Steve Lewis (62), a semi-retired professional Engineer from Pretoria, South Africa, has his heart set on building a home for his gardener of over 25 years, Abel Shabangu (53), who is a dear friend of the family.
Despite his diligent work ethic, Abel has only managed to build a simple tin shack with access to water, sewage, and electricity, for his wife and 3 children on the small property he owns in Soshanguve, due to limited financial resources.
The home Abel built for his family in Soshanguve, Gauteng.
18 months ago, Abel asked Steve for his help, to design and help build a comfortable home for his family, and Steve gladly accepted.
“For as long as I can remember, Abel has had a dream to give his family a home they can be proud of and stay safe in. He is a hardworking, honest, upstanding family man that does everything he can to raise his family in the best way possible,” says Steve
Abel and his family.
Having secured R100 000 ($6500) of his own funds to make the family’s dream a reality, Steve enthusiastically started drawing up the plans.
To help cover the shortfall of R45,000 ($2800) needed to build a small, 3 bedroom brick house, Steve launched a crowdfunding campaign on BackaBuddy, which has already raised R33 000 ($2100), thanks to generous donations from donors both locally and abroad.
With experience in managing building projects, Steve will oversee the building project free of charge, and has already found a reliable builder who lives close to Abel.
Funds raised by the campaign will soley be used to cover the cost of the builder and his materials. Any additional funds will be used to furnish the home and improve on the simple finishings that are currently planned for the house.
Thanks so much for your donation. We are making good progress towards our target. Your generosity has made all the difference. We are also investigating if Abel can get a government subsidy on the building of the house. With all this goodwill the dream will definitely come true.– says Steve
Thank you to all those who have contributed to this project to build Abel a house. We managed to get sufficient funds to start the project this month. We built the foundations last week and we have started with the walls this week.
We have enough money for the basic house and the electrical services.
However, there will not be enough for plumbing and the ceiling. If you are interested in helping further. The basic plumbing will cost about R17 000 and the ceiling will cost about R6 000.
Any donations would be very welcome.
https://www.backabuddy.co.za/abel-shabangu
https://pos.snapscan.io/qr/Abel-Shabangu
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 R290 Million.
After discovering hungry children in his community three years ago, Joshua Roos (12) who lives with his grandmother, Manda, in Gordon’s Bay, Western Cape, was inspired to start his own soup kitchen to feed the vulnerable and support various charitable institutions.
As Joshua and his grandmother get by on her disability pension, together they launched a crowdfunding campaign on BackaBuddy, to better serve their community by providing food parcels to young children and the elderly during lockdown.
Since the project’s launch in June 2020, donors both locally and abroad have contributed over R24 000 towards his fundraising target of R50 000 to expand the soup kitchen and feed hungry tummies. Donate here.
Like most businesses, Joshua’s soup kitchen was tremendously impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic with it being difficult to gather donations to continue helping the less fortunate.
To keep his dreaming alive, Joshua has had to think of other alternatives by starting his own Jalapeno Product Range by smoking various types of meats, and with the profits gained from this venture, he donates it to various causes that’s close to his heart.
Since Covid19 started it has been a real struggle to gather donations to continue to help the less fortunate which has been his dream (A dream which has no end) as everyone has gone through their own difficulties, that’s when Joshua started his own Jalapeno Product Range together with Smoking various meats and with the profits gained from this venture he donates it to various causes that’s close to his heart he wishes he is able to have at least once a month a day where he is able to give a hot meal to the less fortunate people around the community. Whilst all this has been going on granny’s health has also been deteriorating but still try to help where she can to enable his dreams but sometimes she is not able to. He has a project up his sleeve for the 16th of December for about 60 kids and everything is coming out of pocket as funds are very low at this point.
As funds have been slowly coming in, donations towards his cause and dream are still welcomed on his BackaBuddy page here.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/666059557085675/
https://imstaying.co.za/youth4change-joshuas-soup-kitchen/
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 R290 Million.
CAPE TOWN, South Africa – The Justice Desk (TJD), an award-winning South Africa human rights non-profit organisation, has launched an awareness campaign as part of 16 Days of Activism, which features “16 voices for 16 Days!”
16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence is an annual international campaign that kicks off on the 25th of November, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, and runs until the 10th of December, Human Rights Day.
As an organisation that focuses on “Promoting the Power of Everyday Activists”, TJD believes in the power of ordinary people to effect impactful and lasting change in their communities.
TJD’s campaign will feature and amplify the thoughts, reflections, voices and suggestions of incredible individuals on their website and through their various social media platforms throughout 16 Days of Activism.
The 16 voices are made up of representatives from NPO organisations and foundations such as the Kolisi Foundation, SaHarvest, The Embrace Project, Women Lead Movement, Langa for Men, The Uyinene Foundation and Girls against Oppression. The voices of well-known celebrities such as Zolani Mahola, and TJD’s Goodwill Ambassadors Marco Spaumer and Craig Lucas will also be featured, as well as our partners The Waterfront and notable business leaders such as Jon-Foster Pedley and Pumela Salela. Various community activists from Justice Desk projects such as girl survivors of rape and young boys actively fighting against GBV will also be featured.
