Led by a beautiful call for public participation, Sandton City collaborated with the Riky Rick Foundation to inspire hope through creative expression.
Sandton, South Africa (06 November 2025) – When Sandton City put out a call for South Africans to share healing words of encouragement for those struggling with mental health, nobody could have imagined the lyrical magic that was about to unfold. What began as a nationwide call to share words of encouragement has now grown into a moving song of hope and an immersive in-centre experience that celebrates the power of creative expression in supporting youth mental wellness. This collaborative project between Sandton City and the Riky Rick Foundation, which gave South Africans a platform to express their support for mental health, has left South Africa in awe.
Let’s start at the beginning… Earlier this year, Sandton City invited shoppers to share voice notes filled with words of encouragement and care. The kind of words that one would use to help uplift a friend or a loved one. The kind of words used to help someone who is struggling. The words you use to tell someone you love them, without formally saying “I love you”.
Hundreds of voice notes were sent in, and the team began the work of piecing those words together to create a mosaic of lyrics for the powerful song “Words That Heal” featuring the voice of the late Riky Rick. The song, which is a hip-hop track, has now been released to remind people that they are not alone and that there are many voices behind them, encouraging them to keep moving forward. The end result is truly a South African masterpiece.
Some of our favourite outtakes? These are just a few lines we loved: “There are people you haven’t met yet, that need your smile”, “We’ll do it together, don’t give up” and “Healing isn’t always loud, every step forward, matters“!
Take a listen to the inspiring song below.
And it didn’t end there… With the unveiling of this song, Sandton City also opened a pop-up store, retailing limited edition merchandise created especially for this project.
From now until 9 November, shoppers can step into the Words That Heal experiential activation, situated on the upper level next to BOSS in Sandton City. Designed in collaboration with acclaimed artist Samurai Farai, the space showcases limited-edition items, such as T-shirts, hoodies, and scarves, inspired by “artivism,” the meeting point of creativity and activism that Riky Rick championed. Items start from as little as R150, and from 10 November, will be available online at https://sandtoncity.com.
All proceeds from these merchandise sales will go directly to the Riky Rick Foundation, which supports youth mental well-being and creates platforms for creative expression as a form of healing. Visitors can also pledge their support online here to contribute to mental health initiatives across the country.
Mental health conversations are important. Every day, South Africa loses an estimated 23 people to suicide, with hundreds more attempting to take their lives. Through this initiative, Sandton City aims to continue to provide hope, raise awareness and champion meaningful conversations around mental health.
For more information, visit www.sandtoncity.com or follow @sandtoncitymall on social media to join the Words That Heal movement.
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