ROSEMARY TSAURAI - MAY 2024

Our woman of the month for the month of May is Rosemary Tsaurai

St. Michael’s Child and Youth Care Centre (CYCC) houses up to 30 girls, ages 13-18, which are protected by the courts under the Child Care Act. It provides an environment that simultaneously nurtures young women and inspires them to grow and flourish. St Michael’s focuses on the implication of a variety of innovative programs designed to supplement a supportive environment centred on reconnection to the essence of womanhood.

St. Michael’s encourages personal and social development, and the expansion of creativity takes central focus. The girls attends therapeutic and developmental program. St Michael’s is always looking for more volunteers to teach classes (see the “How to Help” page for more information). Through innovative, individualized approaches, St. Michael’s aims to create an environment that is warm, safe , welcoming, and encouraging, a place where girls can connect and heal. Acquire important life skills, and tap into their vast potential as important members of society while cultivating love and appreciation for their individual selves.

St Micheals is in need of the following:

• Non Perishable Food

• Stationary

• Second hand clothing

• Toiletries

• Building maintenance assistance

• Kitchen Renovation

• Industrial easing machine and a tumble dryer

• Curtian for girls rooms and offices

• Funding for fuel for vechiles

• 7 seater runner car

If you would like to donate to St Micheals please email alexis@sweetfragrance.co.za

DIVINE BARRON - APRIL 2024

Our woman of the month for the month of April is Divine Barron.

This is her story.

If you would like to donate to Divine Barron cause please email alexis@sweetfragrance.co.za

STEPHANIE VAN WYK. - MARCH 2024

Stephanie van Wyk Stephanie van Wyk is married to Andre van Wyk. They have two married children, a son and a daughter, and two grandchildren. She and Andre have been married for 47 years. They live in Rondebosch, Cape Town, South Africa. Stephanie became involved at the Pollsmoor Prison in the Western Cape, South Africa in 1997.

Stephanie pioneered and is director of the organisation Beauty for Ashes. Beauty for Ashes seeks to meet the needs of women prisoners and ex prisoners. Stephanie and her team taught life skill programs and counselled women prisoners at the Pollsmoor Women’s Correctional Centre for many years. Beauty for Ashes established the first Half Way House facility for woman on parole in 2003. They now have 2 Half Way homes in Observatory Cape Town. More than 250 women have crossed the threshold of the Beauty for Ashes half way homes.

The halfway homes maintain an 80% success rate regarding effective reintegration from prison to society. Stephanie was asked to present at a Government Round Table discussion in Pretoria in 2011 on the reasons for the success of Halfway House model she had founded and set in motion. The Organisation Beauty for Ashes entered into partnership with the Department of Correctional Services in 2013. Stephanie has a Bachelor of Theology and a Master’s Degree in Psychology.

if you would like to donate to Stephanie cause email alexis@sweetfragrance.co.za

FELICIA langeveld - FEBUARY 2024

This is Felicia Story

ASHLYN KLINKRADT - JANUARY 2024

Our woman of the month for the month of January is Ashlyn Klinkradt

This is her story

I am Ashlyn Klinkradt, I am a 20 year old student studying Foundation Phase Education. I was born in Port Elizabeth and grew up in Cape Town. I love working with children and doing whatever I can to make a difference in the world around me. I am the founder of a Non-Profit organisation call Raising Hope South Africa. 

Raising Hope South Africa is an organisation that has, at its heart, the love and passion to serve the disabled community: those with disabilities, their families and their communities.  It began as an extension of the community work and social impact projects that I started doing at the age of 7 when I first raised funds for our local Down syndrome association in East London where we were living at the time.  I chose the Down syndrome association as I wanted to help other children like my younger brother, who also has Down syndrome. I wanted to make a difference in the lives of those less fortunate than myself, my brother, and our family, and to be able to have an impact in a small way.  Over the years my projects and passion grew, and in 2016 I founded Raising Hope South Africa as a means of extending my vision and impact in ways that were meaningful and significant to me.

The vision of Raising Hope South Africa is to contribute to a world and environment where individuals and families impacted by disabilities can experience life to the fullest at home, in the community, in school and in the workplace.  We strive for a world where disability becomes possibility and the differently abled community in South Africa can be embraced, celebrated and valued.

As individuals and an organisation we stand for inclusion and acceptance of everyone, and especially those with disabilities who are often undervalued, overlooked, misrepresented and intentionally and accidentally excluded.  Our programmes are designed to equip parents, caregivers and people with disabilities to be able to advocate for themselves and their rights, and to be able to lead full lives that allow them to embrace the world that they live in in the best possible way according to their challenges.  We serve all disabilities whether physical such as cerebral palsy, intellectual such as Down syndrome, Autism. or as a result of illnesses such as rare diseases and epilepsy.  We embrace the individuals unique skills and contributions to society and encourage this to be developed to the maximum.  To achieve this, we have 3 core programmes: Disability Ministry, Education and Support, and Inclusive Sport. Our disability ministry is aimed at supporting the full inclusion of people of all ages, with all disabilities, in their faith environments.  We do this through offering training programmes to leaders and volunteers that are specifically geared towards religious environments and topics.  We also assess religious environments and guide leaders on how to be more accessible and inclusive.  Our family day events reach out and share spiritual truths to the whole family and also offer a chance to build community, support each other, and make friendships.  These programmes currently support several Christian communities in Durbanville as well as reaching out into other areas of the Western Cape.

The Hampers of Hope project provides food hampers through the school year to learners with physical disabilities who attend Paarl School and Chere Botha Special School.  We currently support 50 families through this project, which was the foundation project of Raising Hope.  

Our third programme is our inclusive sport programme.  This aims to give those with disabilities the opportunity to experience cycling in the fullest way possible.  Our cycling programme has been running for 7 years and our team use cycling to promote inclusion and do fundraising projects through their participation in events such as the Cape Town Cycle Tour.  

Our support programmes are targeted to parents of children with disabilities and autism, and offer monthly meetings to support and educate parents to be able to better support and assist in their child’s development.  We also support ECD teachers in including and embracing children with disabilities who in their classrooms, as well as equipping them to be able to better connect with and support the parents of these children.

During the past year these programmes have impacted 300 families in 24 local communities.  These families are living with family members with Down syndrome, cerebral palsy, autism, dementia, epilepsy, learning disabilities,  visual impairment, hearing impairment, genetic abnormalities and rare diseases.

As a non profit organisation we rely on donations in order to run, some of our day to day needs include dried and tinned food items, donations of sensory items, art supplies and financial donations. 

If you would like to donate to Raising Hope SA please email alexis@sweetfragrance.co.za

brenda williams -december 2023

Our woman of the month for the month of December is Brenda Williams

This is Brenda Williams story

I'm a hardworking and driven individual who isn't afraid to face challenges. I'm very passionate about my work within our poor communities where the need is real. I started as a community field worker, working on EPWP (Expanded Public Worker Programs) for social development, substance abuse, early childhood development and learning through play, domestic violence, youth development training sports, and recreation for 10 years. In 2018, I just got this vision to open my own little space in my RDP house in Vygieskraal informal settlement called Wisdom Pond community outreach and register as a safe space for children.

Wisdom Pond is a registered non-profit organization based in Cape Town. Our mission is to bring well-being and balance to the lives of children living in poverty. We achieve our mission through our ongoing efforts to deliver quality programs for and with children, to create lasting change, to improve the lives of children,  youth development training, sport and recreation, and women empowerment.  

It started from scratch with the support of amazing family and friends. In 2019 COVID was a challenge for the little ones but I never gave up providing for our community making sure that they have a warm meal every day, partnering and collaborating with other organizations like Modified Hockey, Icare foundation and  Grassroots Education.

Feeding scheme 

Our feeding project needs surplus foods to feed our community children daily, our needs are huge, kids go to school hungry and during the holiday season our goal is to make sure no child goes to sleep hungry. 

Wisdom Pond is in need of any food items, toiletries and clothes. Monterary donations are accepted.

If you would like to donate to Wisdom Pond please email alexis@sweetfragrance.co.za

JODIE NICOLE GEYER - NOVEMBER 2023

Our woman of the month for the month of November is Jodie Nicole Geyer

I am Jodie Nicole Geyer, 31 years old, born in Bellville South, and grew up in Belhar and Blackheath. I am a mother of two and a small business owner at The Visionary on The Fix Your Crown Movement. I am very passionate about motivating people in general and my friends, I have always been seen as the go-to person, the ear to listen, and that contributes to my journey with this movement. 

When COVID hit, many of us were left spending time either alone or with our family as we had nowhere else to go.  This was the year my small business started thriving. We had so much time for social media and posting memes, that I told myself that an encouraging message was what I would make use of every day. To my surprise, I realised many of the people responding to these posts are females and that made me realise that there are so many women out there looking for a little motivation.  I asked God if He was showing me something. Days went by and as this desire strongly grew in my heart, I asked God why me? Of all people? Why would I be someone who would stand on a platform as I am always the one on the receiving end. 

Time went on and I shared this with my circle of friends telling them guys I firmly believed this had been placed on my heart by God.

I posted a status on Facebook asking … If I host a lady's event, who would attend and the response was mind-blowing.  And I realise that in my immediate area, this is what women need. That was September 2020. 

On the 30th of October 2020, my house burned down and I lost everything in the process. That day I stood outside watching my house burn with everything I worked so very hard for and I told God I will never question you for what you are doing today. And my one friend came to me later that evening asking me do you realise God placed a word in your mouth today? Despite losing everything he spared you and your children to testify about what he has done in your life. 

And that is where my official journey with The Fix Your Crown Movement ignited.  I was very uncertain and scared and I had to prepare myself mentally for this journey. I hosted my first lady's event in April 2022 and have shared my story by hosting events as the month and years have gone by, this October being three years, God has surely been faithful and I want to use my journey and vision as a stepping stone to encourage other women who are facing much worse things that I have been through and creating an environment where they can come share their story or even just listen to one another. 

Hosting workshops focusing on the different types of personal development as I firmly believe mental health and the mental state of people contribute so much to them moving forward from things like trauma and abuse. 

One of the programs I would love to host is a fitness program for women to come and just get active again, as I firmly believe if you get into shape your whole perspective of how you view yourself changes but also yet again creating the environment that through this women can interact and share things and create the space and place where women know when they walk in they will not leave the same. And as time goes on create different types of events using themes where women can relate and learn and also equip them to be there for one another. And also helping myself through this by overcoming the anxiety that I have been dealing with since the incident. 

My need in this journey is material to assist with personal development and growth.

Thank you once again for taking the time to reach out to me even though I am still just starting with this journey and trusting God to pave the way for me I appreciate that I can get this opportunity to share what is on my heart.

If you would like to donate to Jodie cause please email alexis@sweetfragrance.co.za

cheryldene lee - OCTOBER 2023

Our Woman of the month for the month of October is Cherlydene Lee

Katlego's Hand was started five years ago. We aim to feed and clothe the homeless people in our community. We often work with the City of Cape Town's Social Development and SAPS if any homeless want to go to a rehab centre or back to their families. We also have a feeding program in Kalkfonten. We feed about 300 people of whom are children. We do not have a set time or day, it depends mainly on the available finances. At Katlego's Hand, we wish to reunite all our homeless with their families. Our goal is to reopen our cooking classes so that we can offer a skill to start a small business.

Katlego’s Hand is in need of any food items, toiletries or Monetary donations.

If you would like to donate to Katlego’s Hand please email info@sweetfragrance.co.za

FELICIA FILLIES - SEPTEMBER 2023

Our Woman of the month for the month of September is Felicia Fillies.

After completing high school, I registered for a Higher Certificate in Community Development. During my studies as a community development practitioner, I was exposed to social work and became aware of the social issues that children and young people face.  After completing my Higher Certificate in Community Development, I registered as a Social Work student where I did my practical in child protection. After graduating as a Social Worker, I started working in child protection. While working in child protection, I felt the need to work therapeutically with children and adults, as I often referred clients to places of safety. I am currently employed as a Social Worker at a victim empowerment facility for victims of crime and violence. My work includes therapy for victims in individual and group work, skills development, family reunification and reintegration services.

