Thanks to an old, discarded coffee machine, Lisette and Sanele, the recycler, had the fortune of crossing paths. But this was not any friendship. For Sanele, it meant having someone to believe in him and in turn, inspire him to get off the streets—which he did! All the feels:

Johannesburg, South Africa (07 March 2024) — For Sanele Tolashe, a fortuitous friendship with Lisette Datnow did not just mean having a new person to call a friend. Sanele credits Lisette as the reason his life changed, and the reason he is no longer a street recycler.

Sanele and Lisette met thanks to an old coffee machine that Lisette’s son Michael had discarded back in 2020’s early lockdown.

“Somehow it was fortuitous that I saw [Sanele] pick the machine up and he said he was going to have coffee every morning like normal people,” Lisette recalls.

Every Tuesday, Lisette, Sanele and his late friend Lucky would chat when they came by to recycle items. Lisette began helping with cardboard collections from her office.

When the community worked on an upgrade project across the road, Sanele was in on the helpful action. This led to Lisette and her friends collecting new T-shirts, industrial safety boots and gloves for him, and at the handover, he and his friends and Lisette and her friends all sat in the park and talked. People from completely different worlds, weaved together with kindness and respect.

“These were people who were down on their luck, but good, decent people,” says Lisette. 

The friendship continued from there, and Lisette learned more about Sanele’s life, slowly becoming more than a friend, but someone who encouraged him with unwavering determination.

Sanele had a good life growing up in Carletonville but shares that things changed after his father and mother died. Despite going to school, he wasn’t able to finish his diploma due to financial reasons. After he found work, things changed again when the company closed. This led him to recycling, the streets and eventually, to ‘Miss Liz” as he affectionately calls Lisette.

“That’s when my life changed, because she saw me as a person with potential to change my life around and by that she always encouraged [me] to never give up and always hope for the better,” says Sanele. 

He adds that after spending time with her, he became inspired to get off the streets.

“I packed my things and told myself I’m not gonna live the rest of my life living in the streets.”

Sanele moved in with one of his brothers and got a job as a cashier—the beginning of many more moments he is proud of.

“I was delighted and have followed his progress since,” Lisette shared, adding that they are still very mouch in touch. 

Lisette was key in rallying for Sanele to further his studies (the same momentum Liz had shown before for Sandisiwe who needed spectacles for her studies). Despite the fundraising not panning out, Sanele is now happily working at a construction company.

“I’m grateful to have met Miss Liz because without her, maybe I would still be living in the streets eating unhealthy food from the bins. That’s why I love her has my mother.” 

Lisette’s message to others is to show up with kindness, avoid being presumptuous about others’ circumstances and help where you can—even if it’s striking up a conversation or giving a recycler a colourful bin so the sorting process is easier.

“Only in South Africa can you get this type of friendship. To ask people to “BE KIND” and treat everyone with respect. You don’t know their story or their struggles. Recyclers are trying to make an honest living…if everyone can just be kind, this world would be a better place.”—Lisette Datnow. 

Sources: GTG Interview 

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Do you have something to add to this story? Please share it in the comments or follow GoodThingsGuy on Facebook & Twitter to keep up to date with good news as it happens, or share your good news with us by clicking here or click the link below to listen to the Good Things Guy Podcast with Brent Lindeque – South Africa’s very own Good Things Guy. He’s on a mission to change what the world pays attention to, and he truly believes there’s good news around us. In the Good Things Guy podcast, you’ll meet these everyday heroes & hear their incredible stories:

Or watch an episode of Good Things TV below, a show created to offer South Africans balance in a world with what feels like constant bad news. We’re here to remind you that there are still so many good things happening in South Africa & we’ll leave you feeling a little more proudly South African.

The post How a Fortuitous Friendship Helped Change Sanele the Recycler’s Life  appeared first on Good Things Guy.

The Penguin-Pals Project is going to help so many penguins get the help they need thanks to Betty’s Bay residents who have volunteered to transport penguins to rescue facilities! Not only will they be playing a helpful role as penguin ‘Uber drivers’, but they’ll also be saving rescue staff a lot of time.