During this period, the 16 chosen voices will be taking on the role of thought-leaders in the GBV space, ultimately discussing the ongoing gender-based violence crisis our country is facing, how action must be taken, how activism can be used as a tool for change, as well as other suggestions for how we can successfully combat gender-based violence in our lifetime.
“Challenging gender-based violence is a collective fight. There are so many incredible people who have a voice and a way forward and we must listen. We can no longer work in silos, but must be encouraged to share our ideas, passions and plans of action.” says Jessica Dewhurst, the CEO of The Justice Desk.
Through this campaign, The Justice Desk not only seeks to raise awareness of our GBV crisis but also hopes to bring people together, inspiring one another to recognise the incredible power that South Africans have when we come together for change. By amplifying these 16 remarkable leaders, they hope to inspire others in contributing their own thoughts and voices, uniting in solidarity and raising awareness to the important fight against gender-based violence.
“It is not the job of just some of us to end gender-based violence, it is the job of all of us – and we cannot be successful unless we all play our part, not just during these 16 Days of Activism, but 365-days a year!” continues Jessica Dewhurst, the CEO of The Justice Desk.
From the start of the 25th of November, support The Justice Desk and their “16 Voices in 16 Days Campaign” which will raise vital awareness towards combating gender-based violence, but most importantly, inspire others to know that they too can be a part of the change.
Partnering with BackaBuddy, The Justice Desk has launched a crowdfunding campaign to invite the public to support two of their flag-ship projects, aimed at eradicating Gender-Based Violence.
The Ntsika yeThemba project aims to end Gender-Based Violence by equipping a generation of positive male role models who challenge toxic masculinity and GBV and promote equal rights and justice for all!
Through various positive role model encounters and mentorship initiatives and the use of outdoor adventure-based education, young boys from township communities, many without fathers or father figures, are being empowered to become incredible leaders and agents of change.
They are reshaping, redefining and re-building positive ideas and actions of masculinity.They are being taught how to respect one another, respect women, understand consent and be a part of building a free and equal country for all!
Ntsika yeThemba: “Pillars of Hope, Defenders of Women & Leaders for an Equal Society”!
Your donation will make it possible for these young boys to access:
https://www.backabuddy.co.za/champion/project/mbokodo-and-ntsika-heroes-for-change
The Justice Desk’s Mbokodo Club Project focuses on offering empowerment workshops, mental healthcare, and self-defense programs to girl survivors of gender-based violence and rape.
The young girls we work with are between 9 and 19 and come from vulnerable communities such as Nyanga, Khayelitsha, Gugulethu, Langa and Bonteheuwel.
The project focuses on equipping young girls to lead their change, become community leaders and join a network of women supporting women within underserved communities and townships.
Our young girls can achieve this because of the quality services and education at the Mbokodo Club.
Your donation will make it possible for these young girls to access:
https://www.backabuddy.co.za/champion/project/mbokodo-and-ntsika-heroes-for-change
Pictured above: George has sold ice cream on the beach for 43 years
George Phontshe Peni (71) from Khayelitsha, Cape Town, has made an honest living selling ice creams, whilst capturing the hearts of Bloubergstrand residents and beachgoers for more than 4 decades.
‘Uncle George’, who is an icon in the community, is affectionately known for his kind-loving nature, warm heart, and patience. Come rain or shine, he can often be seen peddling his bike to support his family.
Demonstrating random acts of kindness, George is known for giving out free ice creams to children who are short of change for a treat.
“Uncle George about a month ago gave my grandson- aged 2-ice cream for free, as I did not have money on me and he said a child should not go without ice cream. I could not believe the kindness and warmth of this man. Later on, we paid him back, however, his gesture had no price”, said one Instagram user.
As George is getting older, business has become a bit slower than it was in his golden years.
Due to financial struggles, George sometimes misses an opportunity to sell his ice cream on days when he can’t afford the travelling costs to and from his home.
He also lacks the strength to ride his bike, and rather pushes it alongside Babalwa, a family friend determined to help keep George’s small business and dream alive.
Pictured above: George in the golden years
Having lived in Blouberg for over a decade, Michelle Nel (32), formed a special friendship with George, despite their different backgrounds, age gap, and a language barrier.
“When you see an older person almost every other day working with the commitment and contentment of George, you cannot help but take an interest in their story. The more I saw George, I couldn’t help but envy his equanimity in the simplicity of his lifestyle. It’s like he figured it out, you know.” – says Michelle
Pictured above: Stopping for a scoop, Michelle visits George
Hearing his stories, she eagerly took notes, hoping for the opportunity to one day share his story with the world. But sadly, as it often happens, life and work took over, and the loosely translated tales of his life were misplaced.
Picture above: George Phontshe Peni captured at Bloubergstrand
A few years later, the unexpected happened: In need of taxi fair to get home one day, George showed up on Michelle’s doorstep out of the blue, with no knowledge of where she stayed.
Feeling a sense of divine intervention, and listening to her inner voice urging her to take on a cause greater than herself, Michelle knew it was the right time to tell George’s story and see if her community would help George get back on his feet.