My passion for social work comes out of the love for people but more specifically children. I find it fulfilling to see how traumatized children find healing and grow into strong healthy adults. I furher enjoy working with valuable women and seeing the positive change in their lives and how they become aware of their own strengths and finding their purpose.

If you would like to donate to The United Sanctuary Against Abuse, please email alexis@sweefragrance.co.za

ELANA PEKEUR - AUGUST 2023

PCYD (Pétor Creatives Youth Development), a non-profit company co-founded by Taryn Mentor and Elana Pekeur which is based in Ward 75, Mitchell’s Plain, was established 2021, 28th October to target and assist the youth and unemployed to learn trade skills in sewing, pattern making and manufacturing.  

We would like to see healthy changes and growth in our community with more success stories. It all starts with us, and we want to inspire and motivate those in our community to become self-employed and self-sustainable and to join our network to obtain more access to programs such as this.

Our goal now is to take our organization to the next level and start with our Computer Aided Design (CAD) programs within this year, we therefore need 3 laptops and heat transfer vinyl 

We are also in need of 1 Plain stitch machine, 1 overlocker machine and threads for our sewing programs.

We are also planning to implement a knitting and crotchet program in September therefore we need yarn, knitting and crotchet tools.

We would love to share our students hard work across SA and therefore we are in need of a space in boutiques to showcase or sell our members designs.

If you would like to donate to PCYD please email info@sweetfragrance.co.za

Ankarien Oelofse - JULY 2023

Sweet Fragrance Woman of the Month is Ankarien Oelofse from Table View Angels.

This is Ankarien story:

I am the founder and CEO of Table View Angels NPC - a non-profit organization based on a mentorship model. The concept is unique in that it matches multiple mentors to a mentee to provide maximum benefit.Our divisions include assisting vulnerable families, trauma support, therapy, protecting children, Youth entrepreneurship, GBV support and school feeding programs. This is inclusive in terms of accepting all individuals for an all-encompassing mentoring program with the vision of ‘A Hand Up, not a Handout’. All my philanthropic efforts have been directed to empowering, influencing, and energizing women. I fight hard to remove the stigma of mental illness and to help those suffering through life hardships.

Through my own life struggles (YouTube link attached), survival and overcoming, life enables me to mentor and advocate for not just women’s success, but all who are vulnerable and professional fulfilment as well as the care of the vulnerable. I am also a member of City of Cape Town Ward committee 107 where I advocate for all vulnerable groups. This is the decade for women to drive change. Therefore, it is now so important to empower women to be seen, heard, and valued and I feel that I encompass all of this. We also need role models – to learn from each other and to help motivate others. It is time our city acknowledges this and offer rewards for those going beyond – stop apologizing and people-pleasing. We receive no funding from our government or City and must constantly reinvent ourselves to live our passion.

To build a community which could be our support network - a safe space and youth centre to share learnings and own our fears. A woman is who defies all odds, reverses stereotypes and is not afraid of showing up as her true authentic self. Unapologetic and fiercely confident in her abilities. Never let anyone tell you, you can't do something because you are a girl – I have dedicated my life to serving my community. Nothing is impossible for me.

Table View Angels NPC that has fed and clothed 1000’s of vulnerable families over the years. I look at families in need in a holistic way and offers counselling, youth empowerment, trauma support, child safety care and GBV support. I have recently become an Ambassador Against Bullying winning the Western Cape region for Catwalk models and the Anti-Bullying Academy and look forward to being s spokesperson for them. My Passions go deep: Inspiring, Equipping, Motivating, Encouraging, Educating and Uplifting Women in general of all Cultures, Religions and Walks of Life. I love doing community work by assisting young women and girls becoming their best version, spreading kindness, and empowering each other. I firmly believe in Gender Equality and that women can bring to the table a feminine uniqueness that can complement the male dominated industries without the loss of the masculinity of men and rather collaborate with men in building a powerful relationship for the future benefit of our younger generations.

❖Favourite quote:

“If there ever comes a time when the women of the world come together purely and simply for the benefit of mankind, it will be a force such as the world has ever known”.

The needs of Table View Angels is the following:

Non Perishable goods

Tolietries

Cleaning Supplies

If you would like to donate to Table View Angels please email alexis@sweetfragrance.co.za

DOROTHEA GERTSE - JUNE 2023

Sweet Fragrance Woman of the Month for June is Dorothea Gertse from the Saartjie Baartman Centre. 

She is an incredible woman who has such a humble soul and Sweet Fragrance had the privilege of sitting down with her to have a chat. "The Saartjie Baartman Centre for Women and Children (SBCWC) is a one-stop centre for women and children who are survivors of abuse. Their vision is the creation of a safe and secure society and a human rights culture where women and children are empowered to exercise their full rights.”

Dorothea stepped into the doors of Saartjie Baartman Centre 12 years ago as a social worker and is currently the manager at the centre. The impact created by the centre on abused women and children is astounding. Dorothea says that the vulnerable women and children that stay at the women’s centre become like family and it’s not always easy to see them leave when the time comes.

She has a passion for working with people and building a supportive system of trust for the residents. She is a single mother which she mentioned is not easy and says that when chatting to the moms with children, it’s that mother-to-mother relationship building from one mother to another that means the world to her. Towards the end of our time together, she mentioned that being a single mother and having been abused is one of the hardest roads to travel. She says that she is just a vessel to see the growth in these women and that is what drives her to continue showing up for them and showing them love.

Their daily needs are: 

• Monetary donations

• Baby toiletries, baby clothing, basic medication (cough syrups, Panado syrup, etc.)

• Basic food supplies such as tin food, bread and pasta, rice, etc.

To make a direct donation to Saartjie Baartman Centre, please access the link: http://www.saartjiebaartmancentre.org.za/donate/

FELICITY AN GUEST - MAY 2023

Our Woman of the month for the month of May is Felicity An Guest

This is her story

I have had a tapestry'd life, woven together by many different coloured and textured threads.  Being a mother has been my biggest blessing, mothering was my path back to myself. Twelve years ago in December 2010, I asked for a divorce after 19 years of marriage as our relationship had deteriorated and become very toxic. We had passed our 'sell-by date' many years prior but I was financially dependent on him so I had to stay.  

A month later I became aware that he had been living a double life, one in Johannesburg and one in Cape Town. He had been living with another woman while there on 'business'.  I only mention this because instead of ending the marriage he started a journey that took me to the dark underbelly of the justice system.  Whilst trying to serve divorce papers, he emailed me a divorce decree, I was shocked as I had not received papers. Therefore, had not consented to his divorce and I had been trying to serve papers to him for two months unsuccessfully.  

According to his divorce, we had no children, lived in Pretoria and the divorce was consensual. I had managed to get a copy of the divorce papers before the file went missing.  When I was turned away from the police station when I tried to open a criminal case against him I made my way to the high court in Pretoria to see the judge who granted the divorce.  He was not there but I did get an audience with the deputy judge president who informed me it was a syndicate operating in the high court who were bribing officials to process these divorces.  I asked him why I was the first person to end up in his office and he said "women are scared, women do not have the financial resources"  I made a promise that day that I would become a voice for women, that was in 2011. 

I went public with the fraudulent divorce and had no idea how things would unfold in the future. My immediate priority was to get the fraudulent divorce set aside and then get divorced.  This took two years and during this time I had to beg him for money to be able to support our children, of which three children were still dependents.  Once I got divorced, I thought I had recourse through my maintenance agreement, this took me into the dysfunctional maintenance courts.  I started a Facebook group, Child Maintenance Difficulties in South Africa in July 2014 to support other women going through what I was experiencing.  The more I became aware of the extent of the problem, the more I started highlighting the challengers in the public domain.   I had a small interior decorating business which was not highly profitable but it did pay some of the bills which I packed up as well as my home to do the work full time, my children were all adults and I had found space for my neurodiverse child on a working farm so the time felt right to fulfil my promise to become a voice for women.

My Facebook group has over 80 000 members and the extent of the challenges are dire for vulnerable women and children.  My advocacy has broadened from Child Maintenance to Economic and Financial Abuse of which withholding child support is a crime and a form of abuse that is included in our legislation under the Economic Abuse provision in the Domestic Violence Act.  My group offers emotional support and the sharing of experiences and knowledge to empower women to have greater outcomes from their court applications.  There have been many success stories shared by women as a result of the group.  Some of my submissions have been included in the GBV NSP and interim maintenance can be applied for at the domestic violence courts now that the amendments have been signed.   This is progress for victims of economic and financial abuse because it was not fully recognised before.  

I participate on a maintenance panel with the Department of Women, Youth and Persons living with Disabilities (DWYPD) with Justice, Social Development, National Credit Regulator and other stakeholders.  I partnered with the NPA for a year in Cape Town with the Maintenance Dialogs. I have a working relationship with the Director of Maintenance at Justice, the Chief Family Advocate, the Director General of DWYPD and many other relevant people and I am able to have direct input on the challenges and solutions.  I have made submissions for Amendments to the Maintenance Act through the Law Commision.  I have staged several protests against the lack of maintenance and participated in many interviews across all media platforms creating awareness of the impact of not getting child support and that impact on the most vulnerable who experience economic equality, poverty and domestic violence.  I have done all of this without funding because I could make the investment so that women and children are better protected. We have to break the generational behaviour of women being punished for being mothers and the economic implications.

In 2022, I joined the international economic abuse community and sat on the panel of the first International Economic Abuse Summit which coincided with International Economic Abuse Awareness Day. Through my consistency and work there is a greater awareness of economic and financial abuse, the impacts and the intersections and a shift from government to address the pandemic of the majority of single mothers not getting child support and a commitment to improving the court service, more people addressing this problem and for that, I am proud and grateful.

I have received a couple of awards but each thank you from a mother who has finally gotten justice as a result of my work, my assistance, my intervention and my support affirms my promise to be the voice for women in this discourse.  Many women choose violence over poverty, it should not have to be this way in 2023, we still have lots of work to do.  

I have grown, shifted, cried, celebrated and I guess I will continue to. The more I know, the more I can do, the more I heal, and the more I can hold the hand of another woman on her journey to stepping into her power.  

It is great to be seen and heard in what is often a lonely journey but an immensely rewarding one.

If you would like to get in contact with Felicity please email felicity.cmdsa@gmail.com

OCTAVIA SOLOMONS - APRIL 2023

Our Woman of the month for the month of April is Octavia Solomons.

My name is Octavia Solomons and I have been running Octavia's Feeding Scheme since 2019 in Bonteheuwel. It started with an event on Heritage Day with the community board. There I could see the need in my area. We had the event and it was a huge success. Then the pandemic hit us in 2020. People started feeding from their homes, knocks started to come louder on my door, people were hungry,  and kids needed to be fed. So I decided to start feeding five times a week which included breakfast, as it's the most important meal of the day. I had sponsors but also had to dig into my own pockets. 

I then started with my annual senior's Christmas lunch, cancer events and career choice events. This year I have first aid training planned with the emergency response (ambulance services) which will benefit the community. I recently completed trauma support training which was offered by the trauma centre in Woodstock. That will also be implemented soon in the community as I feel community workers need to make our children and women feel safe and have someone to speak to. 

Octavia appreciates any food items to continue with the work she is doing.

If you would like to donate to Octavia cause please email alexis@sweetfragrance.co.za

janine passenz - march 2023

Our woman of the month for the month of March is Janine Passenz

I started Survivors Haven Foundation in 2020 when I saw a need to support victims of GBV. However, we also focus on youth development in our communities. Being a survivor of GBV who never had the courage to speak out about my rape case and not having the support to proceed with the case, I saw the need to assist other victims. 

Many victims and survivors don't know what the correct procedure is when reporting GBV cases so this is why we walk the road with them. We assist with the reporting stage at SAPS and going to court. We refer them for counselling when it's needed and go with them when they have appointments. Most victims tend just give up when they don't have support because the process seems long. We have a support group of survivors and victims who support each other whether it is to go to court or the hospital or just to listen.

