For most parents, those words would bring relief. For Matthew and Jenny Sanan, they became the most frightening sentence they would hear again and again.
Because when your child is still having seizures, sometimes dozens a day, “normal” doesn’t mean healthy. It means unanswered questions. It means living in the dark.
This is the reality that the Sanan family and their son, Declan, have lived with for the past ten years.
Meet Declan
Declan (soon to be 12 in May this year) is the bravest person his parents know, but more than that, he is kind.
He has a warm, gentle nature, the kind that draws people in instantly. He loves playing Fortnite and Roblox, practises Taekwondo, and has a quiet determination that defines who he is. His parents describe his greatest strength simply as “trying.”
Declan has seizures. He recovers. And then he gets up and wants to carry on living. “That’s his superpower,” Matthew says. “He never gives up.”
A Childhood Marked by Waiting
Declan’s seizures began when he was just two years old.
What followed was a decade of searching, endless hospital visits, tests, scans, genetic investigations, and late nights filled with fear and exhaustion. Each seizure brought the same unspoken question: What damage is this doing?
And still, the answers never came.
“You live with this constant, quiet desperation,” the couple explains. “You’re always hoping the next doctor might see something the others missed.”
But scan after scan came back the same. Normal.
Why ‘Normal’ Was the Hardest Result
People assume a normal scan is good news. For families like Declan’s, it’s the opposite.
“When your child is suffering, ‘normal’ just means we don’t know what’s wrong,” Matthew says. “Finding something, even something scary, would have given us hope. It would have meant there was a target. An end in sight.”
Instead, normal meant waiting. And darkness.
A Breakthrough That Changed Everything
Late one night, driven by desperation and hope in equal measure, Matthew searched online for new answers. He typed in four words: “AI in epilepsy.”
That search led him to the MELD Project, an experimental research initiative overseas. Matthew shared Declan’s story and sent through his son’s scans, scans that had been called “perfect” for years.
The first response came back uncertain. A low-confidence signal. Matthew thanked them, then mentioned something else: Declan had undergone seven MRIs over his lifetime. Could they look at all of them?
Weeks later, the answer came. The same hidden signal appeared in five out of seven scans.
Without showing the AI results, the team shared Declan’s scans with a world-renowned specialist. He spotted it too, becoming the first human to see what had been missed for a decade.
For the first time, there was clarity. For the first time, there was a plan.
From One Child to Many
That moment changed everything.
“If technology could find something that had been missed for ten years,” Matthew realised, “how many other children are still sitting with ‘normal’ scans, waiting in the dark?”
That question became the heart of Project Unseen.
Matthew began building his own system, not as a finished solution, but as a foundation. A way to give doctors another set of eyes. A way to help turn “incurable” into “treatable.”
Why the Community Stepped In
The technology needed to do this work isn’t simple, or cheap. It requires serious computing power, far beyond what most families or hospitals can access.
Matthew made a deliberate choice: instead of keeping this work overseas or private, he turned to the community. Crowdfunding allowed Project Unseen to be built here, for South African patients, alongside local doctors and researchers.
And the response was extraordinary.
The campaign didn’t just reach its goal, it surpassed it, raising over R200,000 from people who believed in the possibility of change. Every cent will be paid directly to the equipment supplier. The machine itself will be a shared community resource, dedicated to helping doctors flag what the human eye might miss.
What Hope Looks Like Now
Project Unseen is still in its early stages. Matthew is careful to manage expectations.
“This isn’t a finished tool yet,” he says. “Right now, I’m building the engine.”
But the vision is clear: a future where families don’t wait ten years for answers. Where “normal” doesn’t end the conversation. Where hope arrives sooner.
For parents still searching, Matthew and Jenny have one message:
“Pray. Trust your gut. If you feel there’s an answer out there, don’t stop looking. Technology is moving fast, and there is always hope.”
Turning the Lights On
Declan’s journey is still unfolding. Plans are being made. Steps are being taken. But because of one child, one family, and a community that chose to believe, the lights are beginning to turn on for others too.
What would you do with all the money in the world?
