Here are six South African feel-good positive news stories you may have missed while staying at home!
South Africa (13 May 2020) – With the majority of the world in lockdown in a bid to curb the spread of COVID-19, humankind has been showing off its good side, offering hope during these dark and distressing times.
Here are six South African feel-good positive news stories you may have missed while staying at home:
SPCA Bloemfontein rescues monkey from a cell tower on day 1 of SA’s lockdown
As South Africans were settling into the first day of lockdown, staff at the SPCA in Bloemfontein received an emergency call about residents in an informal settlement throwing rocks at a monkey on a cell tower. When the team arrived on the scene, the monkey was 50 metres up the tower and residents ignored the team’s request to disperse. The SPCA called the authorities for help, but none arrived, so they had to take matters into their own hands. They were able to get access to a schoolyard, after which three staff members climbed the tower carrying a net. After two hours in very windy conditions, the monkey was finally rescued and transported to a sanctuary.
WorksheetCloud offers free online classes for locked down learners
WorksheetCloud, an educational partner to the MySchool MyVillage MyPlanet programme, has opened 20 new daily online classes, running from Monday to Friday, with the help of a donation from MySchool MyVillage MyPlanet. The lessons are available to learners in grades one to nine, and cover mathematics, English and natural sciences. Additional subjects are added regularly. WorksheetCloud also offers downloadable homework activities to keep learners up-to-date with their curricula.
Engen brands 35 spaza shops to educate communities about COVID-19
With overcrowding a reality in most informal settlements, making it difficult for residents to abide by the government’s lockdown restrictions, Engen has stepped in with an education campaign to help out. The company has converted the walls of township businesses into educational murals in vernacular languages, highlighting the importance of social distancing, handwashing, covering one’s mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing, and regularly disinfecting surfaces, amongst other things. Spaza shop owners have also received training and personal protection equipment (PPE), including hand sanitisers and face masks.
SPCA Cape of Good Hope cares for homeless people’s pets
Cape Town’s homeless were placed in temporary housing facilities during the national Level 5 lockdown – but their pets were not allowed to join them. The SPCA Cape of Good Hope stepped in, committing to take care of the affected pets for as long as their owners weren’t able to do so.
Uitenhage stylist uses his dreadlocks to teach kids about COVID-19
Onele Cembi, a hairstylist from KwaNobhuhle in Uitenhage, is using his styling skills to teach kids in his community about the Sars-Cov-2 coronavirus and the COVID-19 disease it causes. Cembi takes about an hour to fashion his dreadlocks into the words “COVID19”, “quarantine” or “lockdown”, using additional dreadlocks if necessary. He says that whenever he encounters kids playing in the streets, they ask him about his hair – and he uses the opportunity to give them a lesson in the importance of staying home and washing hands.
Celebs join Charlize Theron to protect South African women from gender-based violence
In April, SA export and movie star Charlize Theron’s Africa Outreach Project (CTAOP), CARE and the Entertainment Industry Foundation (EIF) launched Together for Her. The initiative aims to deploy funds to address the needs of vulnerable women and children who experience domestic violence amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. The funds raised through Together For Her will support shelters, psycho-social support, counselling, helplines and crisis interventions such as PATCH Helderberg Child Abuse Centre, The Teddy Bear Clinic for Abused Children and Families South Africa (Famsa), all of which are also supported by MySchool MyVillage MyPlanet.
MySchool MyVillage MyPlanet continues to support organisations in need across South Africa during this unprecedented time. You can help them help others by swiping your MySchool MyVillage MyPlanet or linked Woolworths card every time you shop for essentials online or in-store. To sign up, visit myschool.co.za or download the App.
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