What does caring at Badisa look like in practice?
This Mandela Month, it looked like blankets from PEP Stores and PAXI bringing warmth to Huis Ravenzicht, a beautiful hand-painted mural transforming a space at Huis Wittekruin, and support from The Community Chest of the Western Cape blessing the residents of Huis van Heerde.
It looked like the Lions Club of Durbanville 2.0 sharing care packs and companionship at Huis Ravenzicht; Just Property delivering cupcakes and messages of encouragement to Huis Aristea; and Harcourts Dunn Breede Valley reminding the residents of Huis Lafras Moolman that they are seen and valued.
At Goue Aar Tehuis, the halls were filled with music, worship, food and laughter thanks to the Department of Social Development, CANSA Western Cape, PathCare, Crestcare Hospital, the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure, the CPF community group, Nova Feeds and Quantum Foods.
At Alta du Toit Centre, volunteers established a new vegetable garden, hosted activities and created unforgettable experiences. Huis Nuweland received lovingly packed treats from young learners, while the children at Steinthal CYCC were spoiled with special gifts, warm soup and freshly made vetkoek.
We have also been abundantly blessed by volunteers such as James and Marietjie Noble, whose beautifully knitted and crocheted items carry warmth, care and love into the lives of others.
But partnership is about giving and receiving.
Across the Badisa family, our staff, residents and children also stepped out to serve. They prepared sandwiches for people waiting at clinics, distributed clothing, served soup, visited older persons, read to young children and created moments of joy in their communities.
These stories remind us that caring is never a one-way journey. Sometimes we receive the blanket, the meal or the helping hand, and sometimes we are the ones who give it.
This is the abundance of partnership: everyone bringing what they have, everyone finding a way to serve and everyone becoming part of something greater.
To every volunteer, staff member, donor, business and community partner: thank you for showing us what caring looks like in practice. Together, we receive. Together, we give.