When a father was once asked this question, his answer was simple: “I would educate my children.”
From that wish, Luma was born, a Whats App learning platform built to make high-quality education accessible to every child in Africa, no matter where they live, what school they attend, or the resources available to them. This vision has grown into the Luma Learn Foundation NPC, led by founders Chris Folayan,James Barnard and Matt Cornelius, who are determined to change the way learners prepare for exams and unlock their futures.
But this year, they took that dream far beyond the screen. They took it on the road.
100 Schools. 30 Days. 5,000 Kilometres. An Unforgettable National Education Tour.
In October and November 2025, the Luma team packed their equipment, charged their devices, and climbed into a car that would carry them across South Africa on a journey to visit 100 schools in 30 days, covering more than 5,000 kilometres. Their aim: To bring Luma directly to the learners, teachers, and communities who need it most.
Across KwaZulu-Natal, Mpumalanga, Limpopo, Gauteng, and the Free State – from large urban schools to small rural classrooms – the team introduced thousands of learners to Luma’s free study resources, showing them how to revise efficiently, how to prepare for exams using the platform, and how to believe in themselves as they work toward better futures.
At each stop, the team shared stories, captured new ones, conducted interviews, and built relationships. They listened to what learners struggle with. They offered guidance to teachers who often carry entire communities on their shoulders. And they reminded parents that their hopes for their children are shared and supported.
The road trip schedule was intense, but the Luma Team Gees as well as the heart behind what they are doing got them through – early mornings in Durban classrooms, scenic reflection stops in Clarens, youth-led interviews in Johannesburg, rural partnerships in Zululand, and a final celebration week in Gauteng. Yet everywhere they went, the response was the same:
“We need this.” “We want to learn.” “Thank you for coming to us.”
Moments That Changed Them
Throughout the trip, there were countless moments that left James and Matt deeply moved.
Whether it was hearing from a Grade 12 student who studies by candlelight or watching a classroom of learner’s cheer as they mastered a topic they had been struggling with, the Luma team were reminded, again and again, of why this work matters. This wasn’t just a road trip. It was a reminder of what is possible when innovation meets grit, hope meets action, and education meets opportunity.
Why This Journey Needs a Village
Although Luma is free for learners, the journey to bring it into classrooms carries real costs. The team calculated that each kilometre of this nationwide tour cost about R35, covering fuel, travel, equipment, and the educational materials they delivered along the way.
Every kilometer funded helped Luma reach one more classroom. One more learner. One more future changed.
And while the national tour may be complete, the need is not. Luma aims to continue expanding access, deepening its support for rural and township schools, and uplifting learners in communities that have long been left behind.
This is where the BackaBuddy community steps in.
Supporters can sponsor kilometers, sponsor future school visits, help increase Luma’s reach, or contribute to the operational capacity needed to grow their impact sustainably. Every donation, whether R35 or R3500, is a step further along the road toward equalising education.
What Comes Next: A Bigger Partnership, A Bigger Dream
Something exciting is taking shape behind the scenes.
BackaBuddy and Luma are collaborating closely to build a long-term recurring giving model, a sustainable funding stream that will help the Luma Learn Foundation keep showing up for learners year after year.
We won’t reveal too much just yet… but keep your eyes on this space. Big things are coming, and they involve thousands more children gaining access to the tools they need to succeed.
Join the Journey
If education is the key to unlocking opportunity, then Luma is the hand holding that key toward the future – and this road trip has shown that when communities rally behind education, real transformation is possible.
Building Sustainable Support for Those Who Need It Most
[Cape Town, 11 November 2025] — Gift of the Givers has announced the launch of Team Gift, a new monthly giving programme powered by BackaBuddy, designed to generate steady and sustainable support for their life-saving humanitarian work both locally and across the globe.
In a world where crises strike more often and with growing intensity, from conflict and hunger to drought and disaster, Team Gift gives ordinary South Africans a way to stand together consistently, ensuring no one is left behind when hardship hits.