Our vision is to raise strong women and men that are not afraid of speaking out so that healing can take place and we want to develop strong leaders in our community.

In 2020, we received a Mayoral award for women development.

We have recently partnered with the Women Lead Movement to assist with research on GBV cases for the Clooney for Justice Foundation on GBV cases.

Our organization don't receive any funding which is a huge challenge for us. We are at court almost every day supporting victims and survivors and transport is always a challenge.

We will always support victims and survivors and will always develop young people to become strong leaders.
if you would like to donate to Janine cause please email alexis@sweetfragrance.co.za

COLLEEN PIETERSEN - FEBRUARY 2023

The woman of the month for the month of February is Colleen Pietersen

TLC Outreach Projects is a non-profit, welfare organisation which sole purpose is to care for the elderly- and destitute youth at risk in and around the Table View area.

TLC was established by Derek and Colleen Pietersen in the year 2000. With Derek being a successful businessman and Colleen discovering her passion for underprivileged communities, the establishment of our welfare organisation was inevitable. TLC was birthed in the year 2000 and our community-based project has been rehabilitating the lives of children living on the streets as a result of abuse, addiction and extreme poverty. Over the past years, our reach has extended to include meeting the needs of children at risk living in informal settlements.

TLC’s work is supported through networks with other organisations, our local Police Station, the Community Police Forum, the Department of Social Services, a small but effective staff compliment, volunteers and countless caring and generous community members.

We are practical in our approach and our programs are designed to serve the needs of the communities for which they are intended.

TLC’s needs are

Tolietries

Non Perishable Foods

Any Monetary Donations

If you would like to donate to their cause please email alexis@sweetfragrance.co.za

Bernadette Mc Tavish - JANUARY 2023

Sweet Fragrance Woman of the month for January 2023 is Bernadette Mc Tavish

Four years ago, Bernadette moved to Rawsonville and saw a huge need in the community. It is so underprivileged there is no park for kids to play. Bernadette started a feeding scheme where she feeds about 300-500 kids, parents and elderly in the community each Wednesday. 

For Bernadette, it is all about giving and seeing a child’s face light up. She works with three crèches within Rawsonville where she assists with feeding, clothes and toys for the kids on a weekly basis. Her heart for the community of Rawsonville is to see job creation and the empowerment of people become a reality. Bernadette desires the community to have a recreational centre where kids and adults can be educated. 

Her needs are the following:

Clothes

Any Food Items

School Supplies

If you would like to donate to Bernadette's cause, please email alexis@sweetfragrance.co.za 

CAROLINE PETERS - DECEMBER 2022

Our Woman of the month for December is Caroline Peters.

She is an African feminist, a human rights defender, and a nationally recognised and award-winning activist against gender-based violence. 

She has given input at parliament on gender-based violence laws and has trained magistrates, clinic staff and community leaders on sensitivity towards survivors of sexual violence. 

Over the last 30 years, Caroline has worked at various institutions. She first began her journey as a volunteer for Rape Crisis, and then later as the Training Programme Co-ordinator of the Western Cape Network on Violence against Women. She began working at the Saartjie Baartman Centre for Women and Children in Manenberg when it was founded in 1999 and has been active in several organisations including Ilitha Labantu, which was the first women and children’s centre to be founded in a township, and the 1 000 Women Trust, an initiative to support women and children organisation. She has used her own personal story of trauma from gender-based violence to fuel her work of advocacy, prevention and intervention for women and girls in her community and beyond. 

In 2014, Caroline made history and became the first woman to start a running club in Cape Town. In a working-class neighbourhood, where women had few support structures, she provided hope through physical activity. Today, Caroline is the Executive Director and founder of Callas Foundation, co-ordinator of the Cape Flats Women’s Movement, Human Rights Defenders Programme, co-ordinator of a Women’s Legal Centre, and the Provincial Co-ordinator for South African Women in Dialogue and serves on many other structures in a leadership position. i.e. Trauma Centre, Board of Trustees, SA Women Lawyer’s Association Provincial Executive Member, GBV Advisor. 

Caroline runs a women’s support group that seeks reprieve from domestic violence and offers court support to women survivors of GBV, and families of femicide victims. She coordinates a programme for UNODC, Interventions on Non-Custodial Measures for Women in Conflict with the Law. She is determined to ensure that women on the Cape Flats are actively involved in sports, and other spaces, that are historically dominated by male leadership. Caroline would like to see a constant and positive change in the lives of women and children.

The daily needs of the Callas Foundation are:

• Red speckled beans

• Soup mix

• Red lentils

• Onions

• Potatoes

• Cooking oil

• Pilchards in tomato sauce

• or any monetary donations

If you would like to donate to the Callas Foundation please email alexis@sweetfragrance.co.za

AMIENA PASTOR - NOVEMBER 2022

Our Woman of the month for November is Amiena Pastor.

Amiena Pastor is the director of a non-profit company called I Deserve It established in 2011. I Deserve It is a social enterprise that focuses on empowering the community through skills, job creation and trade opportunities. I Deserve It is a powerful support platform for start-ups and entry-level business owners as well as entrepreneurs.

Due to Covid 19, Amiena started a campaign called "teach a man to fish" where they aimed to skill women from disadvantaged communities to become self-sufficient by moving them from dependent to self-reliant.

The programmes don't only impact beneficiaries but impact families.

Courses they offer:

• Sewing

• Footcare

• Haircare

• Body product

• Formulation

• Various workshops

The needs of I Deserve It are:

• Stationery (pens, pencils, notebooks etc.)

• Toiletries (sanitary towels, toothbrushes, toothpaste, deodorant etc.)

• Non-perishable foods

• If you would like to donate to I Deserve It please email alexis@sweetfragrance.co.za

ENID PHILLIPS - OCTOBER 2022

Our Woman of the month for the month of October is Enid Phillips.

Enid Phillips is the co-founder of IKamva non-profit organisation. Her motto is simply to live up to the quote "Be the Change you want to see" and adapt it to her personal life and in everything she does. 

My heartbeat is to uplift people and through my involvement in the church, I came into contact with people from all walks of life. However, I just felt a deep sense to assist them physically as well as spiritually. It was here that my passion and love for community work developed. Hence the name IKamva which means "future" the best way of seeing a bright future is to invest in creating one.

My community feeding scheme, in partnership with the United Pentecostal Church of Manenberg, is currently feeding between 800-1200 people each week on a Wednesday. They also have women empowerment sessions which run every Tuesday morning. Women come together (currently about 5-8 women) to encourage one another and pray.

We have sessions for the youth which focus on the challenges they are facing in their circumstances and they have activities and excursions. We also assist the UPC Manenberg Youth Department with its programs. 

Our needs:

• Non-perishable food items

• Meat

• Toiletries

• Volunteers

Anything available to the organisation will be utilised in uplifting the community. 

We are currently in the process of launching new projects, any ideas and suggestions are welcome.  We are willing to partner with any organisation as long as the community benefits from it.
If you would like to donate to Enid Phillips cause please email info@sweetfragrance.co.za

TERSHIA BENJAMIN - SEPTEMBER 2022

Our woman of the month for the month of September is Tershia Benjamin.

This is her story:

I'm Tershia Benjamin, 34 years old and from Belhar.

I'm an IT professional by career but have a deep-rooted desire for women and children. I'm the founder of Ariela House of Restoration (Ariela is Hebrew for Lioness of God).

My journey with GBV and a life-changing experience happened in 2018 when I moved to live at the Saartjie Baartman centre for women and children. It was one of those experiences where you completely had to surrender your life to Christ as He was now in control.

I always knew that God had a higher purpose for my stay at the shelter and I had to turn this experience into something greater.

January 2021, after sitting on this big dream of starting an NPO for GBV victims. I began slowly working on my plan without having many people involved. The assignment for this NPO became daunting, as it was new territory. I pushed it to the side and continued with life as an IT professional here and there showing my friends what it was that I wanted to do.

Eventually, after much encouragement, I began working on my NPO. For the first time other than the birth of my daughter I was truly in love.

A few ladies and I began working on small projects for NPOs in communities or who were in desperate need of help. As time went on this fire just grew bigger inside of me.

2022, became the year where I publically began sharing my GBV story with other women and I've realised that I've become a beacon of hope for women and young girls.

We launched the NPO on 25 June 2022 at Encore Restaurant and I've had such amazing support from women both in my inner circle and elsewhere.

For women's month, I am doing a school project with Belhar High's grade 10 and 11 learners where we will raise awareness on teenage pregnancy and contraceptives as I was a teenage mom myself.

For September, I will be hosting a mass outreach in my community for 150 children where we will be feeding them on 17 September 2022.

Our need at the moment is some food donations for our outreach in September:

Foam cups

Foam bowls

Spices

Rice

Lentils

Chicken

Cooldrink

NikNaks

Fruit - Oranges or Apples

And for our school outreach

Sanitary towels

if you would like to donate to her cause please email info@sweettfragrance.co.za

SAKEENA meyer - AUGUST 2022

I’m Sakeena, 23 years old and married with two beautiful boys. 

After being at home for a while due to unemployment. I spent a lot of time at home and took note of my community. I realised we have a need and wanted to take the opportunity to make the change I have always felt I could. I don't have much but my willingness to try kept me going. Outsiders have inspired me and I want to continue doing the same in our community. 

I discussed my idea with my husband, Reginald, who agreed. My first idea was the school kids. They go to school hungry and we all know the saying 'you cannot teach a hungry child'. I then started by making sandwiches for them in the mornings to fill their little tummies. I used what I had from my pocket but the number of children grew and then I had to start making more this is when I started asking for donations. 

It is very difficult to get donations as I am not registered and the community I am trying to help is in dire need and expecting donations from them would not make sense.

Our basic needs are:

• Bread 

• Peanut butter 

• Jam 

• Polony 

• Tin fish 

• Fruit.

If you like to donate to Sakeena please email info@sweetfragrance.co.za

DENISE ATKINS - JULY 2022

July Woman of the Month – Denise Atkins

For 40 years Denise Atkins served in various parts of Southern Africa, of which 21 years were spent as house mother and matron at Bethel Bible School, training young people for missions. On retirement, Denise and her husband managed the John Power Children's Camp where they started a ministry with youth at risk in Cape Town called Breakthrough.  The couple also started the Theos All Stars Academy, a pre-school which saw 65 children from 8 nations in Africa graduate to Primary School. All these programmes groomed them for the development of Kyrios Transformation Centre, a skills development and business centre ensuring long-term transformation for participants as well as the broken communities they come from. 

Kyrios Transformation Centre is a registered NPC working with the broken youth of our country, bringing hope and transformation through a network of educational, outreach and social programmes. Their vision is to reach broken young people through healing and transformation and bring about change in their communities. Much of this happens within their short-term camps and long-term training programmes, working with the youth from Kleinmond, Hawston, Mitchell's Plain, Kensington and many of the townships in the Western Cape and other provinces. Since most of the youth come from poor and disadvantaged areas, they humbly depend on the gifts and funding from those who wish to share in this wonderful opportunity of hope and transformation.

Please see a list of their needs below:

• Stationery- white A4 photocopy paper and 160g colour project board, pens, kokis, crayons, colouring books, roll of white paper, plastic sleeves, prestick, pritt, glitter. 

• Meals - sugar, tea, coffee, milk (staff), bread, rolls, margarine, jam, peanut butter, eggs, polony, viennas, juice, tuna, pilchards, fruit, Niknacks, sweets, biscuits, rice, noodles, spaghetti vegetables, meat, chicken, mince.

• Cleaning detergents (dishwashing liquid, jik, handy andy), dishcloths, and toilet paper.

• Sports Equipment - soccer balls, table tennis, bats and balls, skipping ropes, volleyball net. 

• School Equipment - small tables, plastic table cloths, shelves, photocopier, gas stove and gas tank. Pots, pans, plastic mugs, plastic plates. basins, forks, spoons, buckets, mop, brooms, dustpan, and dustbins, filing cabinet, white/black boards, chalk and whiteboard markers, and carpets. 

  If you would like to donate to Denise cause please email info@sweetfragrance.co.za

JANINE FABE - JUNE 2022

Our woman of the month for the month of June is Janine Fabe

This is her story:

I am Janine Fabe and I live in Cape Town. I am married to Dion Fabe, we have 6 kids and Hannah is our adopted daughter since 2007. In 2016, I resigned from my corporate position in fashion after 17 years. The position I held was Sales Manager Product Developer. I spent the last 17 years travelling abroad every 2 to 3 months to places like China/UK/USA. The last 2 working years of my career were difficult as the tugging on my heart became stronger to take care of abandoned, orphaned, or abused children. Caring for unwanted, unloved and uncared for children has always been my passion. 

I guess my late dad was my inspiration as he was an orphan. Even as an adult, I saw his struggles, as nobody cared about him when he was growing up in the orphanage (Bonny Town in Cape Town). About 15 years ago, I decided to do some voluntary work at an orphanage called Christine Revell, which houses about 60 children aged 0 to 6 years old. Many of these kids are removed from their parents because of abuse or neglect. I met Hannah at this orphanage when she was five days old. Hannah was an abandoned baby who was found under a motor bridge. 

At Christine Revell Children’s Home, I often got the opportunity to take kids home for the weekend, which was awesome as I was also screened as a host parent. When Hannah arrived at the Children’s Home, I asked where her name was, as all the other kids had names. I was told that she was an abandoned baby and doesn’t have a name. Additionally, I was told that she was placed at Christine Revell temporarily since no other facility was able to accommodate her at the time. During the second weekend, the Children's Home was having an outing, and Hannah was too young to go with the rest of the babies and toddlers. I was asked if I could take her for the weekend. I agreed and it was the best thing I have ever done. 

Hannah and I, as well as my family, connected and there was no way we were going to let her just become an orphan. We swiftly made enquiries to foster/adopt Hannah. We had to foster for two years before we could apply for legal adoption. Hannah has been our baby for the past 15 years, and she is well adjusted all around. She has the kindest and softest nature ever, is very intelligent and loves reading (a little bookworm).

Hannah's Place of Safety was birthed in honour of our now 15-year-old daughter Hannah Fabe in 2016.

What does the NPO Hannah's Place of Safety do?

We provide a free of charge service to the Department of Social Development caring for children in need of protection and care. Each child's stay can last anywhere from 3 to 6 months - depending on the case. We work with newborns up to the age of 1. Most of your babies are born from drug-addicted parents and alcohol users. We also care for babies who have been removed from their families due to circumstances.

What is our aim?

Our aim is to press the restart button in a child’s life so that their childhood hope can be restored

Their day to day needs are the following:

Clothing girls and boys) 

Vests: long sleeves or short sleeves – Tiny baby/newborn / 0-3 / 3-6 / 6-12 / 12-18 Growers: newborn / 0-3 / 3-6 / 6-12 

Any other baby clothing newborn / 0-3 / 3-6 / 6-12 / 12-18 

Baby bibs – with clips 

Burp cloths – (urgent) 

(Baby Foods and milk) 

Nan 1, 2 

Infacare 1, 2  

Lactogen 1, 2,  

Fresh Veg – carrots / pumpkin / butternut / potatoes 

Long life milk 

(Toiletries / meds) 

So Pure / Purity dummy and bottle wash 

Sudo cream / Bepanthan or any other bum creams 

Cannex T 

Colix drops 

Telement drops 

Nappies Sizes currently needed: 0,1, 2, 3,4 

Linen Savers 

Disposable nappy bags 

Tissues 

Toilet paper 

Cotton buds 

Baby Bottles and Pacifiers – Pigeon / Tommy Tippy / Avent / Dr Browns Pacifier (Dummy) chains 

Pure Child wash 0+ 

Cetoderm cream 

Wet Wipes (Urgent)

Cleaning products  

Dish washer 

Washing Powder 

Fabric softener 

Non-perishables (we have a staff capacity of 9 that we feed every day) Tinned foods (baked beans / sweet corn / tuna / etc.) 

Minced meat / chicken / meat / fish fingers  

Fresh vegetables 

Rice 

Tea / coffee 

Bread 

Cheese 

Peanut butter 

Butter 

2-minute noodles 

Pasta / Spaghetti 

Tomato Paste 

Brown sugar 

Long life milk (a great need) 

Electricity Meter number: 

06655926738 – please message the recharge number to 0822148330 

Vouchers: 

We also accept shopping vouchers: Pick n Pay / Shoprite Checkers or any other  that you choose. This gives us the flexibility to purchase things with immediate  needs. 

If you would like to donate to Hannah’s Place please email info@sweetfragrance.co.za

JOSLYN WILLIAMS - MAY 2022

Our woman of the month for the month of May is Joslyn Williams

This is her story

The organisation started two-three years ago during the lockdown. We are three ladies who started cooking on our off days for the people in our community. I work two days and I'm off for another two days. So on my off days, we spend the day cooking.

Saturday mornings when everyone was home, we provided them with porridge. Last year, I registered the organisation and got my certificate in August. I started sending out emails to various shops asking for donations but until now, I haven't received any feedback. Sometimes we get vegetable donations but for the last two years, we've been buying the supplies for the soup kitchen out of our own pockets.

My sister and I started the organisation in memory of our mother who has passed away. My mother loved giving to others even if it was her last. When the lockdown started we saw how people were struggling and had no means of an income. That's when we started the soup kitchen. We bought food supplies every week. We have the same heart when it comes to helping others and giving to the community. That's how we were raised.

At the moment we are four ladies. We have a lady who is in her sixties, she's very willing and always ready to help even if we cook the whole day. Then there's another lady and of course my sister and I. We give whatever we have. For instance, the one would give carrots, the other one rice, the other one bread and that's how we work as a team to feed those who are hungry.

There's a place in Athlone where we go get our noodles. We normally drive at 7 in the morning and most of the time it's eight buckets of noodles. Then we spend the rest of the day handing out the noodles at public hospitals, on the streets, and in the communities.

One day, my husband and I were on our way to go give out food in a community and as we were driving we saw many homeless people. This broke my heart and at that moment I knew how much of a need it is. That's when I realized that we had to provide food to the homeless. Our motto is that we don't only provide for the people in our community because the need is much bigger than this, that's why we'll go the extra mile to feed the homeless too.
There's a huge need on our side for everyday food supplies like vegetables, oil, salt, rice, bread, porridge etc. There are days when we can only provide porridge because our finances don't always allow us to buy anything beyond that- this is why we are urgently requesting donations. I made a promise to myself and God that I will keep on feeding the hungry. So, I feel guilty when a week goes by and I am unable to provide them with a meal.

I also founded "Women of Strength". But I'm devoting myself more to the soup kitchen this year because sometimes I focus too much on the women and then forget about the children. And the children are the ones who are in urgent need of help here in Scottsdene. It gives me so much joy when we can provide a meal for the children, seeing how grateful they are for the food and when they sit down to eat it makes my heart full.

I am the type of person who would give my meal away so that the other person would not be hungry.

Despite all the obstacles and struggles, I can say with certainty, that it is truly my passion to feed the hungry. It's something that is crafted in my heart. And I enjoy the cooking.

If you would like to donate to Joslyn Williams cause please email alexis@sweetfragrance.co.za

WARDA SAMAAI CAY - APRIL 2022

Our Woman of the month for the month of April is Warda Cay Samaai

This is Warda Story

My late mom was influential in my aspirations to give back to my community. I saw how she would give her last to see others smile. So this honour goes to my mom. She raised 12 kids on her own and showed the world that you can raise strong and independent children as a single parent. I am my mom's last born. I lost my mom at the age of 21 and I could stand on my own two feet. Then I thought what if I give the girls in my street the very same guidance? Then they too can be strong and independent. 

So I took a few kids off the streets and opened my home to them. I shared my life experience with them and gave them love and support. Seeing how easy it is for kids to join gangs, start substance abuse, drop out of school or have a teenage pregnancy. I knew I had to do something. I didn't know where I'm going to get the help from but all I had was my faith. I believed that I can make a difference in the lives of these kids and I started seeing this take shape. I'm making a difference, so that kept me going and today as I look back, I'm extremely happy that I have seen them through till the very end. 

People asked me how I do it - I said through Allah's grace and mercy. I only want the best for these girls and so I made that promise to them that I will be there for them until I'm no longer here. It is tough at times but we push through. Perseverance is key. Never give up and always remember you were born to make a difference in someone's life. I love these girls so much that I sacrificed my social life for them.

During the lockdown, I had to put the youth club on hold. So that we can feed the community for two years. So this year January, the youth club opened to continue to give these girls guidance, love, support, a safe space and empower them with skills.

Our program: 

We meet up four times a month:

• To check-in with everyone and select a topic to chat about

• We do outings e.g. ice-skating, movies, hiking etc.

• We do courses over the weekend

• We go camping for each new term

I do one-on-one sessions because the group sessions are not a comfortable space for everyone as some conversations are private. I also see their parents once a month.

I offer them training in:

• Self-defence

• First aid responder

• Basic computer

• Social media safety and security protection

• Safe spaces so they can enjoy being kids without being in danger.

• Extra classes/ tutoring

• Practising safe sex

• Character building

• Selfcare/hygiene

• Loving yourself

• Motivational speakers will come out and share with

• Basic needs are met

• Stationery is given

• Food parcels are given

• College and university registration costs.

• Toiletries are given

• Travelling cost

It's a huge struggle getting these girls what they need because we are not funded. 

Warda needs for the youth girls are:

Roll arm

Spray

Sanitary towels

Disposable bags

Soap

Toothpaste

Shampoo

Conditioner

Lotion

Face cream

Tooth brush

Face cloths

Panties

Bra's

Socks

Nail clippers

Panty liners

Hair brush

Pocket towels

Hand sanitizer

Soap holder

Ibuprofen tabs for period pain.

Washing powder or sunlight soap to wash there underwear.

If you would like to donate to Warda Cause please email info@sweetfragrance.co.za

SUE VAN DER LINDE - MARCH 2022

On 23 February, Sweet Fragrance visited Iris House. There, we met a lovely lady, Sue Van Der Linde, a wonderful woman who welcomed us with open arms. 

Sue, today we honour you as the woman of the month for March 2022.

This is Sue's story.

Sue Van Linde is a mother of two boys who moved to South Africa as a child. She was deeply impacted by the work of her late mother who was a daycare mother and creche owner. The passion and love for children displayed by her mother left a lasting impression on her, and would later emerge as her passion too.

Her passion for people led her to pursue her dream of becoming a retail buyer. A journey that saw her start as a store manager for Edgars, working her way through the ranks to her final position as a brand manager at Edcon head office. Whilst working at Edcon, she was awarded the Edcon outstanding achievement award by the Edcon board for her role in launching their fine fragrances.
Driven by her entrepreneurial spirit she left Edcon after 15 years of loyal service, to pursue her business ventures, which included a coffee shop, catering company and interior decorating company. Her business acumen extends to the initial formation and running of an internet marketing and design company, where she headed up the training arm and has taught over 800 classes on Social Media Marketing, Search Engine Optimisation and Pay Per Click Techniques.

Sue, upon her return to the UK in 2004 with her husband Ferdi, became involved with Julia’s House Children’s Hospice, a prestigious Dorset children’s hospice. Her love for children, as inspired by her mother, developed into an enormous passion for life-limited special needs children. It was this passion that further motivated her to pursue an education in the field. She went on to complete her NVQ Level 3 Health and Social Care in 8 months - assessor level (normally 18 months). After the completion of her formal education in special needs, Sue continued her work at Julia’s as part of the community care team, hospice team, play team and family support unit.

Upon her return to South Africa, Sue was confronted with the harsh reality of limited support and services for special needs children and their families. Sue made it her mission to bring the quality care she experienced at Julia's House to the special needs children of Cape Town. Her mission was realised when she formed Iris House Children’s Hospice (in honour of her late mother in 2011). Starting with two volunteer carers, offering community-based respite care to families in need, Iris house has since grown from strength-to-strength and now serves over 415 families, with programs ranging from community and hospice based respite care, physiotherapy, social support services, equipment and grocery donations, adaptive surf therapy, equine therapy, and sensory literacy. 

