his son, Gerhard—she’s become a special piece of the Van Der Merwe family.
“She’s a big part of our family—that’s why I started the campaign,” he says.
Their understanding runs deep: when Gerhard was just two, he too battled leukemia. The family remembers the fear and the long nights, and they’ve chosen, again, to meet it with gentleness and action.
Just as steadfast has been Anastacia’s mother, who has stood by her side from day one—taking her to every appointment, sitting long hours in wards, and phoning twice a day (three times when she couldn’t visit).
“My mother was my rock—she came to the hospital every single day for the first four months,” Anastacia says, adding heartfelt thanks to her stepfather and a far-flung network of relatives who checked in, visited, and brought comfort.
Anastacia grew up between Port Elizabeth and Cape Town with a devoted single mom—early lessons in courage and adaptation that now serve her daily. During the hardest stretches, Anastacia lived with Gerhard’s family and they provided for her—rides to appointments, meals on the tough days, and laughter on the better ones. Before illness, she was a whirl of curiosity and movement.
“I was curious about everything—I wanted to experience the world in every way I could,” she reflects.
Hiking, dance, karate—if it promised discovery, she tried it. That spirit didn’t disappear when cancer arrived at 19; it adapted. There was remission in 2023, a shattering relapse in 2024, and—after more courage than most see in a lifetime—remission again.
Through it all, she insists, “I’ve never stopped fighting. Not once.”
‘I chose to live, not just survive’
Her love story with Gerhard is a thread of steadiness.
“When I found out I had leukemia, I gave him the option to leave,” she says. “But he chose to stay. Not out of obligation—but out of love.”
His family echoed that choice, showing up with practical help and quiet faith. On her own side, the support has been just as fierce:
Alongside him, her mother’s constancy never wavered: lifts to treatments, bedside vigils, and daily calls that stitched courage into the toughest hours.
“My mom really stood by my side,” Anastacia says. “She made so much effort, and I wouldn’t be who I am without her.”
In 2024, with renewed remission, Anastacia took a brave step into life: she and Gerhard moved into their own place—close enough to family for help, far enough to practice independence.
“I didn’t want to just survive anymore—I wanted to live,” she explains.
The small rituals feel like victory: morning coffees, late‑night talks, and a home that holds both the scars and the laughter.
This Women’s Month, her message is clear. “Vulnerability isn’t weakness—it is power,” she says. “It takes real courage to open up, to say, ‘I need help.’ But when you do, the world meets you with more kindness than you ever imagined.” And to every woman navigating a hard road: “We are women. And that alone makes us warriors.”
Why this transplant—and this moment—matter
Doctors agree that a bone marrow transplant is Anastacia’s best and only path to lasting survival. The Pretoria team is ready; DKMS’s sponsorship halves the financial mountain; and the remaining funds will unlock the operation, after‑care and the chance to plan a future that is bigger than appointments and blood counts. The campaign has already shown what the community can do—R35,750 raised by 44 people—and this raise was done in just 10 days. Now the wider circle has a chance to finish what love began. Anastacia’s dream is disarmingly simple: study again, work a job she loves—perhaps genetics or zoology—earn her independence, and keep chasing sunrises with the people who never let go.
“That version of me still lives inside me today,” she says. “The illness changed my path, but it never dimmed my light or my hunger for life.”
Every rand given is routed straight to the hospital via a BackaBuddy Blue Tick campaign, ensuring transparency meets urgency. Each contribution becomes hospital days covered, specialist time secured, and a transplant scheduled at the right place with the right team. The generosity that carried her this far can carry her the final stretch—from surviving to living.
Share Anastacia’s story with your networks—every share widens the circle of care and brings her transplant closer.
To support Anastacia Marais visit their BackaBuddy campaign link here:
Become a blood stem cell donor in South Africa: start with DKMS Africa’s online sign-up to request a free cheek-swab kit (most donations are done as an outpatient via apheresis; ages 17–55). Alternatively, you can register with the South African Bone Marrow Registry (SABMR), which accepts donors aged 16–45 and ships a swab kit or books you at a nearby
Mama Dolly, 71, from Masoyi, Mpumalanga, embodies the very essence of hope for children facing adversity in her rural community. For nearly a decade, she has run Phathekani Kahle After Care—a sanctuary where impoverished youngsters find support, education, and a sense of belonging. Today, her tireless work is under threat: the pit latrines (or the old-school “long drop,” as South Africans call them) are unsanitary and risk closure by the health department. As South Africa observes Women’s Month, Mama Dolly shines as a beacon of female leadership and resilience, inspiring women everywhere with her unwavering dedication.
Alexa first connected with Mama Dolly thr
ough her Gogo Theresa Banda—after witnessing the remarkable strides Dolly made with Gogo Theresa’s grandson, Fortune (Alexa contributes towards young Fortune’s school fees). When Mama Dolly reached out for a little extra help to renovate the toilets on the brink of shutdown, Alexa sprang into action, launching a BackaBuddy campaign one month ago to raise R 45 500 for vital upgrades.
