What do Early B, Leah and Jayden Nell have in common?
It was the question that set the scene for Badisa’s From Paper to Possibilities Conference and Annual General Meeting (AGM), held on Wednesday, 9 September 2026, at Die Bron Church, Willowbridge Centre in Bellville.
By the end of the day, however, the questions worth taking home were more personal: Am I living out my purpose, in my life and in my workplace? Am I being a connector or a disruptor?
With soul-searching conversations, new connections, incredible entertainment and good food, the event was everything Badisa had hoped for and more. It offered space to reflect, reasons to celebrate and a reminder that meaningful change begins with people willing to get involved.
Not your usual conference
The event’s Air Badisa travel concept and paper-plane theme offered a playful way to explore a serious idea: how do we move from plans on a page to action that makes a difference? Like a paper plane, an idea needs more than careful folding. At some point, someone has to give it the chance to fly.
Charles Tertiens helped bring that spirit to life with a combination of magic, humour and his role as master of ceremonies. His interactive approach kept the audience involved, creating room for laughter and surprise alongside the day’s deeper conversations. This was not simply a programme to sit through, but an experience to be part of.
Early B brought his own energy to the morning. His storytelling captured the audience’s attention, while his music had the crowd up on their feet. It was a combination that showed how reflection and celebration can belong in the same space.
Purpose beyond the paperwork
Alongside the entertainment, the programme was designed around discovering strengths and calling, building meaningful networks, working with the media and bringing communities together for good. The line-up also included Liomee Vosloo and Ilana Steyn, reflecting the event’s blend of personal reflection and practical learning.
It is easy for the purpose behind our work to become buried under deadlines, reports and everyday d
emands. The conference offered an opportunity to step back and consider not only what we do, but why we do it and how that purpose is reflected in the way we treat others.
For Badisa, which works through more than 130 community-based programmes across the Western Cape and parts of the Northern and Eastern Cape, these questions reach far beyond a single event. Behind the plans and paperwork are people, families and communities. Reconnecting with purpose means remembering who the work is ultimately for.
Connection was also part of the event’s design. The supplier exhibition created a space for businesses to introduce their work and explore opportunities within the wider Badisa network. It reinforced the idea that a conversation can be the starting point for something neither person could achieve alone.
An AGM with a twist
The evening carried that same spirit into an AGM presented in a different format. With the feel of a live television show, it brought couch conversations, interviews, music and storytelling together with Badisa’s formal annual business.
The approach gave the evening a personal quality without losing sight of its purpose. There was room to reflect on the organisation’s work while also listening to the people and stories that give that work meaning.
One of the most moving moments came when Jayden Nell shared his story. His account left barely a dry eye in the room, bringing a depth of emotion that stood alongside the day’s laughter and celebration. It was a reminder of the power of making space for someone’s story and truly listening.
Leah added another special dimension through a live, in-person interview and concert performance. The combination gave guests an opportunity to connect with her through both conversation and music, rather than a performance alone.
From Early B getting the crowd on their feet in the morning to Jayden’s deeply moving contribution and Leah’s interview and concert, the event showed how stories can reach people in different ways.
Making possibilities possible, together
Badisa extends special thanks to its major sponsors, Network Brokers, Tsebo-Fedics, XL Events and Wild Expeditions, whose support helped bring From Paper to Possibilities to life.
Their involvement was a practical expression of the event’s central message: possibilities grow when people and organisations contribute what they can towards a shared purpose.
The organisation also thanks all its other sponsors, exhibitors, suppliers, speakers, performers, volunteers and organising team, as well as every attendee who brought their energy, curiosity and willingness to connect.
The real value of the day now lies in what follows. It is in the colleague we approach differently, the conversation we continue, the relationship we nurture and the idea we finally choose to act on.
The programme may have ended, but the invitation remains: reconnect with your purpose, reach out to someone new, and take the next step from paper to possbilities.
Natalie Gabriels Photography: Click here, download with code 7448