Running Iris House with a solid understanding of sound business principles and a plethora of varied experience has resulted in tremendous growth. This has also allowed for the organisation to adopt a forward-looking approach, with innovative projects focused on the care and support of children with special needs and their families. These innovative projects include Iris House’s recently launched Doggy Daycare Protective Workshop for young adults with special needs and a centre for autism and family support.

Because of her tireless passion, endless dedication, and visionary leadership Iris House Children’s Hospice has seen a rapid expansion. Now serving over 415 children with special needs, many of them with rare diseases and their family members. She has led the provision of first-class care and therapeutic services to these children and families. 

Additionally, she has created employment opportunities for parents and children with special needs. Providing these parents who face incredible social, psychological, medical, and economic hardships with the opportunity to earn an income is one of the charity’s most significant achievements. She has led the transfer of tangible skills to individuals and the community at large in the form of disability-specific educational workshops, career skills training programs, charity-based social media programs, sustainable/subsistence gardening. This transfer of tangible skills has been an integral part of her work at Iris House.

Their needs are the following:

Community Care

Carer uniforms

Thermometers

Disposable Gloves

Disposable aprons

Disposable coveralls

Face cloths/hand soap/Hand Towels

Small hand gels

Light up balls

Good quality wooden puzzles

Hospice

Nappies Size 5 and 6 plus small adult diapers

Crawl tunnel

Bright scarves

Cleaning products: Handy Andy / sunlight liquid / Dishwasher tablets / Auto washing powder / floor cleaner / disinfectant / hand wash / wipes gloves / disinfecting wipes / sugar / coffee / tea / long life milk / porridge / frozen meals

Bedding – single and double

Tiles for the staff room

Play sand for sandpit x 2

Bath chair for wet room

Toolset for our maintenance team

Garden plants

Non-perishable foods

Tablets

Laptops
Equine Therapy Program

Teff bales

Lucerne Bales 

Riding Caps – kids sizes

Bareback pads

Riding clothing

Hay Nets in good condition

Balance – feed

Chaff

Good saddles and tack saddle size 15.5 or 16

Training Room / Offices

Interactive whiteboard

Stationery

Printer / ink

Hardcover notebooks for delegates

Pens

Flip chart paper

Flip chart pens

Binders

Copy paper

Pens

Message pads

Achieve boxes

Filling cupboard x 2

Bookshelf

Large size flat-screen TV

Hospice Grounds

White / Purple / Blue / Green paint

Driveway bricks

Asphalt

Koi fish for our water feature

Plants for the sensory garden (herbs, lavender, lemongrass)

Lawnmower 

Strimmer 

Compost aggregate powder

Grass squares for lawns

Garden tools

Hose Pipe reel

Windchimes 

Garden ornaments (gnomes)

Suncatchers

Pruning shears

Garden tools all types welcome and gloves

Our Doggy Day Care

Protective Workshop for over 18s 

Tunnels

Paint – blue / purple / green / white

Walling

Metal gates

Kitchen installation (we have components)

Bathroom installation 

Strimmer 

Roof sheets

Gutters

Water bowls

Dog toys (ropes)

Dog beds 

Blankets

If you would like to donate, please email info@sweetfragrance.co.za

RHODA MINTIN SEMAAR - FEBRUARY 2022

Woman of the month for the month of February is Rhoda Mintin Semaar.

This is her story

I am Rhoda Mintin Semaar, 58, married with four children and four grandchildren.  For most of my life, I worked in the insurance industry as a financial advisor and a community worker.

I was taught at a tender age that nothing belongs to you. Everything you have should be shared with those who are not as fortunate. We lived in a two-bedroomed house in District Six and came from a struggling background but our home was always open to people in need and we, my sister and I, learned early in life to help those who are in need. When I was in my teens my mother founded an organization called ISWA and as a family, we were all involved over the years, and that's where our love for community work started. ISWA was all about empowering women, encouraging them to be self-sufficient and independent. She worked in the community with women and their families for over 40 years.   

When she passed away six years ago, a few friends and I started an organization in her honour called the Mintin Development Projects. Among other things, we raised funds by hosting gala dinners and giving the money to needy organizations.  Over the five years before COVID, we raised about 300 thousand. Of course, then COVID hit and we couldn't do gatherings. This is when I started the Kitchen of Kindness. I started cooking food. Collecting and putting together food parcels, paying for people's electricity and gas and helping out with other needs. Cooking for schools and serving different communities, supporting other soup kitchens. Over the past two years, we have fed over 30 thousand people.  And if God wills, and the resources are there, we would like to double that amount over the next two years.  

We, however, desperately need the support of our communities and businesses so that we can continue. 

Donations or cash will be appreciated. 

Non-perishable foods are highly recommended. 

FOODS NEEDED ON AN ONGOING BASIS

·         Rice 

·         Fish oil 

·         Potatoes 

·         Soup mix and vegetables

·         Split peas 

·         Soup powder

·         Chicken 

·         Lentils 

·         Dahl 

·         Noodles

·         Onions 

·         Butternut 

·         Beans

·         Soya 

·         Salt 

·         Spices 

·         Gas

These are especially needed. You may also donate second-hand clothing and hygiene essentials - these are very useful and a great need.

If you would like to donate please email info@sweetfragrance.co.za

SHANAAZ ALLIE - JANUARY 2022

Our Woman of the month for January 2022 is Shanaaz Allie.

On the 20th December 2021, Sweet Fragrance met the remarkable Shanaaz Allie. What an honour it was to meet such an amazing woman.

This is her story.

Shanaaz Allie is well known in the community as the "Mother Theresa" of Mitchells Plain and is the founder of Mosadie Gives Back. The soup kitchen started in 2017 where Shanaaz worked at her hairdresser called Mosadie Hair six days a week. On the seventh day, she fed the children using the R8,000.00 from the profits of her hair salon.

As time has gone on and especially now during the pandemic, she is now feeding the community with a hearty meal twice a week, handing out food parcels and giving encouragement to her desperate community. As a resident of Tafelsig for 25 years, she has witnessed extreme poverty and is constantly reminded of her youth, growing up on the street hungry and scared. 

The children she feeds are as young as two years old and come from homes of abuse, neglect and/or extreme poverty. She made a promise to herself at a young age to help feed the hungry when she had the means. Thirty years later, overcoming many obstacles she was able to open Mosadie Hair, a hair salon in Sea Point, Cape Town. She employs five full-time staff from her community and continues to struggle to keep afloat. She lives a humble life, she has no car, she takes public transport, and she supports her entire family.

HER DAILY NEEDS ARE:

• cereal

• sugar

• oil

• spices

• meat bones

Shanaaz, we at Sweet Fragrance honour you today and the work you do. We wish you and your organisation well for the new year.

If you like to donate, please email info@sweetfragrance.

SANDY PEKEUR - DEEMBER 20221

Sweet Fragrance December Woman of the Month is Sandy Pekeur. One incredible woman whose passion is evidently seen in the way she speaks about the work she selflessly does on a daily basis. Sandy seems to have her hands full and her Organisation SA Society of Hope seems to have various avenues under this one umbrella. Below is her a short part of her story, which started in the way she and her siblings were raised by their parents. 

SASH (SA SOCIETY OF HOPE) established November 2014, had its roots from a belief, based on a set of principle centered values (shaped by our parents) to be helpful to help those in need. Hence from an early age in our life we were involved in community activities (in the Ashton, Montagu, Robertson and Bonnievale area). One can say that servant hood leadership was printed into our genes by our grandparents, parents, family and friends. Over the years our passion to help those in need in communities grew bigger and bigger and hence SASH became the structure through which communities were helped and assisted. SASH was also shaped by the belief that if you “teach (educate) a whole community how to “fish they will be able to take care of themselves”.

We also believe that the presence of HOPE allows people to realise their true potential in life.

SASH was not alone in this journey of helping people but was also inspired through the worked done by previous community developers and leaders that sacrificed their time, their abilities and their lives for the betterment of communities that were struggling to survive the onslaught of economic and social Challenges. 

 SASH vision seeks to solidify a position and expand in the national and global creative arena, by offering new dimensions of personal mastering through elements like, entrepreneurship, coaching, mentorship, leadership and a new ways of creative thinking.

 Its Mission is to establish collaboration with local and international artists/organizations to exchange ideas for the benefit of our urban culture expansion into our different communities.

The needs of SASH is extensive but its current needs are:

Monetary donations for fuel as Sandy travels a lot as she provides meals to those communities who are in need daily A meal in a bag is also a big need which consists of rice, soya and salt. She is a rare soul who will go out of her way to make it happen when there is a need. 

Feel free to contact Sweet Fragrance if you can assist – info@sweetfragrance.co.za

OLIVIA NAGAN - NOVEMEBR 2021

Sweet Fragrance November Woman of the Month is Olivia Nagan.

Their vision aims to Impact Generations – ONE LIFE AT A TIME. Olivia has a background in community youth work for over 25 years and out of that The Olive Grove was birthed in 2011 so that we could broaden our reach and impact more communities. The Olive Grove mission is to provide programs that aims to Impact Generations through CONNECTING with people,

we INVEST our time, skills and resources and EMPOWER people to IMPACT their family, community, generation – ONE LIFE AT A TIME.

The Olive Grove is a registered NPO (087-909-NPO) based in Cape Town, and is led by strategic Programmes Director Olivia Nagan, a qualified Psychological Counsellor. Involved in counselling youth as well as ‘families at risk’ from areas including Grassy Park, Retreat, Steenberg, Lavender Hill, Cafda, Seawinds, for the past 30 years, Olivia is also an accredited Focus on the Family facilitator and serves on the Board of Stop Trafficking Of People (STOP). Partnering with local community organisations, schools and social development initiatives, The Olive Grove has entrenched its footprint across the impoverished communities of the Western Cape. From community feeding programmes, to holiday camps and activities. The Olive Grove has reached some 30, 000 school learners with a relatively small team of volunteer facilitators – an incredible feat! The programmes offered by The Olive Grove include the ‘No Apologies’, Anti-Bullying and Traffic Proof. Since opening its doors in 2011, this fire-starter has been both a catalyst and partner for meaningful social change and relies solely on the financial support of individuals and corporates. If you would like to invite The Olive Grove to your school or community group or if you would like to get involved, CALL or EMAIL us at the following email or contact number: theolivegrove01@gmail.com or olivianagan@gmail.com Cell: 082 2934 946.

Their daily needs are:

Dry Ingredients

Sugar, fish oil, flour, tin fish, vegetables and pasta.

Toiletries

soap, face cloths, sanitary towels and roll on.

We at Sweet Fragrance salute you Olivia Nagan.

Feel free to contact Sweet Fragrance if you can assist – info@sweetfragrance.co.za

CHARLENE WINDVOGEL - OCTOBER 2021

Sweet Fragrance Woman of the month for the month of October is Charlene Windvogel.

CBD Helping Hands was born in 1992 when I helped Pastor Alan Africa hand out food in Mitchells Plain.

This continued for many years. In 2014, I volunteered with different schools where they offered youth upliftment programmes. This continued until 2018 when I started an aftercare program called Learning with Fun.

“Learning to read is one of the most important skills children can learn”

Reading makes the learning journey more fun and interactive. It is so rewarding to celebrate a child first words and steps and then to see them learn to read their very first book.

Our centre will have the following:

 Cooking facilities

 Reading library

 Bathroom facilities

 Sports

 Academics

 Skills and development

We want the centre to provide social development and be registered with the Department of Social Development as well as Child Care and Protection Services. We want the centre to be a safe place for children to come and spend their time, to be happy and learn. I want all the children who pass through the centre to become independent and self-sufficient.

At the onset of COVID19, my family and I realised that our community was recreating our centre into a soup kitchen. We do our cooking here to serve the community of Leiden Delft, Mfuleni, Happy Valley and The Conifers, Kalkfontein, The Hague, Rosendal, Leiden, N2 Gateway.

Today we supply 13 soup kitchens and 5 churches every week.