Hope That Never Fades
Disasters, poverty, and limited access to healthcare continue to affect millions each year.Team Giftwas created to provide consistent, reliable support, ensuring that when emergencies arise, help can arrive without delay.
The programme’s sustainable funding model allows Gift of the Givers to respond faster, plan further ahead, and maintain essential care long after initial relief efforts have ended.
From a Riverbed in Mozambique to a Movement of Hope
The inspiration behind Team Gift reaches back to 1990, when a young Dr Imtiaz Sooliman travelled with the Islamic Medical Association to Mozambique during a time of war and drought.
While visiting Nacala Hospital, he noticed two frail children digging into a dry riverbed and drinking the muddy water that seeped through the soil. The image stayed with him, a painful reminder of how easily we take clean water and safety for granted, and how deeply ordinary people can suffer in times of crisis.
Determined to act, Dr Sooliman wrote about what he had witnessed and shared it through phone calls and fax machines, his version of crowdfunding at the time. Within just five days, friends and colleagues helped him raise $100 000 (USD), enough to provide 30 boreholes and vital malaria medication.
That first humanitarian mission became the foundation for Gift of the Givers, proving that when people unite around compassion, extraordinary things happen.
Today, more than three decades later, that same spirit of unity and collective giving lives on through Team Gift, a call for South Africans to join a community of monthly donors ensuring the organisation remains ready to respond whenever and wherever help is needed.
How Team Gift Works
From as little as R50 per month, donors can pledge recurring contributions via BackaBuddy, joining a growing global movement of consistent givers. All donations are pooled and distributed across Gift of the Givers’ key humanitarian projects, supporting food security, sanitation, healthcare, education, disaster response, and more.
Because the funding is stable and recurring, Gift of the Givers can plan ahead, reach further into crisis zones, and sustain life-saving support long after the headlines fade.
To celebrate the spirit of collective compassion, the organisation is calling on supporters around the world to be among the first 1 000 members of Team Gift — a founding community of monthly donors recognised for their commitment to ongoing, measurable impact.
Founding Member Benefits
When individuals join Team Gift as Founding Members, they will gain access to a range of exclusive benefits designed to bring them closer to the organisation’s life-saving work.
Founding Members will receive live, real-time updates through the Team Gift WhatsApp Community, including direct messages, photos, and videos from Gift of the Givers’ relief teams on the ground, offering a rare, behind-the-scenes view of humanitarian action in progress.
Photo credits: Gift of the Givers
Why Now
Unpredictable crises demand reliable compassion. Too often, projects fade once immediate relief ends, leaving communities vulnerable. Team Gift closes that gap, turning one-time generosity into continuous care.
Ronelle Mungaroo, Communications Manager at Gift of the Givers, explains:
“Team Gift represents the heart of our mission — a community of consistent givers who ensure that when the next crisis arrives, we are already prepared. Every monthly donation, no matter the size, helps sustain the lifeline that keeps hope alive.”
Catherine Swanepoel, Chief Growth Officer at BackaBuddy, adds:
“Recurring giving is one of the most powerful ways South Africans can make an impact. Through Team Gift, BackaBuddy is proud to support Gift of the Givers in building a community of everyday heroes who make long-term humanitarian work possible.”
Join Team Gift, Become a Founding Member
Gift of the Givers and BackaBuddy invite South Africans to transform compassion into action by joining Team Gift today.
Founded in 1992, Gift of the Givers is Africa’s largest disaster response NGO. The organisation has delivered more than R6 billion in humanitarian aid across 47 countries. Its wide-ranging projects include food security, water provision, healthcare, education, and disaster relief, as well as infrastructure improvements in disadvantaged South African schools and rapid local disaster response efforts that strengthen resilience at home and abroad.
The Gift of the Givers Foundation is the largest disaster-response non-governmental organisation of African origin on the African continent. The essence of its presence is to bring hope and restore dignity to the most vulnerable.
About BackaBuddy
BackaBuddy is South Africa’s leading crowdfunding platform, enabling individuals and organisations to raise funds securely for causes they care about.
Since its inception, BackaBuddy has helped raise over R610 million for thousands of campaigns across South Africa — supporting individuals, families, and charities in times of need.
