When Mrs Brenda Hammond moved into Huis Nuweland, she quickly found more than just a place to stay – she found a home, friends, and a second family. What nobody expected was that, even after her passing, she would still be making life brighter for those she left behind.
“Tannie Brenda left us a very personal wishlist of things she hoped Huis Nuweland could do with her legacy of love”, says manager Edwin Barnard. “And today, her wishes are being lived out.”
Residents now climb onto their own small bus for weekly trips to malls and outings bringing a new sense of freedom and adventure. The home’s tired old floors have been replaced with beautiful wooden laminated flooring, turning dull halls into warm, welcoming spaces. She didn’t like the dark, so she made sure load shedding wouldn’t win and today, Huis Nuweland shines with lights that stay on and an electricity bill that is much lighter too.
“There are still items on her wishlist we are working through, but already this gift has changed so much for us,” says Edwin. “It wasn’t something we expected, and that makes it so much more beautiful. Her love didn’t end when she passed away, it continues to bless Huis Nuweland and even other Badisa old age homes. She has touched hundreds of lives and started conversations that will last for years to come.”
So, when you see the Huis Nuweland bus on the move, know that it carries more than residents, it carries a lasting token of love from one woman who wanted her story to keep on giving.