Current and future plans:

I am planning a vegetable garden and to have it approved by the City of Cape Town. A meeting with the City for land approval. It will be utilised as an upliftment centre for abused women. This centre will help abused women and their children with free counselling services. It will deal with issues such as physical and sexual abuse, substance abuse, behavioural problems and trafficking, and will provide legal advice.

I believe God will allow me to achieve this vision. It will empower many women to stand up against abuse. That’s my hearts cry, I believe everything will fall into place very soon. I believe in reaching the right people to embrace my vision.

The women are happy in their kitchens. They have their own identity in many ways. I am super proud of them. They are strong individuals which I salute.

Our needs include:

 3 big pots

 3 more burners

 Gas

 Dry ingredients,

 Diesel funds for collections

 Printer

Feel free to contact Sweet Fragrance if you can assist – info@sweetfragrance.co.za

DELENE ROBERTS - SEPTEMBER 2021

Sweet Fragrance Woman of the month for the month of September is Delene Roberts.

Delene Roberts joined Sisters Incorporated 7 years ago on the 2nd of May 2014. Initially as a bookkeeper/assistant manager then transitioning into manager four months later. She is originally from Grassy Park, a single mom with two kids. She is passionate about her role and caring for women and children who come through the doors of the NPO. Sweet Fragrance interviewed her on the 1st September 2021 and what a lovely time spent with Delene. Sisters Incorporated has been around since 1959 in Cape Town, founded by Lynette Veldhuizen and the late Sue Henderson. What started as a refuge for single mothers has now evolved into a safe haven caring for women and their children from all walks of life. Sisters Incorporated plays a critical role in protecting, supporting and empowering women and their children who are survivors of domestic violence, abuse and stigmatisation that is so prevalent and widespread in our communities. The home itself has 28 women and children at the moment, who stay for a minimum of three months - an extension depending on the situation. They have 10 permanent staff with two release house mothers and one assistant to the house mothers. Sweet Fragrance was honoured to hand them the 60 toiletry bags from our Women’s Month Toiletry Drive.

Sisters Incorporated’s daily needs are food items, nappies and detergents.

Feel free to contact Sweet Fragrance if you can assist – info@sweetfragrance.co.za

ALISON ALEXANDER - AUGUST 2021

August Woman of the Month is Alison Alexander

Sweet Fragrance had the opportunity to sit with her on 29th July. She is such a lovable, humble and selfless woman of note. She welcomed us with so much love and warmth. 

Below is what Alison Alexander had to say:

The thought of Rainbow of Hope Rainbow House started way back when I was 16 years old.  Since then, I knew that I wanted to help less fortunate children. Throughout my adolescence into my twenties I was a Sunday school teacher, a junior youth worker and an Educare teacher. Working in the townships and with children less privileged. Married in March 1984, my husband and I responded to an ad in the local newspaper where Communicare was looking for safe homes where they could place children who had been abused, abandoned and/or neglected. We were the only respondents to that ad and so started a life of our home becoming a haven to those who could not defend themselves. I can’t begin to tell you how many kids had been through our home. 

The youngest child ever placed with us was a two-week-old girl just before Christmas 1999. Her mother had left her with a bottle of neat alcohol; she was in a coma and was sent to Karl Bremer Hospital. This girl recently turned 21. Against all odds, she has defied what medics say about FAS. We adopted her with the view to making a lasting difference in one child’s life, but, even having a baby when my children were 13 and 10, could not quiet that need to make even more of a difference. We soon started taking on more children. In 2007 I started my work with the Western Province Baptist Association, the house being given for children’s ministry, (it was first a place of safety to refugees), and that is how I came to realize my dream of a place of safety for children run by the community, totally dependent on God and donations. Currently, Rainbow of Hope has 12 kids who are cared for primarily by Alison Alexander. 

In the beginning, I can say I was driven by the fact that I too had been abused and I wanted to stand on a soapbox for every child who never had a voice. Now, however, I know what man intended for evil in my life, God has turned for good. The setting up of Rainbow House has been a catharsis for me and I know now I am driven by compassion and unconditional love for all children whom I believe must be placed in the best possible care and environment that the community can give them. I believe God has birthed this in me and it is very hard to explain. I am also truly inspired by women like Mother Teresa, Catherine Booth, Florence Nightingale, Hannah More, Elizabeth Fry and Nancy Ward. If they, with little resources at their disposal, could help millions throughout a hurting world, then so can I at Rainbow House.  

Their daily needs are: 

• Sarmie fillers, Jam, 

• Jungle Oats, 

• Dishwashing Liquid, Jik, Sunlight Soap,  Dishwasher tablets, Furniture Spray/Polish, Handy Andy, 

• Sugar, Long Life Milk,      

• Black bags, Serviettes, 

• Fire Lighters (the long one), Matches, Blitz

  Email: info@sweetfragrance.co.za to donate.

CAROL BruTON - JULY 2021

Sweet Fragrance July Woman of the Month is Carol Bruton .In May 2011, Carol and her family visited a township called Ashbury in Montagu. After investigation, they discovered a great need in the township and since that visit they never turned their back on the people of Ashbury ever again. The name of their organisation is Rescue Among Many (RAM) Charity Projects. Their stance is bringing urban to rural, as one can imagine the vast difference in the living conditions amongst the two, as goods are more accessible in urban areas. Carol and her team travel to Montagu almost each week and stay a few days and work full days to support the people of Ashbury. The recipe is a winning one but comes at a cost of a vehicle/fuel/accommodation etc. Carol and her husband are in it full-time with the assistance of incredible volunteers who have passionate servant hearts. RAM supports six schools (4 are farm schools) - an ECD, two old-age homes and animal shelters. They have four soup kitchens they supply in Montagu and cook stocks in Cape Town to take to Montagu. They support the hospice in Robertson and Bram Care Centre in Ashton too. 

The needs of RAM are food supplies which of course are a constant need as people in Ashbury live in very difficult circumstances, blankets are a huge need in the area, shoes, and all basic human needs are required to support the community of Ashbury. 

Well done to Carol and her team for their outstanding work and their 10 year service achievement in Montagu. May their organisation grow from strength to strength. 

Email: info@sweetfragrance.co.za to donate to RAM today.

Vanessa Sauls Nelson- JUNE 2021

June Woman of the Month is Vanessa Saul’s Nelson

Hope for the Future is a non-profitable organisation and is not government funded.

It was born on 13 May 1970 in a one-bedroom house in Ascension Road, Heideveld with five brothers and one sister. Growing up, Vanessa always knew she wanted to do work in her community.

Today, Vanessa is a qualified Facilitator and Assessor whose passion is working with children with special needs and learning difficulties.

When she moved to Mitchells Plain she would walk through the Town Center and see people living on the street, eating out of bins and begging for food. This hurt Vanessa deeply and she started to randomly buy bread and would hand it out to these people. The feeding scheme was born out of that passion to give back and to start her poverty alleviation project in 2008 and registered Hope for the Future NPO in 2012.

Vanessa always said that she wants to give back to her community where she was born (Heideveld). That is when everything took off in 2017 with the support of her husband, Paul and brother, Leonard Sauls and her children. Her sister, Mandene Adams joined the feeding scheme in 2019 and is now in full swing at the kitchen each week.

Hope has the following programs in operation and is in constant need of donations:

Feeding Scheme, Elderly Feeding Scheme Campaign, Back to School Drive, Winter Drive, Easter Campaign, GBV Hear Me Too – Stories of Strength, Annual Xmas Lunch, Facilitation for Special Needs Children such as ADD, ADHD and Autism, Beyond the Blze, Anti-Bullying (to be launched soon), Youth Empowerment, Spiritual Nurturing and Matric Camps.

Hope requires so much to operate their organisation successfully, their needs are as follows:

• The kitchen needs to be fitted and help with gas, ingredients for the feeding scheme, rental etc.  

• They need desktops and laptops to start their computer lab where the youth can access the internet and scholars to do their projects. 

• WiFi is a dire need as well and help with a website and so much more.

• Email: info@sweetfragrance to donate to Hope or Contact Alexis: 079 942 9285

CHARLEEN GLEN PETERSEN - MAY 2021

May Woman of the Month is Charleen Glen Petersen

Charleen Glen Petersen is a breast cancer survivor who is an absolute joy to sit down and chat with. Her story is remarkable and so uplifting. She has been involved within her community for 13 years.

In 2005, she became a rape crisis counsellor, where she helped people through various traumas they faced in their life. She thrives on helping others as it brings her a world of joy and is the most rewarding feeling to the soul. Over the years, Charleen also taught arts and crafts to ladies to become self-sufficient and provide for their families.

Charleen and her friend decided to start a soup kitchen in Valhalla Park full-time during lockdown 2020 and she then left her paying job to see to the needs of her community. They are an ordinary soup kitchen with 5 volunteers who feed between 150 – 300 people three times a week. Sometimes they have to turn people away due to lack of supply but they always try their utmost best to feed those in the line. There is a daily need in her community for food supply. Charleen says they ask for donations through Facebook and by word of mouth and they are extremely grateful for the organisation, Guardians of the National Treasure, and their continued sponsorship and contributions to the soup kitchen.

It was moving to hear Charleen’s story. She said she has a dream to have an operating orphanage but thinks it will no longer happen due to lack of finances and support which was quite sad to hear. Therefore, she runs the soup kitchen as her way of giving back. She also dreams of taking the kids in Valhalla Park out for the day because most of them have never been outside of the community. She said it would be such a joy to take the kids to the beach and sightseeing.

The soup kitchen’s daily needs are:

Samp

Beans

Vegetables

Lentils

Soup mix

Tin fish

Chicken

Mealie meal

Sugar

Pasta etc.

Sweet Fragrance ask the support of anyone who can donate to Charleen’s soup kitchen to please contact us at info@sweetfragrance.co.za

KAYLA APRIL -APRIL 2021

April Woman of the Month is Kayla April

Kayla is from Delft and she has a feeding scheme that is called Leiden's Feeding Angels. The feeding scheme started in lockdown to support the community of Delft. She started feeding her community out of her own pocket and serves her community with an open heart.

But her feeding scheme is struggling with donations. A word from Kayla "I wanted to know if you can help our community of Delft. Many people lost their jobs and aren't able to put food on the table. They currently serve more than 450 kids and adults in Delft each week.

Leiden's Feeding Angels needs are the following:

• Rice

• maize meal

• sugar

• vegetables (onions, squash, butternut etc.

• chicken

• meat

• soup mix

• pasta

If you are able and willing to donate to Kayla then do email us at info@sweetfragrance.co.za.

NADIA MAYMAN DE GRASS - MARCH 2021

March Woman of the Month is Nadia Mayman De Grass At the tender age of 15 I became a political activist. I joined the Bonteheuwel youth activists to right injustices of the apartheid regime.

At around 1998, discouraged by the ANC and the slow process of getting equality I turned to helping my community. I then started referring to myself as a community activist. Party politics held no more interest for me. It still doesn't.

In 2014, a group of activists and ordinary community members like myself came together due to the high rate of violent crimes in our community. Out of this initiative the Bonteheuwel Joint Peace Forum was born. Long story short, today we focus on social upliftment and the restoration of pride and dignity. Then lockdown happened. Most of our work revolved around food security, education around the pandemic, mask distribution, learner packs distribution to those without access to internet and online classes. We also assist covid positive families with warm meals, going to chemist and any such act that would make their time in isolation easier. Feeding and food turned out to be the most important act as many were and is still going hungry. Our latest campaign is our back to school back pack campaign. It is our 3rd annual attempt to assist learners whose parents cannot afford to get them much needed school supplies including school uniform.

I am a 51 yr old divorced mom of 4. I have just completed my matriculation exam in December of last year, and passed with a Bachelor's. It is in this context that I doubt I am the right person to be earmarked as a Woman of the Month. I have a day job as a trading plan Facilitator at an organisation Violence Prevention through Urban Upgrade (VPUU) .

I don't like talking about myself and prefer speaking of our group and what we do as a collective. I am merely the tool that holds it all together but we are a team of dedicated people that do what they do solely for the benefit of our community.

