Dear Betsie, I feel for your situation and, as the Chair and Treasurer of a UK charity, I want to help South Africa!
My wife was raised in South Africa (Kloof inland from Durban) until she was 20 years old and then came to the UK to become a nurse. We have been together since 1978. It was in 1998 that we all visited that area (Pinetown) - with our three young daughters - and I came to appreciate the beauty of the country. I now have 4 children and 13 grandchildren, so i am very sensitised to the fate of young innocent human beings.
Later on our charity IRFF UK was introduced by a South African lady in Port Elizabeth to the Walmer Angels charity and we have been supporting a SHINE literacy programme, a period poverty programme and a soup kitchen there, as well as helping 5 young people to get into university. The lady who runs that fourth project has actually joined our UK team as a social media person.
Dear Betsie, there are so many good people in the world if one can find them - you sound like one of them. Please consider whether there is anyone you know, any way you know in which better off South Africans and companies could help us help children in their country. IRFF UK Is not interested in funds for itself, in fact i am thinking that any funds raised in the country should go straight to a project there - an existing one or our new “save at least as few children from dying of hunger” project.
Our website is www.irff-uk.org - all support helps!
I wish you well with your book - and lets work together for a better future for all of us, particularly the children!
Hi everyone!
I’m Tim, currently a student at UCT doing maths and CS (or is maths and CS doing me 
). I’m the Treasurer and Section Editor for Research and Innovation at Varsity Newspaper at UCT, and we were invited to The Gathering at CTICC, which is where I first heard about DM Connect.
I’m a huge believer in positive change and using knowledge and skills to empower people. Super excited to have joined Insider’s and see what comes from here!
Hi, my name is Eckart. I’m a retired physical oceanographer with an interest in the environment, in particular the coasts and weather and climate. But since politics gets in everywhere, I also have an abiding interest in what people are doing in South Africa and the world.
Hello Insiders!
Being part of an online community without the drag of todays social media platforms is a breeze of fresh air! Happy to be here!
I’m Shaun, a leadership and mental health consultant and a coach. My passion is to create small communities for entrepreneurs and business owners where they can exchange ideas and experiences and have a safe space to share their challenges. Its called SameSame Team, and it’s still in the development stage 
I believe that authentic and honest human connections will become even more valuable in today’s AI and tech-driven world. I hope to contribute by facilitating online and IRL connections, workshops, and communities for value-driven businessmen.
I’m a fan of hiking, friends coming together for a bite and drink, and sci-fi.
Hi everyone! I am currently engaged in dreariest of roles with an international tech corporation, but it is by choice. My health dictated that I work from home, and I have not yet leveled up my vastly more appealing interests to manage to pay the rent. My main interest is social justice, particularly at the ideological intersection of politics and economics. Most of my views are from the perspective that we are all absolute beginners when trying to navigate a world and a future that none of us has ever experienced. The necessities of maintaining an income almost caused mental lethargy, and I have taken up painting (at which I am terrible), writing (which was a forté a while ago), and of course reading, without which a mind atrophies. I am hoping to rekindle constructive engagement here, which is so sorely lacking on the social platform with a placeholder name (one solves for X in mathematics) that I used to frequent.
My reading list right now includes Western Empires, (by Prof. Sampie Terblanche), How did We get into This Mess (George Monbiot), The Panama Papers (again, Obermayer), The Gay Science (a real struggle, Nietzsche), The Rebel (Camus, when Nietzsche gets too much), and The Origins of Political Order (Fukuyama). I also have superficial interest in cosmology, anthropology, and the recent work on mitochondrial symbiosis within human cells.
Hey Maverick Insiders.
Great to be part of this new community. I’m Kevin. A journalist by training, communicator and change agent by profession, and a lifelong believer in the power of storytelling to shift mindsets and drive change.
Since graduating from Rhodes in the early nineties, I’ve done a lot of crazy and interesting jobs to pay the bills and earn my stripes – but still holding out hope to either marry rich or win the lotto one day😉 There is so much of this beautiful world still to see and traveling on the Rand takes a lot of creativity. As a proudly Jozi boy born and raised, I’ve been fortunate to live and work across the globe, but I always return to South Africa – as this is home and where my heart remains.
