When 13-year-old Zeeva, from Cape Town, steps into the kitchen, something magical happens. The world quiets, the noise fades, and her mind settles into a calm, joyful rhythm only baking seems to unlock. Mixing, measuring, scooping, and shaping, this is her happy place, the one where she feels most centered, creative, and fully herself.
And at the centre of it all is a dream she’s been nurturing since she was just eight years old: to build her very own cookie business, The Final Bite, and share her “best cookies you’ll ever taste” far beyond her home kitchen.
Today, that dream is taking its biggest step yet.
A Sweet Soul With a Big Vision
To her mom, Melvina, Zeeva is more than just a talented young baker. She’s gentle, kind, determined, and quietly resilient, the kind of girl who cleans the kitchen after a baking fail and says,
“It’s okay, Mommy, I’ll try again.”
“She has this soft nature,” Melvina says, “but once she sets her mind on something, she gives it her whole heart. She’s my little bestie, my shadow, and honestly, my teacher in so many ways.”
And the dream she holds isn’t just about cookies. It’s about confidence. Creativity. Purpose. It’s about watching a young girl step into who she was made to be, one batch at a time.
Where It All Began: The Accidental First Bake
Like many great baking origin stories, Zeeva’s includes laughter, a little chaos, and a surprising success.
She remembers baking classic choc-chip cookies with her aunt during a family visit from America. Zeeva confidently read out the ingredients list… not the method… and her aunt added everything exactly as she spoke. Midway through, they burst into laughter, realizing something was very wrong.
But the cookies? They turned out delicious.
That moment lit something inside her, a spark of joy, creativity, and possibility.
“I loved it,” she says. “It just felt right. Baking makes me feel peaceful and happy.”
From Home Treats to a Budding Cookie Brand
Since then, Zeeva has spent hundreds of hours perfecting her recipes. Her signature crumble-style cookies have become a favourite among friends, teachers, and family. She experiments with flavours, textures, and toppings, always chasing that perfect “final bite”, the one you wish would never end.
She dreams of building a small business, sharing beauty and joy through every batch, and eventually becoming the go-to cookie creator in town.
Her mom has watched the transformation in real time.
“It’s emotional,” Melvina says. “I’ve seen her confidence bloom. She explains her ideas with passion. She packs her cookies with such care. It feels like watching her grow into her God-given gifts.”
Faith is deeply woven into this journey.
“I pray over her hands, her ideas, her confidence,” Melvina adds. “I believe God placed this gift inside her, and my job is to nurture it.”
A Full-Circle Moment: Why BackaBuddy Felt Like Home
Melvina works at BackaBuddy, helping campaign creators find hope and possibility in their hardest moments. She has supported hundreds of people in telling their stories, reaching their communities, and believing in second chances.
Starting a campaign for her own daughter felt like a special full-circle moment.
“I’ve guided so many people through their fundraising journeys,” she says. “When Zeeva was ready to take her dream seriously, I knew BackaBuddy was the perfect place. I’ve seen how kindness gathers, how people show up for something meaningful. I wanted Zeeva to experience that too.”
And so, The Final Bite campaign was born, a chance for the community to help a young entrepreneur take her first real step into business.
What Zeeva Needs To Grow Her Cookie Business
To bring her vision to life, Zeeva needs a few essential tools — the kind that help transform big dreams into beautiful bakes.
In a beautiful turn of events, Zeeva was recently blessed with a stand mixer, generously gifted just when she needed it most. But just as she was preparing to advertise her Christmas cookies, their home oven unexpectedly broke, bringing her plans to a sudden pause.
Right now, the most urgent need is a reliable baking oven — the heart of any cookie business, and the one thing Zeeva needs to keep baking, growing, and sharing her creations.
The funds raised will help cover:
Baking oven (essential for consistent, reliable baking)
Measuring cups & spoons — R150
Mixing bowls (set of 3) — R250
Spatulas, whisks, wooden spoons — R200
High-quality baking trays (2–4) — R500
Cooling racks (set of 2) — R300
Silicone baking mats / baking paper — R300
Starter stock of key ingredients — R2,000
Packaging (boxes, ribbons, stickers) — R500
The goal remains R12,000, covering the oven and all the essentials Zeeva needs to take The Final Bite from a home hobby to a small, thriving business — just in time for her first festive cookie season.
A Young Entrepreneur With a Big Heart
When asked what makes her cookies special, Zeeva’s answer is simple and sincere:
“They’re decadent, filled with love, and made to be affordable so everyone can enjoy them.”
Her biggest supporters? Her friends, who cheer her on, order cookies, and hype her up every step of the way, and of course, her family, who have been her foundation.