Their basic needs are:

Rice

Potatoes

Onions

Soya cubes

Soya mince

Tinned fish

Beans

Samp

Carrots

Butternut

Squash

Maize

Jungle oats

Sugar

Salt

Brown lentils

Red lentils

Split peas

Soup mix

Spaghetti

Macaroni

Cooking oil

If you are able and willing to donate to Nadia and her team at Bonteheuwel Joint Peace Form then do email us info@sweetfragrance.co.za.

ANTHEA LYNNE LEWIS - FEBRUARY 2021

Sweet Fragrance February Woman of the month is Anthea Lynne Lewis

Anthea is the CANSA co-ordinator for the Western Cape. She works at Tygerberg Hospital Ward 3G and is employed by the Cancer Association of South Africa. They currently have about 247 children fighting cancer. Their youngest cancer survivor is only 3 months old and the oldest is 18 years of age. She works with cancer patients daily from diagnosis right up until the end. She supplies the families of cancer patients with toiletries, food parcels and emotional support. They prepare families through the trauma of possibly losing a loved one to cancer. They also do home visitors. They do special birthdays for cancer patients; they take them out - family fun days such as Cancer relay for life events where they do their survival laps. She is a global hero of hope appointed by the American Cancer Society – it is awarded to a cancer survivor who despite their own cancer journey goes out of their way to make things easier for other cancer survivors.

CANSA is in constant need of the following items:

Toiletry packs, which consist of soap, toothpaste, facecloths, toothbrushes and Vaseline. Underwear and socks are also appreciated for children and teenagers as when they come for a check-up and have to stay then a clean pair of underwear and socks would do.

To get in touch with Anthea Lynne Lewis please email us at: info@sweetfragrance.co.za

TASNEEM FELIX - JANUARY 2021

Sweet Fragrance January Woman of the Month is Tasneem Felix

When it was announced on the 23rd of March that we are going into a hard lockdown, I became engulfed with fear - fear for my family, fear for my friends, fear for my neighbours, and fear for my community including those I do not know. I live in an area trapped between Parkwood and Marble flats in Ottery. A lot of gang wars. Murders and other crimes are not uncommon. At the beginning of lockdown, my fear rose to a boiling point because I knew when hunger increases so do the crime. My mother, Dorothy Wyngaard, God bless her beautiful soul, taught us that charity begins within your family, then your friends, neighbours and further areas - this charity will not make you poorer. My husband, Yusuf, an end-stage kidney patient, my two daughters, Shameez and Tahira and my grand-daughter, Saidi and I sent out posts asking everyone to please remain indoors and if they needed anything, they should ask us.

We started sharing our meals with our neighbours. When people from the surrounding areas started knocking at our door, I asked my family and friends for donations. We live off of my husband's disability grant and the children's grant each month. I use to sell food but during lockdown that had to end. No one was buying. Too many are unemployed. The need for food has remained the same but donations have dwindled leaving a few loyal patrons which enable us to cook a few times per month now. Last month, the kind lady who usually loans her pots to us asked for her pots because she needs it and I was forced to buy a 100lt pot.

We believe that hunger is also a pandemic and the cure is kindness. We serve two informal settlements in Parkwood, Ottery and our neighbours. We live in a rented council flat in Lotus River/Grassy Park. I do not think that we will ever stop sharing what we have with those who do not have. Our current day to day needs are potatoes, onions, vegetables that can be prepped and frozen. Tin fish, rice, spices, halaal chicken, halaal meat, bread, legumes, tin foods, sanitary towels, sunlight soap, sugar, tea, coffee, powder milk. We do not only make soup, we make different foods - akni, curries, pasta, stews etc. A few days ago, we were blessed with sausage, rolls and cool drink.

To get in touch with Tasneem Felix please email us at: info@sweetfragrance.co.za

TRACEY - ANN MANUS- DECEMBER 2020

Sweet Fragrance December Woman of the Month is Tracey-Ann Manus

During the lockdown, she started planting crops such as potatoes, cucumbers, tomatoes and herbs in her home garden. Tracey has never done gardening before and felt the need to start somewhere to uplift her community during this difficult time. She thought if she started a home garden she could inspire others within Ravensmead to do something similar.This led her to start the Garden of Blessings in July 2020, which has a holistic approach to assist the needs of her community. This holistic approach looks at feeding children, providing relief hampers to families in need and support for her garden.

Currently, Garden of Blessing is able to provide a meal every Sunday and sandwiches on respective Wednesday’s in Ravensmead.Tracey has life-changing plans for Garden of Blessings. She plans to register Garden of Blessings as an NGO. Her long-term desire is to have a Garden of Blessings home for abused women and children in Ravensmead. The community currently do not have any home for abused women and children. The issue of abuse is close to her heart as she comes from a home of abuse herself.Her final words to Sweet Fragrance were to encourage people to start gardens at home to bring relief to their community. One can help the other by planting different fruit and vegetables. Garden of Blessings requires fresh vegetables, frozen vegetables, mince, chicken, pasta noodles.

To get in touch with Tracey- Ann Manus please email us at: info@sweetfragrance.co.za

JENNIFER LUCAS - NOVEMBER 2020

Sweet Fragrance November Woman of the Month is Jennifer Lucas She is a remarkable woman serving the Elsies River community. She has always had a passion for teaching but could never further her studies due to financial constraints, as she was one of 12 children. Eventually, she managed to study and do her levels. She then opened up her ECD in 1996 called PJs and Sons and registered for 60 children. As a single mother, she knows the struggle of looking for someone to look after your kids. A safe haven she calls it because she is living in an area where drugs and gangsterism is the reality. The children are exposed to this environment on a daily bases. She started her ECD because of the great passion she has to see the lives of children in the community changed. Jenny has been doing this for 25 years and doesn’t plan on stopping anytime soon. She is an ambassador for Zone 1 – Clark Estate, Elsies River, and they feed about 12 000 people a week. Clark Estate has 12 different soup kitchens alone which feed about 500 people a day. But it has become extremely difficult to keep up with this because the need in the community is so great. And donations are a consistent need for Jenny and her team.

The needs of PJs and Sons are:

 Monetary donations

 Educational resources (reading books, puzzles, paints etc.)

 Sweet Packs (1x chips, 1x Juice, sweets, lollipop, fizzers)

To get in touch with Jennifer Lucas please email us at: info@sweetfragrance.co.za

FELICIA CLEOPHAS - OCTOBER 2020

October Woman of the Month is Felicia Cleophas.

In 2012, Felicia left her employment at Durbanville Children's Home after 12 years. She heard the voice of God tell her to "work in her own Jerusalem.” She knew it wouldn't be easy, but she took the step of obedience. This lead Felicia to start Morning Star Child Care Centre in 2012. 

Initially, she thought it was only going to be for family member’s children. But it soon grew in numbers as the community became a big part of her child care centre. It started with six children, then 12 children, then 25 children, and today more than 50 children. She calls the kids her rainbow nation as they come from the surrounding areas such as Northpine and Kraaifontein. 

She loves that her family is so supportive of her passion and assist her with the daily operations of Morning Star Child Care Centre. It also brings her great joy to see the smile on the children's faces when they receive a plate of food. Felicia explains this feeling as priceless. 

Furthermore, she tries to give back within her community in more ways than one as the need arises. She says to see the healing of the mothers and fathers of the children is heart-warming. Felicia and her partner have also started programmes for drug and alcohol abuse. 

At the moment, due to COVID, she is feeding 100 children in her community of Morning Star. She tries to do this over four days a week but depends on donations to make this a constant happening. 

If you would like to donate to Morning Star Child Care Centre and assist with their daily needs, the food ingredients are listed below. 

You’re welcome to support financially by emailing info@sweetfragrance.org

Ingredients:

• Eggs

• Fish fingers

• Vienna's

• Bread

• Spaghetti

• Mince

• Fruits

• Polystyrene burger boxes etc.

ALFREDA DE WEE - SEPTEMBER 2020

Our woman of the month for September is Alfreda De Wee . My name is Alfreda De Wee, 52 years old from Fisantekraal.  Being a mom of 5 kids, I have first-hand experience of how tough it is to keep your head above water. I lost my daughter 3 years ago and I'm now a foster parent to her children. Losing my daughter led to me losing my job. I then had nowhere to go, no idea where to seek help, and instead had to stand on my own two feet.

Our community faces so many challenges daily, however, the only breather is when we as community workers, neighbours, and friends can lend that extra hand.

Working with children each day seeing their faces, their needs opened my heart, hand, and my kitchen. Now I serve them twice a day with porridge in the morning and lunch in the afternoon and seeing their faces light up makes my heart smile, knowing that I made a difference in that child's life.

In the last couple of months, I received great help through sponsorship and churches who helped us to continue feeding the hungry children and those in need. For many of these kids, this is their only meal for the day and this breaks my heart. 

Having teenagers coming to me and pouring their hearts out and not being able to assist except by giving advice is so heart-breaking. These teens need toiletries and sanitary pads and I am unable to assist.

Having a soup kitchen, I also realised the need for other things in the community. My plan, and goal is to keep on doing what I'm doing and even more, because where help is needed I definitely will extend my hand. Alfreda is in need of the following non perishable goods, ingredients for soup and any toiletry items.

Anything else that can make a difference in their lives during this time. To get in touch with Alfreda De Wee please email us at: info@sweetfragrance.co.za

Gennivieve Marques - August 2020

Our Woman of the month for August is Gennivieve Marques. Gennevieve lives in Belhar and started working in her community in 2008. She started working with a counsellor and a group of activists and together they handed out food. She also works with children in her community doing activities like sport. She says when the lockdown started everybody just stayed away and she then decided to start her own feeding scheme. Gennivieve says that poverty worsened due to COVID-19. It’s so sad to see communities suffer. At the moment she only has one sponsor, she gives to the most vulnerable people, and hands out soup and bread on a weekly basis. Her passion is to help those who are really in need. That is why she named her feeding scheme Caring and Sharing. I’ve really got a passion for the elderly and children who are underprivileged. She says that she’s not registered yet but would like to work with women and children in future. She would like to equip them with different skills and maybe also offer workshops. The needs Caring and Sharing vary from vegetables, rice, lentils, mix spices, canned foods to anything that can help.

Anything else that can make a difference in their lives during this time. To get in touch with Gennivieve Marques please email us at: info@sweetfragrance.co.za

NURAAN OSMAN - 1 JULY 2020

Nuraan Osman was born and bred in Cape Town on the 29 January 1980. She completed her first degree at the University of Cape Town , starting her first year at 16 years old. Her majors were psychology and religion. She later pursued studies in Criminology , addictions therapy , prevention and counselling. Her most recent qualification was one in Nonprofit Organisational Management. She is a mother of 4 children and is the managing director of the Ihata Shelter for abused women  Based in Heideveld on the Cape Flats, serving the local disadvantaged community, where women are often poor, uneducated and sometimes illiterate. Nuraan is a well travelled individual having visited more than 30 countries. She has a deep appreciation for the cultures and values of all people.In 2015, Nuraan was a finalist in the Regional Business Achievers Awards as Business woman of the year.

She also received the woman of the year award from IPSA University in 2018. Nuraan is a deep humanitarian and shares many of her views on humanity on local radio stations and regularly appears in newspapers. She is motherly and nurturing in her nature but can be firm and believes in tough love. She is an expert in youth development, behavioural science , addiction , gbv , hiv and coaches and mentors women and vulnerable girl children.

She works with incarcerated women and has a keen interest in non violent communication and violence reduction. She is a global trainer for World Vision and Islamic Relief on many social issues. She spends her spare time advising small community organisations on issues of trauma and capacity building. Others call upon her for her religious and social expertise.It is her belief that if you need a hero become one.

Ihata Shelter for Abused Women and Children are in need of the following :

• Winter Clothes ( Women and Childrens Clothes)

• Any Food Items

• Monetary Donations

  Anything else that can make a difference in their lives during this time. To get in touch with Nuraan Osman please email us at: info@sweetfragrance.co.za

VANESSA JOOSTE - 1 JUNE 2020

Woman of the month for June is Vanessa Jooste.

