Tesswin Shares His Journey from Neurodiversity to Belonging

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A 17-year-old from Macassar flourishes through specialised education and community support, showing what’s possible when given a chance

Macassar, South Africa (22 July 2025) – Twenty years ago, Stéphan Pieterse laced up his running shoes with a purpose that stretched far beyond the finish line. That purpose became Distance For Difference (D4D), a charity that raises funds through sport to uplift vulnerable children in South Africa. Since 2005, D4D has raised over R13 million, and behind each rand is a story worth telling.

One of those stories belongs to Tesswin Douries, a 17-year-old boy from Macassar in the Western Cape.

Tesswin lives with neurodiversity (a form of autism) and, for most of his life, the world did not quite know how to support him. That changed in 2023. Thanks to funds raised by D4D and the kindness of many (including Dr Bryony May), Tesswin was given the chance to attend Mondeor Eco School in Somerset West. It’s a school that recognises and nurtures the unique needs of children like him.

And Tesswin? He has flourished. He is excelling academically and stepping into leadership among his peers. The most powerful part of his story is how he found his feet, growing in confidence, showing strong academic progress, and emerging as a quiet leader among his classmates. He often speaks about how positive the environment is.

Tesswin lives in a small home with his grandmother, his mother (who is disabled), and his two younger sisters. Life is not easy, but his progress at school has brought a new sense of possibility to his family. There is hope now that he will complete his schooling in 2026, and that his future won’t be defined by what he lacked in the past, but by what he is becoming.

This year, Distance For Difference marks 20 years since it began raising funds to support vulnerable children like Tesswin. Over the past two decades, the organisation has quietly and consistently made a difference in children’s lives across South Africa.

Tesswin’s story is just one among many. It reminds us how powerful it can be when someone is seen, supported, and given the chance to flourish.

Distance For Difference has set up a GivenGain campaign so people can contribute directly to the Tesswin Superhero fund: https://www.givengain.com/campaign/tesswin-douries