Communities are the essence of society, woven together by shared experiences, dreams, and challenges. Yet, in today’s world, the fabric of communities is facing fraying, leaving individuals, families, and broader society feeling disconnected and disempowered.
It is in these moments of fragmentation that the work of visionaries like Andri Eloff, a retired minister, Louine Griessel, a social worker, and Louise Fouche, an occupational therapist, shines brightly. Together, they have dedicated their lives’ missions to working with communities, restoring dignity, wholeness, and ensuring that communities are alive through the impactful work of their organisation, MoreThanMeerAs.
“Our commitment to emotional well-being shines through our strategic focus areas, catering to individuals, couples, teams, and entire communities. We offer individual support like counselling, coaching, mindfulness, and emotional care. For couples, we provide counselling, relationship coaching, retreats, and conflict resolution. Our team programmes focus on building cohesion, leadership coaching, resolving conflicts, enhancing communication, and improving performance. We also empower communities through advocacy, social integration, capacity building, and fostering community resilience.
“Our approach is compassionate, gentle, yet determined,” says Andri.
“We bring together expertise in various fields, including leadership roles, group facilitation, team building, personal growth, and relationship facilitation, and are dedicated to empowering communities through a transformative process in our mission of fostering inclusivity, creativity, and social change”.
Andri draws a profound analogy between human lives and trees, stating, “There is a great similarity between the life story of a tree and a human being. When we look at the tree, we see the outside – the texture of the bark, shape of the trunk, colour of the leaves, the overall shape, and the branches telling its life story. However, there is more to a tree. The tree, much like a human being, also has an inner story, a hidden story”, he says. This analogy is also reflected strongly in the company’s branding.
Acknowledging the challenges faced by communities such as social fragmentation, poverty, and unemployment, MoreThanMeerAs believes in the transformative impact of empowered individuals. Their programmes and initiatives focus on creating safe spaces where everyone feels valued, supported, and capable of making a positive impact.
Participants from diverse backgrounds, including the homeless, members of communities facing social challenges, and business teams, have all benefited from MoreThanMeerAs’ approach to holistic well-being and community empowerment.
One shining example of MoreThanMeerAs’ impact is seen in their work in Touws River, where they partnered with the Breede Valley Association of and for Persons with Disabilities and the DG Murray Trust. Together, they embarked on a transformative journey, signing up 34 participants from the community who underwent a 15-month process of healing, dreaming, and innovating in 2021.
Andri reflects on this journey, stating, “We were amazed by the impact our group intervention had on individuals. People reported personal growth and impact in their lives, and generally portraying themselves in a more positive way”.
MoreThanMeerAs’ intervention in Touws River is now ongoing, impacting a wider neighbourhood.
As communities continue to navigate challenges and seek avenues for growth, organisations like MoreThanMeerAs stand as beacons of hope, inviting individuals and organisations to join them on their journey of healing, dreaming, and innovation.
MoreThanMeerAs has also worked extensively in the communities of De Doorns, Tulbagh, and Worcester.