Our organization was established in 2002 in Lotus River. I was in between jobs at that and while being at home I noticed that the community kids had no recreational resources and activities. I then decided to start a school holiday and after school program. The program consisted of playing games and doing life skills activities. After I had shared my childhood hiking experiences with them, the recipients of the program then expressed an interest in going hiking  In September 2004, I contacted the Mountain Club of South Africa (MCSA) Cape Town branch and Urs Huber from MCSA took us on our first overnight hike and we slept on Table Mountain that night. We were 12 children and 2 adults from our organization. This was such an exciting, fun, and amazing experience for all of us. We saw how the children were carefree and just being themselves. We became hooked and realized how the peace and tranquillity of nature played a therapeutic role in the various challenges our beneficiaries faced daily. I chatted with the MCSA asking if they would be able to take us on hikes regularly. The MCSA Outreach program was then introduced by Urs Huber and Greg Mosley. The program has grown tremendously and many organizations on the Cape Flats are now recipients of this outreach program.  After this, we changed the focus of our organization and started doing hikes and camps. Since 2004, we have hiked various trails, from Signal Hill to Cape Point. Also, the Cedarburg mountains, and Du Toitskloof. Our hikes and camps are both recreational and we provide life skills activities in our programs.  We offer the following programs:

 Leadership Development

   Girlchild Development and Empowerment 

 Peer Leadership

   Diversity program

where our beneficiaries are from different communities, cultures, social and economic backgrounds.  We now have second-generation hikers, we have baby carriers so that moms with babies can continue hiking with us. And, we have many more hikes and camps planned. However, Covid-19 has interrupted our plans and we looked at how we could still be of service in the community. Hanlie Gouws of MCSA raised funds for us and we used the funds to provide food parcels to our beneficiaries and their families in the "Netta" Lotus River and Pine Acres Farm in Phillipi. When we delivered the food parcels we saw the need to expand our target group and include teen moms, pensioners, and the other families in the community.  Shaye Pheiffer, Jordan Hutton, and Chessy Claasen started a fundraising drive on social media. They were participants and recipients during their youth and are now volunteers on our programs. With their support, the funds raised were used to provide food parcels to many families. It is challenging to provide nutritional food parcels on a regular basis due to the lack of funds and sponsors. 

Our needs currently are:

 Financial 

 Non-perishable food 

 Vegetables 

 Toiletries 

 Baby cereal 

 Baby foods 

 Baby formula 

 Baby Toiletries 

Anything else that can make a difference in their lives during this time. To get in touch with Vanessa Jooste please email us at: info@sweetfragrance.co.za

YUMNA LOW ALEXANDER - MAY 2020

Woman of the Month for May is Yumna Low Alexander

Yumna, is a full time student, single parent of 2 kids and the Founder of the Hopeful leader’s Night School in Manenberg. She does her best to uplift her community and encourage the importance of education. The Hopeful Leader’s Night School is a platform to tutor and provide support to adult dropouts by obtaining their Senior Education Certificate (Matric). Their mission is to prepare them mentally and academically for their final senior exams in hope that they achieve their goals.

The school's proud founder, Yumna Alexander, says the classes are packed with mostly parents and grandparents, with some as old as 54.

Alexander is a single mother of two who was also a high school dropout at some point in her life. She dropped out of school in 2002 when she fell pregnant with her son. After 10 years of living hand-to-mouth, she decided to get her matric. Alexander would work during the day and self-study at night while juggling motherhood and making ends meet. Fast-forward to today, and she is one year away from obtaining her bachelor's degree in education.

Yumna, also facilitates an ICT one month course at the local library. Which is how and where the Night School initiation started. The 33-year-old says she wants to inspire and motivate the other adult learners to never give up and always strive to be better. She says the journey requires determination, sacrifice, hard work and courage.

Currently, the night school is running a feeding scheme in the Manenberg community and trying to feed as much kids as possible every day. The hopeful leaders/students assist in the community with feeding schemes and this is there way of serving during this difficult time.

The Night School accepts any type of donation in this time with regards to their feeding scheme. If you would like to donate to the feeding scheme and the Amazing work of Yumna Alexander. Please email us info@sweetfragrance.co.za.

CANDICE VAN DER RHEEDE - APRIL 2020

Check out Candice Van Rheede Story on Video.

Avril Andrews - March 2020

Sweet Fragrance March Woman of the Month is Avril Andrews.

Avril invited Sweet Fragrance into her loving home where Alcardo Andrews Foundation is based. She greeted us with a warmth that sunk deep within our hearts. She started chatting about her journey and at the end of our time together. We left with so much compassion and respect for the work she does in her childhood community Hanover Park.

The Andrews family endured a lot of challenges and hardship but their strength after the loss of a son, brother, husband and father is truly inspiring to have witnessed.

Avril’s bravery and courage is a continuous inspiration to other moms who have lost their child to gang violence. Her strength to keep her family believing and hoping for a brighter future left the Sweet Fragrance team quite emotional to experience her generous and gracious nature despite the pain.

Alcardo Andrews Foundation (AAF) was established in Hanover Park in 2015 in honour of a young man who lost his life through gang violence.

Before he passed, he was desperate to bring about change in Hanover Park. His aspiration was to restore Hanover Park into a safe and peaceful community for all.

The main focus areas of Alcardo Foundation are:

• Moms Move for Justice

• Youth with Purpose

• Fatherhood Programme

• Food Project

Youth are vulnerable and susceptible to influences and are at risk in communities where gangsterism and drug abuse is rife and often recruited by gangsters. The youth leaders offer an alternative through activities, excursions, skills training, arts, drama and dance. They serve as coaches and mentors to the young children and youth.

Dialogues and support sessions involve workshops on relevant topics e.g. Gender Based Violence (GBV), HIV & Aids, bullying, self-care, life and entrepreneurial skills. 

Avril you are a woman of noble character. Your strength is contagious. Your belief is inviting. Your love is astounding. May Alcardo Andrews Foundation grow from strength to strength and impact lives for the greater good of this nation. 

Alcardo Andrews Foundation needs are: snacks for the kids (such as chips, cooldrink) etc, toilet paper, sugar, coffee, juices and cleaning products are constant daily needs. Donations for laptops and printers are also welcome.  

If you are able to donate to the incredible work of Alcardo Andrews Foundation then please email us at: info@sweetfragrance.co.za

ANTHEA TROUT - FEBRUARY 2020

Our Women of the month for February is Anthea Trout and she has spent years dedicating her time and resources to helping children in the Bishop Lavis and Bonteheuwel area of Cape Town. It all started when she, together with her brother took a group of German tourists to a school in Bishop Lavis to get a cultural experience of Cape Town. At that time there were only 13 children at the school which has now grown to over 150 children.

In 2016 Anthea's cause had a Christmas party for the children of Bishop Lavis and during this time she was blessed with additional donations and decided to expand her cause to her home area of Bonteheuwel. They were able to get enough funding together to supply 300 children with hot dogs, cold drinks and other food items, but she noticed that there was a greater need that these children needed due to the fact that many of them sadly did not have a mother and many of the fathers were in prison due to gangsterism and drugs which is extremely prevalent in the area.

She noticed that the children were craving love and affection and Anthea started spending quality time with a group of these children taking them swimming and allowing them to experience things that they had not experienced before. Most recently, God directed Anthea and her daughter to an organisation who invited them and the children to a reading workshop and together with the help of volunteers, Anthea has decided to dedicate her time and efforts to help these children grow a passion to read and encourage them to continue to read throughout their lives which will enable them to dream big dreams and give them hope.

Anthea also does art with these kids where they can express their feelings through the art work but also have fun at the same time. Then there’s the awesome bikers who come along to give the kids some sort of excitement.

Anthea does everything she can to assist children and families who are in crisis such as a family where a 20 year old girl is raising 5 siblings on her own due to circumstances. Anthea's cause needs your help to continue assisting these families and children.

Because of our Sweet Fragrance donation Anthea and her team will be making peanut butter and jam sandwiches and will give it to the kids when they come home from school every Thursday afternoon.

All of Anthea Volunteers are all family and friends who are always willing to contribute.

The needs of her cause are basic daily products such as toiletries, food items that will allow her to continue supplying hot dogs to the children in the communities as well as adult clothing or any monetary donations. To get in touch with Anthea, please contact us at info@sweetfragrance.co.za

We would like to honour Anthea and thank her for her sacrificial dedication and love for these communities and pray that her cause is blessed with many more resources to help her continue the work that she is doing.

JOANIE FREDERICKS - JANUARY 2020

Woman of the month for January 2020 is Joanie Fredericks Joanie Fredericks is initially from Grabouw but now resides in Tafelsig, Mitchells Plain, for 19 years. She grew up in a household, passionate about human rights. Thus, she believes she is born for community work. Joanie then went to Israel for a couple of years; she had meaningful conversations and saw things which made her come back home wanting to change lives in her community. She managed to write-up a proposal based on Sexual Harassment towards women in the work place and published a research report based on it. She believes in the empowerment of women from all walks of life and that anything is possible with the right mind-set and heart. All Joanie has done so far as shaped her to become the woman she is today. She has the heart to see the community of Mitchells Plain impacted for the greater good. Joanie has a non-profit called Nead Community Development NPC. It’s a non-profit company based in Tafelsig, which aims to empower people to become self-sustainable. She holds Christmas lunches for the children and successfully hosted their 6 th annual Christmas kid’s party in December 2019. In 2018 she started an empowerment movement called Ladies Own Driving School. For Joanie, women who gain their licence holds some form of empowerment and independency for their self- esteem. The learner licence school she runs had over 500 women show up at the registration. People come from all over the province for the empowerment workshops. She is prepared to sit with each individual through the learner course. The driving school ladies helped her raise funds for the driving school. And today it is beyond the concept of an ordinary driving school as Joanie and her team empower the woman in their personal capacity. Joanie, we at Sweet Fragrance honour you with this post. Thank you for embracing and being so passionate about the work you have been equipped to do. Thank you for never giving up despite the challenges and for believing in the people of your community. The needs of Joanie are: a central space for everything she is does as she is currently using a government building which is not always available. A container or two to have classes would be suitable in order to meet the needs of the people. There is also a need for volunteers- qualified driving instructors, preferably even on weekends. Please contact us at info@sweetfragrance.co.za should you be able to donate any of the above needs or give financial support to Joanie and her initiatives.

MARSHA GABRIEL - DECEMBER 2019

Woman of the Month for December is Marsha Gabriel

Marsha Gabriel is the National Director of The CSI Congress an award winning organization specializing in People Development, Community Development and Business Development. Gabriel functions from her primary base Durban, KZN, South Africa and globally recognized as speaker and author.

In 2001, she was medically boarded from the South African Post Office due to 2 spinal surgeries. Hence, she was found unfit for the open labour market. She vowed to trump the boundaries of her disability. She founded the CSI Congress in 2003 and since functioned as mediator, trainer, researcher and a VOICE in the field of community development, people development and Business development. Networking with business across the country, she invited Corporate to invest their company’s social responsibility in the transformation of the dis-advantage. One of her sphere of activity is collaborating and partnering public and private sectors to clarify and expand on which techniques are most suited for building sustainable systems towards excellence.

The Congress business models are shaped through state of the art field knowledge and empirical evidence by enthused leaders who genuinely share power with those on the bread-line, supports community priorities and empowers individuals to be a force for change through philanthropy by TURNING OPPRESSION INTO OPPORTUNITY

The CSI Congress has added much value to society since 2002:

• Over 2 million children received food hampers and clothing

• Over 336 000 families received Ace-maize meat

• 9 000 buckets distributed to rural communities

• 13 800 students attended career seminars

• 268 Job opportunities created for the unemployed

• Over 45 000 children in KZN schools benefited from nutrition programs 

Marsha Gabriel we at Sweet Fragrance NPC, would like to honour you for your hard work and dedication to this Nation and beyond its borders. You a true inspiration and mentor to those that cross your path. Thank you for your continuous commitment to see changed lives through the work you so generously do. 

You are a great example of what it takes to see change in a community and Nation. Your passion and dedication is much appreciated.  And may the foundation you have set grow from strength to strength.