It’s also where I believe I can make the most impact, through my efforts in defending human rights and social justice, and my work at Impact Institute. As one of the founding members, I’m proud to be part of a South African start-up that’s mission-locked on helping companies measure and report on their sustainable social impact in more holistic, standardised and meaningful ways. We help businesses quantify their social impact performance and tell their stories more effectively – aiming to shift transformation from a compliance or philanthropic exercise to a core strategic and sustainable practice.
Having recently relocated to the Western Cape with my dog, Lola – with whom I have a very unhealthy co-dependent relationship 
- I’m enjoying the natural beauty and slower pace of the Cape while continuing to do my best to leave the world a little better than I found it.
I’m here to connect, collaborate, and contribute with like-minded humans - and I look forward to engaging with fellow Insiders, communicators, changemakers, business leaders and sustainability professionals.
Hi everyone. My name is Margaret. I am the managing director of Urban Earth. We facilitate action to promote environmental sustainability with a specific focus on energy and climate change projects.
Ahoy, Good Peoples! I go by Ewokessay professionally but I’m also iain to others. I spell my name with a small i intentionally because if I don’t people end up calling me Lain. The way my name works is important to me with my background as a graffiti artist. Now I paint murals for a living, as well as performing professionally as a poet and a musician. I really love the idea of this platform 
Hi, I am Pierre Hunter. I have been living in The Netherlands since 1991 but get to SA on a regular basis - business, family and vacations. I follow SA news mainly via DM. World affairs, investing, technology, photography, tennis, hiking and cooking are my interests. Was fortunate to attend the recent The Gathering in Cape Town in person. Well worth the effort.
Welcome! Your financial management skills will definitely come in handy in our current economic climate.
Hello, and welcome, iain!
I’m in Düsseldorf at the moment, and am very intrigued to go see the Banksy exhibition tomorrow. I’ve always appreciated graffiti art.
Hi all. I am Heather with an unpronounceable surname, Ahlschlager, an anti-fraud and corruption Attorney (or Senior Forensic Legal advisor) working at JVA Attorneys in Cape Town, passionate about corruption issues after my 25-year stint at the SIU. I love: music, reading fiction, my kitten, my church, walking with my St Bernard on beaches or forests with husband and any of my three daughters, and traveling. I am currently writing a crime novel. Happy to be here!
Hi everyone, Jannes Buys here from the beautiful Garden Route. Been a longtime subscriber to DM, and happy to also join in on this fun.
Currently working as a small business owner and director of a Non-Profit working mainly with youth and community development.
Love to travel, creatively and strategically problem solve and of course my maniacal GSP that keeps life interesting no matter what!
Hi,
My name is Samantha Perry. I’m an ex-journalist now running a niche tech-focussed PR and content creation agency. I’m doing an eMBA in my 5 minutes of spare time a day and also walk my thugs, I mean dogs, crochet, and help to keep some of the local homeless and vulnerable fed.
This UX reminds me of the message boards we had back in the Internet Olde Days. 
Welcome Samantha, it is lovely to have you. If you have any more feedback or thoughts on the UX, I would love to hear it, as I am always looking for ways to improve this site and make the best it can be for you all
That wasn’t criticism, sorry, it’s more like nostalgia. I’ve not been in a community like this in aaaages. It’s great. 
Oh no I didn’t interpret your post as criticism, UX really is on my mind all the time and I genuinely enjoy hearing how people experience the site 
Phew. I’m glad to hear. I’ll definitely let you have feedback as it occurs to me.
Hello! I am Cheryl Tonkin, and exploring this space for the first time. I have a deep concern for our beautiful country. I am a retired educator who recently moved to the Overberg, and find myself immersed in our beautiful landscapes. I love traveling.
Hello all. My name is Frances. I am elderly, partly retired and leading a busy life. My interest in politics began when I arrived in Somerset West from Johannesburg in 2011 and Daily Maverick has been my most trusted source of news and information. I enjoy bridge, walking or hiking, music and word games amongst others. I also volunteer for U3A Helderberg. I am looking forward to reading what other Insiders have to say and possibly contributing!