Photo credits: Gift of the Givers
By powering recurring donations, BackaBuddy helps South Africans sustain meaningful change and provide steady support for critical initiatives like Team Gift.
The South African Depression and Anxiety Group (SADAG), A beacon of hope for countless individuals, is based in South Africa – its impact reaches across every province, home, and heart that has ever faced the darkness of mental illness. For over 31 years, SADAG has been the country’s leading mental health NGO, answering calls for help every day and night of the year. Through donations, and crowdfunding, BackaBuddy has partnered with SADAG , in an effort to help raise awareness around mental health and the amazing work the organisation does.
Answering the Call for Help
For SADAG, every ring of the phone represents a life – someone in crisis, reaching out as a attempt to be seen, to be heard, to be saved. Their
24-hour Suicide Crisis Helplines are often the only lifeline for thousands of South Africans who find themselves in moments of despair
As SADAG’s Development Manager, Fatima Seedat, explains, “‘Answer The Call for Help’ means more than picking up a phone – it’s about showing up for someone at the exact moment they feel invisible, hopeless, or alone.”
Every month, SADAG faces the monumental task of keeping their helplines open. Their operating costs reach R180,000, ensuring that trained counsellors can continue to provide free, compassionate support to every caller. To sustain this service, they’ve launched a crowdfunding campaign on BackaBuddy, aptly titled “Answer The Call for Help”, which has already raised over R12,610 from 24 generous donors.
Each contribution, no matter how small, keeps hope alive.
As Fatima shared, “When a caller is ready to end their life, that one answered call can change everything.”
She recounts the story of a young man who phoned them one night, moments away from taking his own life. The counsellor’s gentle patience and empathy turned that moment of despair into survival – saving his life through connection, compassion, and care.
A Partnership for Hope
For BackaBuddy, partnering with SADAG is not just a collaboration – it’s a commitment to compassion. The platform, known for connecting everyday heroes with causes that matter, has joined forces with SADAG to help raise both funds and awareness for mental health.
This partnership underscores a shared mission: ensuring that no person’s cry for help goes unanswered. Together, they aim to break the silence surrounding mental health and inspire South Africans to take part in the movement – by donating, crowdfunding, or simply showing kindness.
As SADAG puts it, “Through this collaboration, every donation becomes part of something bigger: a shared effort to ensure that no cry for help goes unanswered. But it’s not only the callers who benefit — giving and extending kindness also nurtures the giver’s own mental wellbeing.”
The Healing Power of Giving
Science agrees: giving is good for your mental health. Acts of generosity – from volunteering to donating – trigger the release of endorphins, dopamine, and oxytocin, often called the “happiness hormones.” These natural chemicals help reduce stress, combat anxiety, and foster a deeper sense of connection.
It’s what BackaBuddy calls “Growing Givers” – the idea that when you give, you grow. Giving to SADAG isn’t just about keeping the phone lines open; it’s also about creating ripples of kindness that heal both the receiver and the giver. As SADAG notes,
“When you help someone, you also help yourself.”
Becoming a Champion for Mental Health
Anyone, anywhere in South Africa, can become a champion for SADAG on BackaBuddy. You don’t have to be a counsellor to save lives – you can host a charity run, arrange an awareness day, and then back your efforts with a BackBuddy campaign. Every initiative contributes to a collective promise: that every call for help will be answered.
And for those who are struggling themselves, SADAG offers this reminder:
“Reach out for help if you need it, even if it’s just to say, ‘I’m not okay.’ Answering the call doesn’t always mean being on the helpline – sometimes it’s simply choosing kindness, choosing connection, choosing to care.”
A Shared Mission of Hope
In a world where so many feel unseen, this partnership between SADAG and BackaBuddy represents unity, hope, and humanity at its best, reminding South Africans that compassion is a strength – and that through giving, we not only lift others, but we lift ourselves.