Outside the kitchen, she’s a proud soccer lover and a devoted Manchester United fan. But in the kitchen, she is something else entirely, a creator, an artist, an entrepreneur in the making.
Help a Young Dreamer Rise
Right now, The Final Bite is at the very beginning of something special. Zeeva is ready to grow her skills, build her brand, and share her joyful creations with more people, but she can’t do it alone.
By donating, sharing the campaign, or simply cheering her on, you’re helping a 13-year-old girl discover her potential and step boldly into her dreams.
Every spatula, every tray, every ingredient… Every contribution moves her closer to the dream God placed on her heart.
And who knows? One day, “The Final Bite” may be the cookie Cape Town, or even South Africa, can’t stop talking about.
For as long as he can remember, sport has been more than just a game for Andrew Russell – it’s been a language of hope, connection, and opportunity. Today, as the director and co-founder of sport4kids, Andrew has dedicated nearly two decades to ensuring that children from underserved communities can experience that same joy and belonging that the power of sport brought into his own life.
Through sport4kids, a non-profit organisation he started in 2006 with David and Jenny MacGregor, Andrew is helping rewrite the stories of children who might otherwise have been left on the sidelines. Their mission is simple yet profound: to give every child a chance to play – regardless of their financial background.
From the Field to the Heart
Andrew’s love for sport began in his early school days.
“I played everything I could – cricket, rugby, you name it,” he recalls fondly.
After studying, he spent eight years teaching and coaching at a high school before venturing into sports tourism. In 2000, he founded Cape Africa Tours, bringing sports teams from around the world to South Africa.
It was during these tours that Andrew began noticing a heartbreaking reality.
“Many of the local kids had incredible talent but no access – no kit, no coaching, and often, no transport,” he says.
Visiting teams would sometimes leave behind their equipment, and Andrew would distribute it to local schools. But the need was far greater than a few extra cricket bats or soccer balls. That realisation sparked the birth of sport4kids.
Since its founding, the organisation has helped hundreds of children participate in sports by providing them with equipment, uniforms, and access to coaching.
“We’ve seen shy, uncertain kids transform into confident young athletes,” Andrew explains. “Sport teaches teamwork, resilience, and belief – lessons that last long after the final whistle.”
A Vehicle of Hope
One of the organisation’s proudest moments came in 2016 when Westminster Under School in London raised funds for a 14-seater Toyota Quantum – a vehicle that became the beating heart of the programme.
“That van has transported countless children to practices, matches, and tournaments they otherwise would have missed,” says Andrew. “Without it, hundreds of fixtures would simply not have happened.”
But sustaining this vital service has become increasingly difficult. Rising fuel costs, maintenance fees, and the need for more sports gear have stretched their resources thin.
“Right now, we’re in urgent need of support to keep the vehicle running and ensure no child misses their shot at playing,” he adds.
In June 2025, Andrew launched a crowdfunding campaign on BackaBuddy, aptly titled ‘The Power of Sport’, to raise R250,000 for kits, equipment, and vehicle maintenance. So far, 10 donors have contributed R5,783.50, but the journey ahead remains long.
Yet Andrew remains hopeful.
“Every small donation truly helps,” he says. “A cricket bat or soccer ball might seem small, but for a child who’s never owned one, it means the world.”
Sport as a Lifeline for Mental Health
Beyond the physical benefits, Andrew believes sport has the power to nurture mental well-being and community belonging – something especially vital for South African youth.
“Sport gives kids a purpose, a sense of identity,” he explains. “It keeps them off the streets, away from dangerous paths, and helps them believe they belong to something bigger than themselves.”
He recalls one story that has stayed with him over the years: a young boy named Nathan, who received a scholarship to attend Plumstead High School through sport4kids.
“Nathan was sport-crazy and full of potential,” says Andrew proudly. “Today, he’s involved in coaching and giving back to other young athletes – proof of how the ripple effect of opportunity can change lives.”
For Andrew, these moments make every challenge worth it. “When a parent comes up to you after a match, with tears in their eyes, thanking you for believing in their child – that’s when you realise this work matters,” he says.
The Future: Building Champions On and Off the Field
Looking ahead, Andrew envisions a thriving network of empowered children and communities who see sport not as a luxury, but as a right.
“In ten years, I hope sport4kids will be bigger, stronger, and reaching even more schools across South Africa,” he says. “I don’t ever want to see another talented child sit out simply because they couldn’t afford to play.”
He also expresses deep gratitude to those who have already supported the cause.
“We’re incredibly thankful to everyone who’s donated and cheered us on thus far,” he says. “You’re not just funding sport – you’re giving kids hope, structure, and a reason to dream.”
