The BigHeart Foundation
I have been surrounded by a group of amazing women friends. They have made me laugh when I thought I couldn’t. They have helped me stand up when I thought I couldn’t. They have unfolded care and graciousness that left me speechless. From packing to moving to cooking to painting to sewing to shopping to comforting to drinking to encouraging to loving.. I have received so much support and protection from these ‘girly angels’ that I decided to start a foundation in honour of this powerful feminine energy that helped ‘heal’ me. The BigHeart foundation is my way of trying to pay forward my gratitude to these women who helped empower me. The Foundation’s aims are to reach out to other women who want to transform their lives. The train of hope that we will try and spread, is that by supporting women to empower themselves, they in turn pay it forward by helping to empower their own families and communities. The BigHeart Foundation also aims to create a platform which can highlight issues and create frank and open discussions surrounding the status of women in this country across all cultures, religions and ages . Issues which take a look at abuse to women, girl literacy initiatives and single parent households to name but a few. I know there are many NGO’s and existing charities that address similar areas , however I believe in the power of the collective – the power of sisterhood. I believe in it because I have been on the receiving end of this power. Watch this space for news on the Foundations’ growth and goals, wether it be recipients or charity fundraising events. This page will also give advice on how you can make donations / contributions or nominations . I believe in the power of our Big Hearts …do you?
Pay it Forward
I am a firm believer in Paying it Forward. I have been on the receiving end of its power. The Bigheart Foundation is an article 21 registered charity that aims to reach out to other women who want to transform their lives. The train of hope that we will try and spread, is that by supporting women to empower themselves, they in turn pay it forward by helping to empower their own families and communities. Last year the foundation linked arms to support SAVF’s Armstrong Berning Place of Safety, as well as The Southern Cape Shelters places of safety for Women and Children. Last year I released a children’s book ‘Green & Blue’ whose profits go towards the foundation. In addition to that we had a charity drive called Die Klein 5 - and collected over 120 toiletry packages to give to the shelters. Please keep checking to see what fund raisers or awareness campaigns we are embarking on. One of our goals this year is to build a jungle gym/children’s play area at the Malibongwe Shelter in Oudtshoorn.
Oct / Nov 2011
SOUTHERN CAPE SHELTERS - Die Klein 5 project
This year so far marks a great response to my 2011 Klein 5 Charity Drive. Mandela Day saw me and my boys visiting the Malaika Orphanage in Hillbrow. Sometimes the children only have enough food for one meal a day. How can a child learn and live on that? Moved by their situation I requested help from friends and family and facebookers! Well credit must go to the power of social networking because the response I got was truly awesome. The Klein 5 request was for food parcels consisting of 1 packet of soup, 1 bottle of baby food, 1 can of beans or pilchards, 1 can of tinned fruit and 1 small bag of mielie meal or pap. We got all that... AND THEN SOME! We delivered all to the children in August and it was fantastic! If anyone else wants to sponsor donate or help... pls can u contact us at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . Food is an ongoing requirement... the children also need toys and love anything... even any second hand ones that u can spare. We also need big help in the paint department so if anyone knows of someone who could sponsor paint, we would be very very grateful!
In September 2010 I attended the Miss Garden Route Pageant . Funds were raised to help the Southern Cape shelters and Places of safety for Women and Children. Whilst there I visited Phamibili in George, Women who Care in Knysna, C.E.F in Mossel Bay and Malibongwe in Outdshoorn. It was a valuable experience. On behalf of my foundation, I launched Die Klein 5 project – trying to collect toiletry bags that are given to the women as they enter the shelter. Seemingly toothpaste and soap might not seem a big deal…but a little gift like that can go a long way in restoring a sense of dignity. The packages are also a way of letting these women know that they are ‘cared and loved’…if even by a stranger..’ So many Big Hearts out there contributed…we collected not only 120 packages to distribute amongst the shelters…we also received great second hand toys and clothes. So I say a big thank you to …
KwaZulu Natal: Cheralyn Terblanche & The Leadership Centre at University of KwaZulu Natal.
Cape Town:
Ursula Groenewald
Helene Ramackers
Hartenbos - Mossel Bay:
Madi Nothnagel & her Book Club
Gauteng:
Ronel Graaf
Charlea Stander
Be-Adrix & her mom in Kempton Park
Marie Brown
Bronwyn from Image2010
Louise Visser
Good soul "Henk" Goudkamp
And HUGE thanks to Tryana Potgieter from Garden Route Casino who got the whole ball rolling in the first place and is helping to distribute the packages to the shelters!
The packages, along with the funds raised by the pageant will be distributed amongst the shelters, at the Official Hand-over Ceremony taking place on the 18th November 2010 @ 12h00. The CEO of Cape Town Routes Unlimited will officially commit a tourism pledge to the Western Cape tourism ambassador and Miss Garden Route 2010, Marizaan Visser.