Rian Steyn (58) from Mossel Bay, Western Cape, has always been known for his golden touch — a hairstylist whose artistry could make anyone feel beautiful inside and out. But in 2021, Rian’s life took a devastating turn when he was diagnosed with prostate cancer — a journey that would not only test his health and spirit but also ignite a powerful message of love, resilience, and Prostate Cancer Awareness this Movember.
What started as minor discomforts – hip pain and frequent trips to the bathroom – turned out to be symptoms of something far more serious. After receiving initial reassurance from a urologist that the cancer was “under control,” the couple was blindsided just two months later when tests revealed that Rian’s cancer had advanced to stage 4 metastatic prostate cancer, an incurable form of the disease.
“You hear about the five stages of grief,” says Dewald. “But until you live through it, you don’t realize how hard it hits. You grieve the life you had – but then you keep going.”
“It Is What It Is” – A Battle of Body and Spirit
The road since that day has been paved with painful procedures, conflicting medical advice, and endless emotional tolls. A ureteral stent, which doctors later determined was unnecessary, caused Rian unbearable pain for nearly two years. In 2024, he underwent an orchidectomy to help manage his symptoms – a surgery that saved his life but deeply impacted his confidence and sense of self.
“It broke him,” Dewald admits. “Just like a woman feels after a mastectomy, Rian felt less of himself. People even addressed him as ‘Mrs.’ – not realizing the pain behind it.”
Despite these challenges, Rian continues to fight – not just against cancer, but against the stigma that keeps so many men from seeking help. With courage and honesty, he and Dewald have decided to share their journey publicly, to encourage other men to speak up, get checked, and value their health before it’s too late.
Breaking the Silence Around Men’s Health
Prostate cancer affects 1 in 9 men, yet many avoid getting tested out of fear, pride, or stigma. For Dewald, this silence is deadly.
“Being male comes with pressure – to be strong, to never show weakness,” he explains. “Men need to let go of that ego. The few seconds it takes for a prostate exam can save your life.”
Their story is more than one of illness; it’s one of awareness and advocacy. Through their campaign and courage, Rian and Dewald are helping rewrite the narrative around men’s mental and physical health, one conversation at a time.
This Movember, as moustaches sprout in solidarity around the world, Dewald hopes their message reaches other families: “The struggle of living with prostate cancer is far worse than the short discomfort of getting checked.”
Fighting for Dignity – and Hope
Today, Rian has completed six rounds of chemotherapy, and though the treatment has taken a toll, he continues to wake up each day with quiet courage. His greatest wish? To feel “whole” again. Dewald has launched a BackaBuddy crowdfunding campaign, aptly named “Rian’s Fight Against Prostate Cancer”, to raise R55,000 for reconstructive surgery that would help restore Rian’s confidence and dignity.
So far, the campaign has raised R16,020 from 17 donors, but there’s still a way to go. For Dewald, this isn’t about vanity – it’s about giving his husband the will to live again.
“People tell us to just be grateful he’s alive,” Dewald says. “But quality of life matters too. This surgery would help Rian face the world again – and himself – with pride.”
Despite his own recent health scare – a stroke in September 2025 – Dewald remains Rian’s rock. Together, they choose love, laughter, and acceptance over despair. “It is what it is,” their doctor once told them. But through their resilience, Rian and Dewald are showing the world that “what it is” can still be beautiful, hopeful, and full of purpose.
A Message for Movember, #ProstateCancerAwarenessMovember
As Movember encourages men to grow moustaches in solidarity, Rian’s story reminds us that awareness is more than a symbol – it’s a call to action. It’s about the courage to speak, to get tested, to support one another, and to live with gratitude and grace.
“Life is precious,” says Dewald. “Don’t take a single moment for granted. You only have one life – take care of it.”
Your contribution – or even just sharing their story – can help restore dignity, raise awareness, and save lives.
Launch your own crowdfunding campaign on BackaBuddy
Inspired by Rian’s story this Prostate Cancer Awareness Movember? You too can create a life-changing impact for yourself or someone you love. Whether it’s for medical care, education, community upliftment, or a dream worth fighting for, BackaBuddy helps South Africans unite for good causes. Join thousands who’ve raised over R630 million for needs that matter most.
