After a man found himself homeless with his only shelter being his car, he created something incredible from rock bottom, fueled by kindness.
Stellenbosch (24 July, 2023) — Simbirisiyo Mushanewana found himself calling rock bottom home for a while. After losing everything he had to his divorce, it was Simbirisiyo and his car against the world. Homeless but determined, Simbirisiyo knew he had to look forward. Little did he know that years down the line, all the times he didn’t give up and all the kindness he saved would add up to create something incredible. Something that brought Donations on Wheels to life.
But before that lay a lengthy road.
Coming over from Zimbabwe to South Africa over a decade ago came with challenges. Despite getting himself off the streets and building the foundations of a new chapter, Simbirisiyo saw things crumble in 2019.
Knee problems made working as an Uber driver again difficult as he couldn’t sit for enough time to make a living. This posed a double-whammy of physical and financial frustration.
However, Simbirisiyo knew life’s lemons by then, and so he knew he needed a plan. One part of the plan meant strengthening his leg. The other meant connecting with people who spoke the same life language as him—the homeless.
With just R120, he went out and brought dry food. He shared it with his new homeless friends and soon this became a ritual.
He’d ask people for leftovers then drive a little before taking a walk he could manage to the homeless. 500 metres became nearly 8-10kms a day as time went on. This was the original, ‘Donations on Wheels’ that was then known simply as a Simbirisiyo visit.
Eventually, he’d found both his strength and his passion—making life kinder to the homeless.
By 2021, a core team of people who shared his passion was established, and soon the official Donations on Wheels had kickstarted, fueled by the same kindness that got Simbirisiyo on his feet in every literal sense.
Today, you can find the impact of their work all over homeless communities in Stellenbosch. Though the mission is bigger, the heart is the same.
Help Donations On Wheels Deliver Kindness
Anyone who has food or clothes that they no longer need in Stellenbosch can give Donations on Wheels a call. Just like a courier service, they’ll come pick up whatever you can give and share it with the communities that need it most. You can also help in other ways, like sponsoring a good night’s sleep.
Simbirisiyo’s is Another Story That Reminds People Why Homeless Lives Matter
Homeless lives are often overlooked. But often people stereotype these communities unfairly. The next homeless person you meet might just be a Simbirisiyo with a dream to give back. A Clive giving kindness with the little he has, or an animal hero like Deslyn.
by 