Betty’s Bay, South Africa (06 March 2024) — The Southern African Foundation For The Conservation of Coastal Birds (SANCCOB) is getting a helping hand from the Betty’s Bay community thanks to residents who have volunteered their time to be part of the Penguin-Pals Project!

SANCCOB is responsible for rescuing and rehabilitating many of South Africa’s seabirds. But, there are only so many staff members. Journeys to assist penguins in need often mean many hours on the road, which in turn leaves staff members unable to help other seabirds while trekking these distances.

As Tim Elliot of the Betty’s Bay Conservancy (BBC) shares:

“Up until now SANCCOB have had no option but to send one of their own staff from Betty’s Bay all the way in to Tableview, in Cape Town, in the event of an injured or sick penguin or other seabird. Everyone at the Stony Point Nature Reserve has enough on their plate without sitting in a vehicle for the three hour plus round trip.” 

This is where the Betty’s Bay community have decided to help lighten the load of responsibility. As part of BBC’s Penguin-Pals Project, residents have offered to share their time and transport any struggling seabirds to Somerset West—a big chunk of the distance that will undoubtedly help staff members save on time and transport expenses.

Training was underway in late February for the Penguin-Pals’ volunteers.

“There was a lot of enthusiasm and excitement at the prospect of being involved and being able to help constructively,” adds Tim. 

This initiative displays not only how a little help can go a long way (quite literally), but also sets the path for future Penguin-Pals Projects outside of Betty’s Bay! Word at the colony is, SANCCOB may also need some volunteers in Gordons Bay too, so don’t be afraid to spread the word!

Sources: Betty’s Bay Conservancy

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Do you have something to add to this story? Please share it in the comments or follow GoodThingsGuy on Facebook & Twitter to keep up to date with good news as it happens, or share your good news with us by clicking here or click the link below to listen to the Good Things Guy Podcast with Brent Lindeque – South Africa’s very own Good Things Guy. He’s on a mission to change what the world pays attention to, and he truly believes there’s good news around us. In the Good Things Guy podcast, you’ll meet these everyday heroes & hear their incredible stories:

Or watch an episode of Good Things TV below, a show created to offer South Africans balance in a world with what feels like constant bad news. We’re here to remind you that there are still so many good things happening in South Africa & we’ll leave you feeling a little more proudly South African.

The post Betty’s Bay Residents Volunteer to Transport Penguins in Need! appeared first on Good Things Guy.

When an elderly tourist from the Netherlands was about to fly home, the swelling in his hand couldn’t be ignored. After having to disembark, he found himself in a city full of strangers and completely reliant on the kindness of others. Thanks to two very special South Africans, he got all the help he needed!

Johannesburg, South Africa (06 March 2024) — What was meant to be a simple trip back to the Netherlands turned into a series of complicated events for one Abraham van Roijen, an elderly tourist in his late 80s, who was visiting South Africa, last December.

When it came time for his visit to end, Abraham started to notice that something wasn’t exactly right with his left hand.

Swollen and in pain, the elderly tourist figured that he would sort it out when he got back to the Netherlands. However, a doctor aboard his flight advised Abraham not to fly with a hand that swollen, and encouraged him to get off the plane.

Without family or friends anywhere near OR Tambo, Abraham became completely reliant on the kindness of South Africans. In the early hours of the morning as his plane flew overhead, Abraham checked into a hotel near the airport, but couldn’t sleep due to to the pain of his hand.

At the reception desk, he met the incredibly compassionate Jani Ligthelm, the hotel’s general manager. Jani kindly helped him contact a family member from her phone as his baggage, containing his phone, was still with the airline. With his niece, Mariska Spoonmaker, worried about the state of his hand and unable to do anything from the Eastern Cape, Abraham’s ‘first responders’ became Jani and Andrew Nkosizile Mtshali – a diligent taxi driver.

Abraham was determined to get on the next flight, so Jani made the choice to trust the elderly tourist, but only under the caring eyes of Andrew the taxi driver, who became something of a knight in shining armour for Abraham.

Andrew made sure Abraham got to the airport safely. When the airline counter turned out to be closed, he was the one to insist on taking Abraham to a medical centre in Kempton Park.

Andrew contacted Abraham’s son Bram to ensure Abraham could chat with his son during the hospital’s visiting hours. The situation with his hand turned out to be urgent, and without Andrew offering his phone and time, Abraham wouldn’t have been able to keep his family in the loop or sort out his medical insurance.

After two medical procedures were underway, Andrew even made sure Bram was updated throughout the process with photos.

Eventually, with Abraham finally on the road to recovery, Bram was able to fly in to assist his father. Andrew, of course, was waiting in the wings to unite them both and drove Bram from the airport to be with his dad during the scary time.

As it turned out, Abraham may have been bitten by a spider, which could’ve led to terrible consequences had Abraham’s new South African friends not stepped in to help. Several days later, the tourist made it back to the Netherlands, where doctors would look after him.

Freelance journalist and niece Mariska Spoonmaker shared this story of the small, but incredibly impactful kindness with Good Things Guy.

“I look back in gratitude at Jani and Andrew – two caring people who went way further than the extra mile to assist an 87-year-old in need. Everything could have gone so wrong. But it didn’t. Because two South Africans cared enough to help. Nkosi.”

Sources: Mariska Spoormaker

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Do you have something to add to this story? Please share it in the comments or follow GoodThingsGuy on Facebook & Twitter to keep up to date with good news as it happens, or share your good news with us by clicking here or click the link below to listen to the Good Things Guy Podcast with Brent Lindeque – South Africa’s very own Good Things Guy. He’s on a mission to change what the world pays attention to, and he truly believes there’s good news around us. In the Good Things Guy podcast, you’ll meet these everyday heroes & hear their incredible stories:

Or watch an episode of Good Things TV below, a show created to offer South Africans balance in a world with what feels like constant bad news. We’re here to remind you that there are still so many good things happening in South Africa & we’ll leave you feeling a little more proudly South African.

The post South Africans Help Elderly Tourist Through Medical Mayhem  appeared first on Good Things Guy.

Not only are the ‘Granny Grommets’ legends in the world of rookie wave catching, but they’re also playing their part to keep our beaches beautiful in a big way!

Buffalo City, South Africa (05 March 2024) — In the Eastern Cape, the Granny Grommets who frequent Nahoon Point Nature Reserve ‘Corner’ are legends in the world of rookie wave catching. Every Friday morning, the Granny Grommets—a community of women who are all over 50—unite to boogie (with their boards), catch waves, and ride the idea that being over 50 is by no means indicates its time to stop learning new things or making new friends (and having fun while you do).

 

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A post shared by Nahoon Granny Grommets (@nahoongrannygrommets)

Started by Lee-Ann Lavender and Julie Schroeter, the local ‘Grommets’ (which refers to being a newbie in surfing) are just as inspiring as their global counterparts. Yes, you can find Granny Grommets in other parts of the world, like Australia. But, whether they’re near or far, the ‘Grommet Movement’s ‘message of kicking stereotypes in the ass is spreading. And, it’s inspiring many people to make having fun a much bigger part of the sunset years. In fact, some Granny Grommets have even inspired children’s books in their honour, like ‘Granny Grommet and Me’ by Dianne Wolfer!

However, in exciting news for the local ladies and their larger Eastern Cape community, they are doing their part to help their favourite beaches get their blue flag status by adding beach clean-ups to their Friday Fun.

This, to support community clean-up volunteer organisation Tidy Towns Buffalo City, and inspire more people to do their part for the public spaces that make so much joy possible.  Not only this, but the Granny Grommets have decided to sponsor Tidy Towns Buffalo City volunteer, Phineas Chisanga who helps look after Nahoon Corner, per Green Ripple.

A fun-loving community spreading a fabulous message and change for the environment? We know exactly what group we’re signing up to when we hit 50!