As Nelson Mandela once said, “Sport has the power to change the world.” For Andrew Russell and his team, those words aren’t just a quote – they’re a calling.
Keeping the Power of Sport Alive
For many children in Cape Town, sport4kids isn’t just about games – it’s about belonging, confidence, and healing. The organisation’s impact extends far beyond the playing field, fostering community, inclusion, and positive mental health.
Through his BackaBuddy campaign, Andrew hopes that more South Africans will recognise how even the smallest act of generosity can spark enormous change. “It doesn’t take a lot to make a difference,” he says. “Every bit counts – and together, we can keep the power of sport alive.”
Cape Town’s biggest 24-hour community cycle is back on 6–7 September 2025. Friends, families, corporates and schools will rotate through 24 hours on 60 bikes at Bishops’ Piley Rees field to raise R1,000,000 for youth development in Langa. Riders will take turns through the night to ride for purpose, ride for impact, and ride for change—because when a community moves, children’s futures move with it.
Cape Town’s 24-Hour BIGGEST Cycle Challenge Is Back
From its base at 22 Bitterhout Street, Langa, the VUSA Rugby & Learning Academy works with children aged 4 to 13, blending early learning, academic support, rugby and psychosocial care. One hundred percent of what the Challenge raises goes straight into these programmes. This year’s goals are practical and powerful: expand literacy so more children read for meaning by Grade 4; complete a new VUSA hub in Langa—with an income-generating deli, a reading garden, a fully equipped kitchen and safe learning spaces; and strengthen academic support by hiring more facilitators and purchasing better educational resources.
Born in 2021 through a collaboration led by Bishops Diocesan College with strong community backers (including Investec), the 24-hour format has grown every year thanks to thousands of champions who climb onto the bikes and keep the wheels turning. BackaBuddy returns as the official fundraising partner, hosting dozens of campaign pages so supporters can back a rider they know or donate directly to the Academy. The format is pure community: teams ride in shifts through the night, cheered on by music, live entertainment and food trucks. And the invitation is open—anyone can sign up a team, bring the gees and join a shift. If life won’t let you cycle, you can still be part of the story by donating. Every rand helps break the cycle of poverty and builds a future of opportunity.
The momentum tells its own story.
2021: R217,392 raised.
2022: R535,168 raised.
2023: 43 BackaBuddy campaigns rallied 1,141 donors to raise R909,883.10.
2024: 77 BackaBuddy campaigns rallied 1,337 donors to raise R1,080,403.94.
Total (2021–2024): R2,742,847.04 invested in children’s futures.
That funding translates into real-world wins. As the Academy put it: “Last year, your support helped us repair our Digibus (a mobile classroom), build a new library and computer lab, and set up a practice space for our social worker.”
That’s a classroom on wheels, books in little hands and a quiet room where care happens.
This year, the relay continues with 52 team campaigns already live. Early support is showing: 257 donors have contributed R 218 605 toward the R1,000,000 target. Those gifts turn into literacy coaches, shelves of well-loved books, nutritious meals from the new kitchen and steady mentors beside homework tables. They also help finish the Langa hub so that safe, bright spaces are ready for learning when the bell rings.
Ride for Purpose: How to Join
The VUSA 24-Hour Cycle Challenge starts at 09:00 on Saturday, 6 September and wraps at 09:00 on Sunday, 7 September at Piley Rees, Bishops. The track will be a festival of nicknames and noise—proof that doing good can be joyful. Expect waves of teams from corporates, high schools and colleges, and prep/junior schools, alongside community clubs, alumni groups, families and friends. Some will be chasing lap counts, others bringing pure gees—but every crew will ride for purpose, ride for impact, and ride for change. New team pages are going live on BackaBuddy each week, so the roster will keep growing—yours can, too.
“This isn’t just a ride, guys—it’s a flip’n revolution.”
It’s what you’ll hear trackside when the music lifts and another shift tags in. Because this event is more than laps; it’s a relay of care. Anyone can take part—sign up a bike with friends, bring colleagues for a corporate shift, or gather your school team and ride in memory, in celebration, in solidarity. And if you can’t be there, send your support in the form of a donation—every bit helps, and every rider feels it.
When we say the city’s biggest cycle challenge is back, we mean bigger, bolder and filled with even more heart—thanks to partners who keep the wheels turning: Bishops Diocesan College, Investec, and the official fundraising partner, BackaBuddy, alongside the many community sponsors who add prizes, music and colour. Together we ride for purpose, impact and change—so that children in Langa can read with confidence, learn with dignity and dream without limits.
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.
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:
