What started as a Public Relations assignment became a two-month campaign with a whole lot of heart as six Boston Media House students raised R6,500 and collected more than 200 cans of food for Hearts of Hope.
Sandton, South Africa (09 September 2026) – With big hearts and a shared purpose, six third-year Public Relations students at Boston Media House recently turned their PR assignment into a heartfelt labour of love.
Through their Hearts2Hope initiative, they poured their creativity, energy, teamwork and PR skills into raising awareness and rallying the community behind Hearts of Hope, a wonderful home in Wendywood that provides a safe, loving family environment for 52 orphaned and vulnerable children.
Running across the Sandton and Arcadia campuses, the campaign turned fundraising into something fun and engaging. From campus activations and social media to the brightly hand-painted ‘Can of Hope’ donation drum, students were encouraged to get involved, donate cans and enter a raffle featuring exciting prizes.
The group assignment quickly became a passion project for the six final-year students, who pooled their talents, contacts and resources to turn awareness into action and raised R6,500.
The campaign could not have achieved these results without the generous support of the wider community. SPAR Group generously contributed cans of food and goodie bags, which were presented at the final handover event, while Comic Con Africa, Steri Stumpie, Empire Entertainment, Unleaded 95, Sealand Gear, Be Beautiful, Nails on 11th and L’tido Podcast also got behind the campaign with generous contributions and support.
A Spring Day Play Date, where eight special guests from Hearts of Hope joined the students on campus, wrapped up the campaign in a day filled with music, dancing, face painting, ice cream and childhood games!
According to Deborah Van Dongen, CEO of Hearts of Hope, who joined the students on the day, the organisation appreciated the students’ efforts for every can donated and for all who participated in the raffle draw to support and raise awareness of the work Hearts of Hope does.
For the students, the experience brought a very real dimension to their Public Relations studies, showing that when creativity and communication are combined with compassion, a campaign can create genuine impact.
To support Hearts of Hope, visit www.heartsofhope.org.za, or to see more of Hearts2Hope, follow @PR3_2026 on Instagram.
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