2021 has been a particularly difficult year for all South Africans.
We have faced the ongoing pandemic together; many of us haven’t seen our loved ones for a long time.
Some of us have lost someone close to us or know someone who has.
Many businesses have struggled and many more people have lost their jobs.
But through lockdowns and isolation, we have also witnessed the resilient South African spirit in all its glory, and have seen our people come together, more than ever before to help those in need.
On BackaBuddy, South Africa’s leading donations-based crowdfunding platform, over R55 million has been raised this year with the generous support of over 62 000 donors, who have supported almost 4000 individuals and beloved non-profit organisations.
Take a look at a few BackaBuddy campaigns launched this year that reminded us what it means to be South African, even in these trying times.
Romario’s birthday pledge
Eco-warrior Romario Valentine from Umhlanga, Durban celebrated his 10th birthday by raising over R24 000, to plant 350 trees in Kenya and build an aviary for over 3500 birds in Plettenberg Bay. Inspired by his relentless focus on improving our natural environment, Romario was invited to share his opinions on a panel with the United Nations! In the words of Greta Thunberg, ‘You’re never too little to make a difference.’
Pictured above: Romario planting trees with Beverly Hills General Manager, John Aritho, and Wayne Burgess from Burgess Landscapes.
Dale came back home!
Almost 500 donors came together to bring Dale Benson, a 39-year-old educator back home from Vietnam, after he was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer and was unable to access the treatment he needed while overseas.
With over R200 000 raised, Dale arrived at Cape Town international airport and shared a heartfelt moment with his mum, Inge Bosman, who was overjoyed to see him. Our thoughts are with Dale as he continues his treatment.
Despite the obstacles in his path, Robert Maposa (43) from Pretoria, who was working as a gardener, went on to pass his LLB degree from UNISA with distinction this year.
To commend Robert for his hard work and determination, almost R90 000 was raised to purchase Robert a car and professional attire to begin his new career.
Henry Cock (34), a businessman from Sandton, Johannesburg, set out to smash the Guinness World Record for the most consecutive half marathons run in a row, while at the same time uplifting South Africans struggling with mental health issues during the lockdown.
With his campaign launched on BackaBuddy, Henry has raised over R530 000 to support The South African Depression and Anxiety group. Henry hopes to make history with the end of his challenge on 17 November 2021.
With generous support from donors across South Africa, over R90 000 was raised to give Omphile Selepe (12), from Sandton his very own wheelchair.
Omphile is living with x-linked Adrenoleukodystrophy (ALD), a rare life-threatening genetic brain disease that has inhibited his ability to walk, speak and function indepently. With his specialized chair, Omphile’s quality of life has improved tremendously, while bravely fighting his condition, never giving up his beaming smile.
Pictured above: Omphile with his sister, Ntabiseng Selepe.
Listen as BackaBuddy COO, Catherine Du Plooy speaks to SmileFm , (6/10/2021), about how we’ve seen our people come together, more than ever before to help those in need.
Thank you South Africa for reminding us of all the kindness and love we as a society have to offer.
Connect with BackaBuddy to support a loved one or uplift a cause or organisation in your community.
As a tribute to the diverse cultures and traditions that make up our nation, every year on 24th September we celebrate Heritage Day, a day where South Africans come together to honour what makes us unique.
On this day, families all over the country enjoy a classic braai in remembrance of our culinary tradition of gathering around a fire to cook.
Unfortunately not many South Africans can enjoy these festivities.
While we take a day to celebrate our heritage, donate a warm nutritional meal to a charity by helping them raise funds to feed those in need.
Here’s a list of charities you can support
Find a need and fill it – The Cradle of Hope
Dedicated to assisting struggling families of all races and religions, The Cradle of Hope has launched a passion project to help relieve those in desperate need of making ends meet around their community affected by the Covid-19 pandemic.
Your donation will help the non-profit organisation continue its wonderful work by raising funds to feed more than 1200 hungry adults and children that seek shelter and meals every day.
Picture above: The Cradle of hope feeding 1200 less fortunate adults and children, every single day.
Good4You Foods Kitchen- Eden Community Hope Outreach NPC
Aimed at helping feed as many vulnerable families living in the 7 Municipal regions of the Garden Route, the Garden Route Food Pantry has launched an initiative to provide healthy food relief during the scourge of the pandemic.
