Grant Zoghby and Bridget Nortje met up with gardener Gift Zingora to hand over new safety gear for his bike and a phone to help him get closer to his dream of running a proper garden service.
Bryanston, South Africa (17 November 2022) – Gardener Gift Zingora has been blessed beyond measure by his community. After meeting Grant Zoghby, his life was changed! Grant and Bridget Nortje were so inspired by Gift, they decided to rally the community to invest in his dream. Today, he got a new phone and essential safety gear so he can keep working, but safely, in the Bryanston community and surrounds.
Gift is a fantastic gardener who takes his job seriously. He has worked on his standard bicycle, turning it into an essential garden tool kit and transport system. Seeing his handy work, Grant had stopped him to chat about what Gift does. Grant was so moved by their conversation, he started a crowdfund to get Gift’s dream off the ground.
“While driving home I noticed the lovely smile on “Gifts” face while peddling his makeshift bakkie/bicycle – I decided to stop and chat to him. He was so happy to chat and I asked him about his business and where he is from. Gift is a professional gardener born in 1962 (yes 60 years old with those big muscles) who left his home in 2010 to make a better life for himself and his family. He loves gardens and plants and currently drives his makeshift bicycle/bakkie to and from his clients. He takes all his gardening tool’s along with him including a lawnmower, a blower, brooms, rake etc all in his bike and he goes to his clients houses and services their gardens.”
Gift hopes to become a serious garden service provider who can work in two to three gardens a day. At the moment, he only manages one garden a day, as he has to cycle to each client. He rides his bicycle every day between Bryanston, Northcliff and Linden to get to his jobs. To make his dream a reality, he needs a bakkie and a team.
Initially, Grant launched the crowdfund in the hope of getting Gift a new helmet and a better light for his bike, but due to the sheer generosity of the community, there is more money to work towards making Gift’s dream a reality.
Grant was aided by Bridget Nortje in coming up with a few ideas on how best to support Gift. They never imagined the crowdfund would take off and do so well.
“I don’t think either of us could have expected to receive the response that we have from the community at large. South African’s truly are so remarkable and the most wonderful at rallying together for the greater good!” – Bridget Nortje
With the money raised, they all agreed that Gift could use a new, reliable phone to make it easier to connect with clients. They also planned to purchase safety equipment such as new gum boots for his garden work and safety upgrades for his bicycle so he can be safe on the road.
This was done yesterday and now Gift has the start of the tools needed to make his dream of owning his own fully-kitted gardening business, a reality.
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“As of yesterday, we completed our phase one goals – we were able to bless Gift with a new cellphone, new gum boots for his work as well as a new bicycle helmet and two safety lights for his bicycle. He was so grateful and happy! He rode off showing off all of his new items” – Bridget
They have raised nearly R40,000 for Gift so far. The next step will be to secure the additional funds raised where they can earn interest which can then enable Gift to purchase a secondhand bakkie or perhaps even a TukTuk which will make his travels far more efficient.
They are really excited about all the opportunities for Gift and his future. You can join in by checking out the crowdfund on BackaBuddy here.
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