Five inspiring change-makers from around the country have been rewarded for the incredible difference they make in their local communities. This comes after local better-for-you beverage brand, PURA Beverages Company launched an initiative that recognises local people who are making a difference by uplifting their communities and the world around them.
The initiative had a simple message: What the world needs now is more people who “Give a PSHT!” and asked the public to share what they care about or nominate people they felt needed to be recognised and rewarded for the work that they are doing in their communities.
“The launch of this initiative is inspired by our philosophy that everyone should try to “live a little PURA”, a belief that if you are able to make a difference, then you should. Like the story of the starfish, although you can’t change everything, you have the power to make small changes that have a big impact, even if it’s just for one person,” says Greig Jansen, CEO PURA Beverages Company.
“When I founded the business, I wanted to make sure that the brand was purpose-driven and had meaning. I wanted to make a positive difference through all aspects of the business; the people, the product, the planet, the companies we partner with, and of course, ultimately the profit,” added Jansen.
After receiving multiple nominations from change makers around South Africa, five finalists were shortlisted. Their good deeds range from providing school shoes to underprivileged children, offering education-based opportunities to school children in rural areas, rescuing horses and ponies, and supplying resources to impoverished farm workers.
“We received so many inspiring entries and had a difficult job in shortlisting the entries down to five,” says Jansen. “We are pleased to announce that Ashling McCarthy from Ngifundela Ukuphila, which translates to I Learn to Live, has walked away with the grand prize of R30 000 to go towards her cause.”
Founded in 2010, Ngifundela Ukuphila is an NPO that focuses on providing educational opportunities to school children and the youth in rural Zululand, KwaZulu-Natal. This includes a robotic club and exposure to coding and computers, which are an integral part of a young person’s future and are fundamental skills for youth development.
“We chose this particular organisation as they believe that children and youth from rural areas should be given an opportunity to create a meaningful life, in which they contribute towards their community and society at large,” says Jansen. “The answer to many rural challenges can be answered by our youth; our role is to provide them with opportunities, skills, and most importantly, their belief in themselves to do so.”
PURA Soda will also be awarding the four other finalists R 5 000 to go towards their causes. They include:
Rescue Amongst Many
Founded in 2011, Rescue Amongst Many is an NPO that provides resources to institutions that support impoverished farm workers and their families. The organisation operates in Early Childhood Development centres, old age homes, schools, farm schools, hospices and animal shelters in rural areas of the Western Cape, which are very often under-resourced.
Abaphumeleli Home of Safety – Evelyn Maskai
The Abaphumeleli Home of Safety, founded by Evelyn Maskai, is an NPO dedicated to housing orphaned, homeless, HIV-positive, neglected or abused children. The organisation is situated in Khayelitsha and is home to 32 children, who Evelyn looks after in her own home.
Tom Ro Haven for Equines & Children – Gillian and Stephanie McCulloch
Tom Ro Haven is run by mother-daughter duo, Gillian and Stephanie McCulloch. This NPO has a herd of 20 rescue horses and ponies that are used as part of an equine-assisted therapy session for children from impoverished communities and at-risk youth and adult homes.
In addition to their work at the Haven, they also arrange outreach programmes to Atlantis and Malmesbury, where there are a huge number of young horse owners who need assistance with basic horse care, education and veterinary supplies. They have also rescued several abused and abandoned horses from the local area where animal neglect is sadly rife. As an NPO which receives no public funding, they rely 100% on donations and volunteers.
One Pair of Shoes to a Kid – Mfanafuthi Radebe
Mfanafuthi Radebe is using his own funds to donate school shoes to underprivileged kids in rural areas of Gauteng. Poverty and unemployment have left many parents unable to afford school shoes for their children in these outlying areas. He believes that there is something he can do to make their situation better and is hoping to reach as many learners as possible.
For more information about the campaign please visit https://livealittlepura.com/psht-enty/