Sources: Various (Linked Above)

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Do you have something to add to this story? Please share it in the comments or follow GoodThingsGuy on Facebook & Twitter to keep up to date with good news as it happens, or share your good news with us by clicking here or click the link below to listen to the Good Things Guy Podcast with Brent Lindeque – South Africa’s very own Good Things Guy. He’s on a mission to change what the world pays attention to, and he truly believes there’s good news around us. In the Good Things Guy podcast, you’ll meet these everyday heroes & hear their incredible stories:

Or watch an episode of Good Things TV below, a show created to offer South Africans balance in a world with what feels like constant bad news. We’re here to remind you that there are still so many good things happening in South Africa & we’ll leave you feeling a little more proudly South African.

The post ‘Granny Grommets’ Add Regular Beach Clean Ups to Their Ocean Adventures  appeared first on Good Things Guy.

When people ask you what superpower you would want, you might think of flying or reading minds. But there’s one superpower that doesn’t live in science-fiction books, and it might just be one of the most empowering everyday superpowers around:

Global (03 March 2024) — One of the most uncomfortable lessons we learn over and over again in life is coping with things not turning out the way we wanted them to. But the more doors we knock on, the more opportunities we are likely going to be invited into. What holds us back from knocking, of course, is the same thing that teaches us to cope with disappointment—rejection!

So, what if we could make being comfortable with rejection a superpower?

Rejection takes many shapes and forms. We can experience social rejection, competence rejection, perceived rejection and rejection sensitivity among many other kinds. None of these sound like a good time because none of them are at first glance. But what if the actual rejection part of the narrative isn’t as problematic as our responses to these perceived threats?

Anxiety, blame, negative self-talk, aggression and even depression can all surface from scenarios where our minds have interpreted an experience to encompass rejection. We’re social creations who want to belong, want things to go the way we intend, and want to avoid pain at all costs.

But these integral parts of us aren’t always our friends, and can actually stand in the way of us even trying to put ourselves in a position that might be the best risk we ever take, simply because we might be rejected.

So what can we do about it?

We need to make being comfortable with rejection a superpower. And this starts with understanding that rejection is only as meaningful as it is perceived to be.

We, society and influences allocate meaning to our experiences; experiences do not allocate meaning to themselves. So, here are 3 simple ways to turn the narrative on rejection:

This is Happening for Me, Not to Me

Shift that victim mindset! If we train our minds to believe that things are happening for us, not to us, we are more likely to find the positive in the experience. So the girl you asked out on a date said no. Well, maybe you dodged a bullet you’ll only see with hindsight. Or maybe you got fired from a job you loved, only to discover that a better opportunity did become available when you had the time to look for it.

Every Rejection Holds a Lesson

There are few things as powerful as seeing tough experiences as lessons. But when we do, we are in a better standing to consciously take notes from it.

This takes a willingness to separate yourself and your emotions from the experience. Maybe you were underprepared for that job interview. Or maybe the conversation topics you brought to the dinner conversation with new people were not something everyone could talk on; which led to people changing the subject and you feeling ‘dismissed’.

When we think about situations objectively, we empower ourselves to be critical constructively.

It Was Good for the Plot

One of my personal favourites. Rejection isn’t easy, but maybe the risk you took was really good for the plot that is your life’s story. You did something bold, and it didn’t go as planned. But if you were a character and your life’s story was a book, maybe that’s exactly the moment of character development you needed to be braver. Or maybe it’ll make a really funny story that will become your kid’s favourite ‘when I was young’ tale one day.

I have a friend who once almost made the provincial team for a sport because she decided to take a risk. She’d only been playing it for a few months and decided one day to do something bold when the string of trials came around, despite being severely underqualified. Guess what? She made it all the way to the finals of trials. Yes, she did get rejected in the end, but she went way further than she’d ever imagined. And that confidence boost was worth its weight in accolades.

See, rejection isn’t always a negative thing. And it isn’t always a positive thing. It’s okay to feel disappointed and discouraged—just not for too long. But when being comfortable with this sensation our brains have dramatised becomes your superpower, you’ll find yourself building a story of your life where you aren’t insecure about what could go wrong, but secure in knowing that you’ll find a way to be alright.

Sources:  GTG

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Do you have something to add to this story? Please share it in the comments or follow GoodThingsGuy on Facebook & Twitter to keep up to date with good news as it happens, or share your good news with us by clicking here or click the link below to listen to the Good Things Guy Podcast with Brent Lindeque – South Africa’s very own Good Things Guy. He’s on a mission to change what the world pays attention to, and he truly believes there’s good news around us. In the Good Things Guy podcast, you’ll meet these everyday heroes & hear their incredible stories:

Or watch an episode of Good Things TV below, a show created to offer South Africans balance in a world with what feels like constant bad news. We’re here to remind you that there are still so many good things happening in South Africa & we’ll leave you feeling a little more proudly South African.

The post Free Therapy Sundays: Why Being Comfortable with Rejection is a Super Power  appeared first on Good Things Guy.

Grade Rs and the Rainbows and Smiles team made the oncology ward a happy place thanks to sweet surprises, personalised wishes and homemade meals!

Johannesburg, South Africa (28 February 2024) — In a dose of wholesome news for children in a Johannesburg oncology ward, several surprises made their way to the kids thanks to Grade Rs from Constantia Kloof Primary School.

Personalised sweet gifts stopped by on Monday, 26 February accompanied with loving notes and special wishes for the children in heart shapes for the brave hearts. Not only did the thoughtfulness of the sweets bring the children some much-needed cheer (and belated Valentine’s Day love), but the Rainbows and Smiles team also got to give the kids a taste of home by preparing their meals and a little break from the hospital food.

The team got special permission to prepare meals, which might sound like a simple pleasure, but can mean the most to those who do not have a caregiver.

Rainbows and Smiles, a charitable organisation focused on supporting childhood cancer fighters and their families, recently celebrated its 13th birthday—a teenage milestone of all their years pouring hope and a sense of community into a battle that can often feel so isolated.

Of the recent surprises, Rainbows and Smiles shared,”It’s moments like these that remind us of the simply joys that can bring light into challenging times. Thank you for your beautiful hearts Grade R’s.”

Meanwhile in other news where community kindness is making a difference for young people fighting cancer, Durban has rallied for Hayley Carmen Johnson and her family to help her fund her battle against Ewing Sarcoma.

Hayley is just 15 years old and fighting the fight of a lifetime. But, with an army of determined people who want to see her beat this battle, hopes are high that Hayley will leave Ewing Sarcoma in the dust!

Sources: Rainbows and Smiles 

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Do you have something to add to this story? Please share it in the comments or follow GoodThingsGuy on Facebook & Twitter to keep up to date with good news as it happens, or share your good news with us by clicking here or click the link below to listen to the Good Things Guy Podcast with Brent Lindeque – South Africa’s very own Good Things Guy. He’s on a mission to change what the world pays attention to, and he truly believes there’s good news around us. In the Good Things Guy podcast, you’ll meet these everyday heroes & hear their incredible stories:

Or watch an episode of Good Things TV below, a show created to offer South Africans balance in a world with what feels like constant bad news. We’re here to remind you that there are still so many good things happening in South Africa & we’ll leave you feeling a little more proudly South African.

The post Grade Rs Send Special Surprises to Kids in the Oncology Ward! appeared first on Good Things Guy.

What began as a lesson in the craft of culinary skills for Cheryl’s son, who is on the Autism Spectrum, has turned into an entire cooking school for kids and adults with special needs!

Claremont, South Africa (27 February 2024)—Cooking is a multifaceted discipline. It’s an art for some; a labour of love for others. But no matter how seriously you take your time in the kitchen, cooking is pretty imperative knowledge to have. However, for the Spectrum Cooks we’re about to spotlight, cooking is more than either of the aforementioned.

It’s a bridge that helps special needs kids and adults feel more comfortable in a society that is largely, still, not designed with them in mind. it’s an opportunity for more independence, inclusivity and confidence. This is what the Spectrum Cooks are all about, and why both students and teachers just can’t get enough of what they’re doing.

Simply put, Spectrum Cooks is a cooking school in Claremont that teaches kids and adults on the spectrum or who have special needs how to cook.

As teacher, Candice Friedman, tells Good Things Guy:

“We want to teach these amazing adults and kids life skills and to be independent. We even offer a full-time chef’s course for anyone who wants to be a chef and hopefully create their own business or work in a kitchen.” 

Beyond its mission, the story behind how Spectrum Cooks came to be is just as heartwarming.

As principal and founder Cheryl Terblanche shares of the school’s beginnings back in 2008, the school began organically.

Cheryl was home-schooling her son, a then teenage Shay Terblanche who is on the Autism Spectrum. The focus was on Shay’s hospitality studies and culinary abilities.

Shay began working professionally when he was just 17 and had become something of a success story.

“Word got around and I received a phone call from a parent of a son with Cerebral Palsy and was asked if I could teach his son to become self-sufficient in the kitchen.” 

Despite not having taught another young special needs student apart from her son, Cheryl decided to give it a go. This for her, was the beginning of a dream she didn’t even know she had.

For a long time, Shay and Cheryl taught skills at Bergvliet School’s Adult Enrichment Programme. After this chapter, she decided to focus completely on her own students. From 2017, Shay joined as a lecturer and the small but determined pair began working on figuring out how to offer accredited cooking courses!

The Spectrum Cooks have faced their fair share of challenges. One of the biggest includes fighting with the Department of Education to curate a recognised culinary curriculum for special needs students. When the going got tough, the team decided to develop their own recognised curriculum, as acknowledged by the Quality Council for Trades & Occupations (QCTO).

This resilience and willingness to make a plan that best helps the special needs community is the school’s secret ingredient. One new skill at a time, they are slowly but surely making a difference that’s plating more dreams.

Sources: Website Submission

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Or watch an episode of Good Things TV below, a show created to offer South Africans balance in a world with what feels like constant bad news. We’re here to remind you that there are still so many good things happening in South Africa & we’ll leave you feeling a little more proudly South African.

The post Spectrum Cooks are Sprinkling a Difference into Students Lives! appeared first on Good Things Guy.

The Midrand SPCA have been going through some of the toughest hardships in the world of animal heroes. So when Tina Nobre’s pizza surprise came knocking, it provided a much-needed reason to smile for the staff!

Midrand, South Africa (27 February 2024) — The SPCA Midrand staff recently got a delicious taste of public appreciation after they were treated to a pizza surprise thanks to a Good Samaritan.

Last week, staff were surprised with a generous score of pizza boxes simply because one Tina Nobre wanted to do something wholesome. Thanks to her pizza surprise, any hint of Monday blues were quickly squashed! Not to mention, the special effort came at just the right time, too, as the SPCA Midrand had experienced harrowing experiences over the past few weeks.

“Our Inspectors have witnessed some of the worst cases of cruelty that they have ever encountered in their 20+ years,” shared the Midrand SPCA of their past few weeks.

But, as is the nature of being an animal hero, the inspector team had to push their broken hearts aside and continue with the very hard work of opening case dockets, attending to cruelty complaints, inspecting homes for adoptions and rescuing strays.

“The Midrand SPCA staff deserve to be spoilt just as much as the animals do. The amount of abuse and absolute heartache they deal with on a daily basis, a little kindness like pizzas goes a long way!” the SPCA added.

Meanwhile in other surprises that made hard times that much easier, the Robin Hood Foundation’s recent Mahala Market was a big hit with the Fairbreeze community who have been subject to brutal flooding, rife unemployment rates and life’s hardships. This market, where essential items were absolutely free for the taking made a big difference!

Sources: SPCA Midrand 

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Do you have something to add to this story? Please share it in the comments or follow GoodThingsGuy on Facebook & Twitter to keep up to date with good news as it happens, or share your good news with us by clicking here or click the link below to listen to the Good Things Guy Podcast with Brent Lindeque – South Africa’s very own Good Things Guy. He’s on a mission to change what the world pays attention to, and he truly believes there’s good news around us. In the Good Things Guy podcast, you’ll meet these everyday heroes & hear their incredible stories:

Or watch an episode of Good Things TV below, a show created to offer South Africans balance in a world with what feels like constant bad news. We’re here to remind you that there are still so many good things happening in South Africa & we’ll leave you feeling a little more proudly South African.

The post SPCA Midrand Get a Taste of Public Appreciation: A Pizza Surprise! appeared first on Good Things Guy.

Two incredible women are lacing up their takkies once again for a marathon mission, this time to help fund a community garden that will help people in need on their journey to independence!

Western Cape, South Africa (26 February 2024) — Two incredible women who are no strangers to giving their marathon missions even more meaning are lacing up their takkies once again—this time to fund a community garden!

Ruth Boshoff and Debbi De Waal have May marked on their calendars where they will tackle 42kms over 2 days. There, the journey will wind them through the Sonderend Mountains, which Greyton and Genadendal residents will know well. Aptly, their fundraising mission is called ‘Greyton to Gardens’!

Beyond the breathtaking scenery and the adrenaline of endurance, Ruth and Debbi’s May marathon serves a very important purpose, just like their Senecio run saw last year. Then, the powerhouse duo raised almost R20,000 for people with disabilities.

For their upcoming run the ladies will set their sights on R20,000 once again; this time for a food garden for community development organisation Taste+See—a mentorship that began as a feeding scheme but now prides itself as a ‘hand up’ organisation focused on equipping people in need with the skills for financial independence holistically.

Taste+See—who are based in Helderberg, Somerset West—hope to secure a small piece of land for their own food garden, which will provide not only nourishment and a sense of food security but also a purpose and a sense of responsibility for the community.

You can support Ruth and Debbi’s big run ‘Greyton for Gardens’ (and ultimately a patch of hope for members of the Helderberg community) by emailing here or donating to Taste + See using the details below.

• Taste + See
• First National Bank
• Cheque Account
• Acc: 63068512607
• Branch Code: 25065
• Ref: GFG
• Email pop to: info@tasteandsee.org.za

Sources: Website Submission 

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Or watch an episode of Good Things TV below, a show created to offer South Africans balance in a world with what feels like constant bad news. We’re here to remind you that there are still so many good things happening in South Africa & we’ll leave you feeling a little more proudly South African.

The post Two Ladies to Mission a 42km Marathon for a Community Garden appeared first on Good Things Guy.

Elders part of NOAH recently got treated to a fabulous day of creativity as part of the International Public Art Festival’s return to Cape Town!

Cape Town, South Africa (26 February 2024)— Elders part of NOAH (Neighbourhood Old Age Homes), a non-profit organisation that gives senior citizens a new lease on purpose with a unique sense of community and skills-sharing, recently got to have an art day as part of the International Public Arts Festival‘s run in Cape Town.

As the biggest street art festival on the continent where new murals by arts, both local and international, become part of the City of Cape Town’s urban fabric, it’s always an exciting time when IPAF comes to town. But wedged between the breathtaking murals and their special messages of impact are public art opportunities and moments of magic—just like the one the NOAH elders recently enjoyed.

Setting aside a day at the Company Gardens, elders got to enjoy their time being creative and enthralled with skills many might not have touched on for years. The Senior Workshop saw 12 NOAH elders get to enjoy the time together, brushed in paint and joy—something that made the whole energy of the International Public Art Festival that much more locally enriching.

There are hundreds of NOAH members who rely on the non-profit who have taken a different approach to life in the sunset years. Operating in six Cape Town communities, residents often come from tough situations such as neglect and unaffordable living circumstances as social pensioners. Through the communal houses affectionately referred to as Digs, the elders are trained with ABCD skills (Asset Based Community Development) where they can use their skills and talents, help co-manage social enterprises and partake in programmes like the Happiness Programme (a garden project, knitting circles, candle and soap making and events).

Here’s to more programmes that benefit the elderly, and more effort on reshaping how we see retirement!

Sources: NOAH 

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