With a suggestion from her husband, Regardt Nel (38), Michelle decided to launch a crowdfunding campaign on BackaBuddy with a fundraising target of R50 000, hoping to surprise George with a pension fund to support him and his family in the long term.
Watch George’s campaign video
Reaching out to neighbours, and posting on community groups, Michelle was blown away when the campaign soon reached over R70 000, with the support of 193 donors, each sharing heartwarming interactions with George over the last 43 years.
“My kids are 18 & 20 now, in their toddler years they’d run after George with great excitement & he’d always patiently wait while they made their ice cream choices. More than happy to contribute.” – Lorna
“My little Elli who’s 11 now got many free ice-creams as a baby when our nanny used to sit & chat to him at the beach – I’ll definitely support him thanks” – Lou
“Grandson was rewarded with a free ice cream for helping George lift his bike up the ramp at Kleinbaai thanks, good idea.” – Estelle
Pictured above: George proudly holds a sign with all his donation messages
Having helped set up a banking account for George, Michelle’s hope is that he will have an easier life, and have the means to fix his home and buy furniture.
“Thank you to the Blouberg community, for all you have done to echo the impact George has had to you. While he didn’t ask for us to do this for him, I know, by seeing his face as he reads through your donation comments that he is grateful beyond words. The commitment and love you have shown, proves that together we can make a genuine change in people’s lives.” – says Michelle
https://www.backabuddy.co.za/george-phontshe-peni
https://pos.snapscan.io/qr/george-phontshe-peni
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Last month, Gender-based violence activist Leilani Kuter (47), from Roodepoort, Johannesburg, took on her 3rd annual walk to highlight sexual assault survivors in South Africa.
Leilani’s story
Three years ago, Leilani revisited the NG-church Youth Centre in Pretoria, where she was brutally raped, assaulted, and left for dead in 1992, when she was only 18-years-old.
In confronting her painful past, Leilani found her purpose: to shatter sexual assault stigma, shine a spotlight on survival, and empower abused women to get up, speak out, and get the help they need.
“I am inspired by people who don’t make excuses, who take control of their lives, people who get up and carry on. No matter what has happened to you, don’t let it become your life sentence” – says Leilani
Wearing yellow, the colour the attacker wore on that fateful day, Leilani stepped out of the shadows on the 27th anniversary of her assault, and walked 27km for 27 days, a total distance of 729km, uplifting survivors with every stride. Joined by over 300 individuals, including Bruce Fordyce, Leilani was encouraged to not give up.
On the 28th anniversary of her assault, Leilani returned with a nostalgic walk, walking 28km for 16 days, revisiting significant milestones and places in her life.
On the 16th of September 2021, the 29th anniversary of her sexual assault, Leilani took on a new challenge: walking for 29 hours, from Ventersdorp to Little Falls, Gauteng, to raise R290 000 on BackaBuddy, to provide women, particularly those in disadvantaged areas with access to free self-defence classes.
The self-defence classes which cost R300 per person, will take place during the 16 days of Activism in November, with Gary Lewis & Carien Davel from Never Tap Out.
“I am passionate about self-defence because if I had some of these skills in 1992, I might have been able to protect myself. These courses won’t make you a hero, but they could save your life and give you a fighting chance!” – says Leilani
On her walk, Leilani was joined by her friend Jaxy Olivier, two Guardian Angels from 1st For Women, and Gerhard Botes who will be driving closely behind to ensure their safety.
With her awareness walks, Leilani has raised over R500 000 through her non-profit organization, Yellow For Survivors NPC, to support rape crisis centres in South Africa, such as SA Women Fight Back, Tears Foundation, Purple Foundation, Bobbi Bear Foundation and many others.
In addition to her awareness walks, Leilani has also completed more than 2500km’s in dedication walks to honor women affected by gender-based violence, such as Sibongile Zenzile, Olivia Jasriel and Reeva Steenkamp.
“For me, walking has been very healing. When you look back and see how far you’ve come, you are reminded that the past is behind you and that you need to keep moving forward. When I started my walks, I had no expectations and no idea that this would change my life. Now everyone knows me as the lady with the yellow shirt. ” – says Leilani
To support Leilani’s 29 hour walk, make a donation on BackaBuddy here:
https://www.backabuddy.co.za/29hrwgbv
Alternatively, make a donation via Snapscan:
https://pos.snapscan.io/qr/29hrWalkforGBV
All donors are eligible for a Section 18A tax certificate issued by Yellow for Survivors NPC.
More more information visit Yellow for survivors: https://www.yellowforsurvivors.co.za
South Africa’s leading crowdfunding platform, BackaBuddy has supported more than 44000+ 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 R500 Million.
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.
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.’
View Romario’s campaign here.
Pictured above: Romario planting trees with Beverly Hills General Manager, John Aritho, and Wayne Burgess from Burgess Landscapes.
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.
View Dale’s campaign here.
Pictured above: Dale with his mum, Inge.
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.
View Robert’s campaign here.
Pictured above: Robert receiving his degree.
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.
Donate to Henry’s campaign here.
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.
View Omphile’s campaign here.
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.