With a large number of families to feed, the outrage is looking to raise enough funds to purchase a 300 litre boiling pan in which to produce large quantities of soup, stews, and pasta dishes for distribution to those in need.
Situated in the soul of Cape Town, Naazneen Kaariem has dedicated 10 years of her life selflessly providing nutritional meals from her home to the community of District 6. Without her warm heart and dedication, things would be a lot tougher for the residents of this community.
With your donation, this community kitchen can continue making a difference in the lives of those who need it the most.
Picture above: Naazneen feeding over 2000 in Valhalla Park.
Breaking Bread Community Development
In support of the homeless community of Observatory and Saltriver in Cape Town, Breaking Bread Community Development operates a soup kitchen serving at least one meal per day five times a week.
Donations raised to support this kitchen are used to buy food for daily meals including Breakfast and Lunch, as well as one large meal, served on a Friday where others can join and volunteer.
Picture above: Director of Breaking Bread Community Development, Sheradia Brown, serving two meals a day to the Homeless from her house in Salt River.
Raising Hope by Chad Nathan
Chad Nathan, from the Western Cape, alongside Ladles of Love, Breadline Africa, and Courage has raised over R690 000 in his initiative to mitigate the situation of less fortunate communities during the Covid-19 pandemic.
To date, they have helped over 35 charities across South Africa, and with the additional funds raised, Chad is looking to support feeding schemes in Langa, Mannenberg, Hanover Park, Delft, and many more.
So while we celebrate what makes South Africa great, remember those who could go without a meal today and donate to a greater cause in helping make a difference.
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 raised over R270 Million.
Crystal Meintjies from Johannesburg is a single mom on a mission to get hearing aids for her 11-year-old twin boys, Caleb and Cole, who were born deaf.
After a difficult pregnancy and contracting measles, Crystal gave birth to her charming boys at only 26 weeks. Born premature, the boys weighed only 1.9kgs and 1.6kgs respectively.
Photo above: Crystal, Caleb and Cole with their family.
The twins’ hearing problems weren’t noticed right a way, says Crystal.
“We only discovered Caleb was deaf at 1 year old and Cole at the age of 3, as we always thought he was imitating his twin brother, until our speech therapist said I should take him back to my ENT specialist, we then got referrals to audiologists who assisted” says their mother, Crystal.
Together always, thick as thieves
Today, Caleb and Cole have grown into charming, happy and healthy boys with a special bond.
Photo Above: Caleb and Cole
Uniquely different, Caleb can be described as a quiet child, who seem reserved at times but once you get to know him, you’d love him. Whereas Cole is a character of note. He loves to tease, joke and play around. Very loving boy and enjoys attention.
“The Brothers truly are each other’s best friends. I look at these two, and as much as they fight, when nobody is looking, they’re as thick as thieves. This is the kind of love I admire. I pray they never lose sight of it” says their mother, Crystal.
Photo above: Caleb and Cole in school uniform.
A plea for assistance
Caleb and Cole both attend St Vincent School of the Deaf and have been thriving while wearing hearing aids that have improved their lives significantly.
Unfortunately, only one twin is currently using a hearing aid between the two of them, as the one pair is broken and needs to be serviced.
Reaching out for community support to give her son’s the gift of sound and improve their lives, Crystal Meintjies, has launched a crowdfunding campaign on BackaBuddy.
Since the launch of the campaign, over R8500 has been raised towards the fundraising target of R50 000 with contributions from 15 generous donors.
Photo above: Caleb and Cole
“Your assistance will be greatly appreciated and would be a dream come true. Please help me to help my son’s dreams and hope of having new hearing aids come true and that they can be serviced and maintained when necessary” pleads their mother, Crystal.
Any additional funds raised will support Caleb in getting a cochlear implant, as he has been nominated as a possible candidate for the costly procedure.
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 raised over R270 Million.
On 1 September 2021, in the early hours of the morning, Shadrack Kuchale (38) From Cosmo City, Johannesburg, was on his way to work, when he was attacked and held at gunpoint.
The situation soon escalated when the assailants shot the father of two in the neck, stole his cellphone, and dragged him to the nearby ATM, withdrawing R5000 from his bank account.
With complete disregard for Shadrack’s life and well-being, he was left for dead in the street. Fighting for his life and in severe pain, Shadrack waited 12 hours for a bed at the local government hospital before eventually being admitted.
Pictured above: Shadrack and his wife, Eunice, and their two children.
Forever changed
After being assessed by a neurosurgeon, and having a CT scan, Shadrack’s worst fears were soon realized: The bullet from the attack entered the highest part of his spine, shattering his spinal cord, and then traveled to his lung and punctured it.
Sadly, Shadrack is now completely paralysed from the shoulders down and will remain a quadriplegic for the rest of his life, as no amount of physiotherapy can restore his spinal fluid or movement in his body.
Supporting Shadrack
Before Shadrack’s life-changing ordeal, he was the breadwinner for his wife, and two children aged 8 and 11, earning R6400 a month. He was a beacon of hope in his community, and a true leader everyone admired and looked up to.
“I want nothing more than to provide for my family, find a job that gives me purpose and meaning in this life, a hobby that can give me peace of mind and keep my mind occupied. Most of all, I want to continue being the hero I have always been in my home, and get back some of the dignity that I didn’t lose, but was taken from me” – says Shadrack
Shadrack and his wife, Eunice, and their two children.
To help Shadrack cover his ongoing medical costs and living expenses after this life-altering attack, non-profit organisation, The Angel Network, launched a crowdfunding campaign on BackaBuddy to lend a helping hand.
Since Shadrack’s campaign launched on 16 September 2021, over R350 000 has been raised to support him and his family with medical costs as well as monthly expenses such as rent, food and school fees.
“I would never have imagined that so many people would open their hearts for me in my time of need, and carry me on their shoulders during my darkest moments. Without the donors, I don’t know how I would have made it to this point. ‘Thank you’ will never be enough” – says Shadrack
Now half a year later, most of the funds that were raised for Shadrack’s care have been put to good use, covering his extensive medical needs, say Carin Silberman and Gail Mabalane, good samaritans who have walked alongside Shadrack.
“Shadrack and his wife, who is employed as a domestic worker, have faced tremendous financial pressure, dealing with their new reality and could use all our continued love and support. Shadrack and his family have a long road to healing ahead both physically and emotionally.” – say Carin & Gail Mabalane
For those wanting to support Shadrack’s well-being on a monthly basis, his needs are as follows:
Rent R5500
Food R3000
Transport kids R1300
Transport to hospital R800
Transport to Church R1000
Water R700
Lights R800
Caregiver R2000
With support, Shadrack hopes to get a lighter wheelchair that will enable him to move more freely. God willing, Shadrack would desperately like to begin Trauma counselling to address the emotional scars that still haven’t healed since his ordeal.
Support Shadrack’s recovery by making a donation on BackaBuddy:
All donors are eligible for a Section 18A tax certificate issued by The Angel Network.
Connect with The Angel Network
The Angel Network is an organization, run solely via the power of social media. They are a registered Non-Profit Organisation (NPO: 181-947) and Public Benefits Organisation (PBO).
Their goal is to create a gateway for giving. A platform from which helping where help is needed, is easily accessible to anyone wanting to do a little more, and give a little more.
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 raised over R270 Million.
On the 3rd of August 2020, Hlengiwe Msimango (30), affectionately known as ‘Pearl’, lost her life, when she was tragically killed by her husband, who allegedly mistook her for an intruder in their home in Johannesburg, South Africa.
Described as “a vibrant soul who brought joy to everyone she encountered”, Pearl is sorely missed by her loved ones, as well as her 2-year-old son and 4-year-old daughter who devastatingly witnessed her mother’s death a year ago.
#JusticeForHlengiwe
Since the heartbreaking incident, a murder charge has been laid against Pearl’s husband Mosa Ntsibande, and his pre-trial will begin on the 14 October in the High Court in Johannesburg.
According to The World Health Organisation (WHO), 12.1 in every 100 000 women are victims of femicide in South Africa each year – a figure which is five times worse than the global average.
“I hope that Pearl gets the justice she deserves and that this case will be a lesson to all men that heinous actions have consequences” – says KT Swart, a friend of Pearl.
Keeping Pearl’s memory alive
To honour the life and memory of her friend, KT has done her best to provide for Pearl’s children in her absence, by covering their schooling costs, and delivering food and nappies whenever she can.
Reaching out to the public for support, KT has launched a crowdfunding campaign on BackaBuddy to help cover the cost of the children’s trauma counselling, as well as their education and living expenses for the foreseeable future.
Pictured above: KT and Pearl
Through generous donations, over R8000 has been raised since the launch of the crowdfunding campaign.
KT’s dream is to see Pearl’s children finish university and lead happy, independent, successful lives, which is what Pearl would’ve wanted.
“I am sure there are many out there, like me, who would like to donate to this cause in an attempt to positively impact the lives of these two precious children who have already dealt with so much. Please support our plight to change the trajectory of these children’s lives, and to keep Pearl’s memory alive. #JusticeForHlengiwe” – says KT
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 raised over R270 Million.
Constitution Hill, Johannesburg, South Africa, a living museum that tells the story of South Africa’s journey to democracy, will be celebrating its 25years since the constitution was signed December 1996.
As part of the commemoration, an enormous retrospective exhibition, ‘Death and Resurrection’, is underway to showcase the prolific artworks that the Keiskamma Art Project have produced over two decades which explore the fabric of Xhosa narrative, South African and African society, unravelling and re-stitching histories into symbolically charged tapestries that read like storybooks.
Pictured above: Artists working on the Keiskamma Altarpiece outside the studio in Hamburg, Eastern Cape.
Through cutting and stitching, simultaneously, socio-political inquiries, responses and experiences of plagues and pandemics, humanity and hope are brought to the fore in engaging needlework and textile which are recognised for their place in art history on the African continent and in the international art community.
This exhibition will also be a way of celebrating those who have shared skills and built extraordinary relationships with the community of Hamburg in the Eastern Cape. Exchanges of talent and trust have been at the heart of a generous interchange between the artists and a global community.
Pictured above: Artists laying out the sequence of the panels for the Keiskamma Tapestry.
“This retrospective exhibition foregrounds the traditional oral histories and acts as a loudhailer through which to amplify the stories and experiences by, and for the people who are otherwise not heard. Through simultaneous narration and documentation we hope to foster a safe environment to promote healing and sharing to bring people and diverse communities together.” –says Azu Nwagbogu, world renowned curator and art collector, Founder and Director of African Artist’s Foundation, ex Interim Director/Head Curator of the Zietz Museum of Contemporary Art, Founder and Director of LagosPhoto Festival, creator of Art Base Africa
Pictured above: Azu Nwagbogu world-renowned curator and art collector @azubogu
Crowdfunding on BackaBuddy
To realise the dream of bringing this exhibition, which promises to be one of the best exhibitions South Africa has ever seen, to Constitution Hill in 2022, the Keiskamma Art Project, is reaching out to the public for support through a crowdfunding campaign on BackaBuddy.
“For 20 years, we have seen first-hand the magic that is possible through community. The Keiskamma Art Project is a testament to this. It is for this reason that we look to crowd-funding to make this vision a magnificent reality of world-class standards to be shared and marvelled by all.”– says Pippa Hetherington, curator Death and Resurrection.
Pictured above: A rendering of the exhibition space showcasing the Keiskamma Guernica, made in 2010, mixed media including appliqué, embroidery, felt, wire, blankets, metal, beads.
Since the launch of the campaign, over R246 047.18 has already been raised towards the fundraising target of R1 234 000, which is needed by 30th November 2021 to secure the date of the exhibition and start production.
The project has so far secured generous donations from Constitution Hill, Eastern Cape Provincial Arts and Culture Council (ECPACC), Kathy Robins, Wendy Ackerman and a number of anonymous donations.
WATCH VIDEO:
“We truly believe that this is an opportunity to challenge the perception of contemporary African art and showcase a collective on African soil and then for it to travel. Apart from the national and international impact of providing insight to social, health and art intersections, the visibility of the Keiskamma Art Project is vital for the knock-on effect of the sustainability of the artmaking and the livelihoods of the artists.” – says Michaela Howse, project manager Keiskamma Art Project
Donate to support The Keiskamma Project on BackaBuddy 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 raised over R270 Million.