A Lifelong Calling to Serve
After spending over 35 years shaping young minds as a primary school teacher, Mama Dolly felt a deep pull to keep serving her community even after retirement. Born into a Tsonga family and raised in Johannesburg, she endured the loss of her mother and sister and weathered unsupportive guardians—but her faith never wavered. In December 2015, she officially registered Phathekani Kahle After Care with the Department of Social Development, transforming a modest room beside the RR358 (Numbi Road) between White River and Hazyview into a safe haven. There, children—many raised by grandparents or living in dire circumstances—gather each day for academic support, a hot meal, and the kind of encouragement only someone with Mama Dolly’s passion can provide.
Her work is driven by the conviction that every child deserves a chance to succeed, regardless of background.
One afternoon, she remembers, a little boy came running, eyes shining, and cried, “Gogo Dolly, I can read and write now!”—a moment she said “healed my soul” and reaffirmed her conviction that education has the power to transform lives.
Building Dignity, One Toilet at a Time
Pit latrines pose serious safety hazards—even Mama Dolly recounts heartbreaking accounts of children slipping into the deep pits. Unsanitary and exposed, these facilities risk injury and infection. Without modern flushing toilets, Phathekani Kahle cannot secure a health certificate, threatening its very existence and leaving 40 vulnerable children without their safe haven.
A Community Rises Together
To date, 31 generous donors have contributed R 29,000 on the BackaBuddy platform as well as R 12,000 in generous offline donations toward the R 45 500 goal. Local businesses have pledged discounted materials, former students volunteer labor, and taxi drivers collect spare change. Teachers at Phathekani Kahle often go months without pay, fueled only by passion and the children’s need. The youngsters themselves buzz with excitement at the thought of clean, dependable facilities and uninterrupted classes.
“For years, we knocked on many doors seeking assistance and faced countless setbacks,” Mama Dolly reflects. “This is the first time we’ve received a donation—and for us, it is an answered prayer.” Her gratitude has rippled through Masoyi: elders share her story at church, and the traditional council has approved building plans, awaiting only final measurements.
Donations will first repair and upgrade the toilets. If the campaign exceeds its target, further funds will install a borehole—a reliable water source that eliminates costly water purchases, ensures year-round flush capability, and grants the school much-needed independence. Additional contributions could also cover ceiling and floor tiling, and secure fencing around the property.
Mama Dolly’s steadfast faith and relentless compassion have made Phathekani Kahle After Care more than a tutoring center—it is a symbol of hope for children written off by circumstance. With renovated toilets, a future borehole, and improved facilities, she can continue breaking educational barriers and restoring confidence. Yet many needs remain: stipends for devoted teachers, textbooks and uniforms for learners, reliable transport from remote homesteads, and essential teaching materials to enrich lessons. As community support grows during this Women’s Month and beyond, so does the promise of a brighter future for every child at Phathekani Kahle.
To keep supporting Mama Dolly’s vital work and brighten futures at Phathekani Kahle After Care, please consider making a recurring donation—every contribution directly empowers students and dedicated teachers, and continually multiplies hope.
Brandon Amronski, 62, is many things: a talented artist and photographer, a self-taught chef, a skilled potter, a gentle musician, a creative spirit, and above all — a loving dad. For the last few years, he’s poured everything he has into one dream: building a home of his own in Kommetjie, Cape Town.
With no contractor and no big budget, Brandon has been building his house — quite literally — with his own two hands. Brick by brick, alongside two faithful workers, he’s created a structure filled with hope, resilience, and heart. The project has taken over five years to materialise, as he first had to battle years of red tape just to gain approval to start construction. One year ago, he finally laid the first brick.
Brandon’s daughter, Luna, now 16, is the heart behind the BackaBuddy campaign trying to help him finish it. “I’m reaching out with a full heart and a shared dream — to help my beloved dad, Brandon, to finally finish the home he’s been building with his own two hands,” she says.
Brandon’s journey hasn’t been easy. At just 19, he fought in the war in Angola — an experience that left deep emotional scars compounded by his work as a press photographer from 1989-1998/9. More recently, he’s battled depression and PTSD while trying to recover from the devastating financial impact of COVID-19, which cost him much of his work and stability. Since then, he hasn’t been able to regain stable employment. The house became his anchor — a personal mission to create something lasting.
“This house means everything to him,” Luna shares. “It represents a place of safety, dignity, and a space where I can visit and sleep over — something we haven’t been able to do in years.”
Brandon currently lives in a small, one-bedroom cottage with no space for guests or family. His older daughter, who now lives in the Netherlands, has helped support him financially, but the budget has run out — and the house remains just shy of completion.
As Brandon’s 62nd birthday approaches on 25 July 2025, Luna hopes to give him the one thing he’s longed for: a finished home.
Instead of traditional birthday presents, Luna has set up a BackaBuddy campaign, inviting friends, family, and strangers alike to contribute toward specific costs still needed to complete the home:
R2,200 – Garage Door
R2,000 – Bathroom Tiling
R2,500 – One Week of Labour Support
R18,000 – Electrical Finishing
R20,000 – Geyser Installation
“Every bit helps,” Luna says. “This is more than a house — it’s a chance for him to feel proud again, to have his space, and maybe even find the motivation to re-enter the world.”
With R10,478 already raised toward their R59,000 goal, the dream is within reach.
To support Brandon’s dream and help him move into his home at last, visit the campaign here:
