Beautiful News

19/09/2025

Virunga is Africa’s oldest national park, home to thousands of plant and animal species – and famously, a large share of the world’s last wild mountain gorillas. It’s also been the centre of environmental and political turmoil.

Oil concessions were previously provided to regions which overlapped with the World Heritage Site. The possibility of oil exploration threatens not just the animals but the people whose livelihoods depend on Virunga. Under pressure from conservationists, this was suspended. However, other conservation corridors and ecologically sensitive areas remain at risk should they not be given the same attention.

Virunga has also been under threat from the military activity of armed groups. While locals have committed to risking everything to safeguard the park and its magnificent animals, more than 175 fearless rangers have already lost their lives.

Despite the dangers presented in the Democratic Republic of Congo and its neighbouring countries, many intrepid travellers and wildlife lovers have trekked to these forests to come face to face with mountain gorillas. They inspire awe and action, but if we want to protect these magnificent animals, we first need to protect Virunga’s habitat and its rangers. Our futures are intertwined.

Virunga is Africa’s oldest national park, home to thousands of plant and animal species – and famously, a large share of the world’s last wild mountain goril...

17/09/2025

The Bookery has opened its 100th school library at Montana Primary in Kalksteenfontein, a milestone in the fight to tackle South Africa’s literacy crisis. Statistics show that a high percentage of primary school learners cannot read for meaning, and in many public schools where basic educational resources are needed, functioning libraries may seem like a luxury. Yet books play a crucial role in children’s learning and development.

Since 2010, The Bookery has been building libraries across the Western Cape, Eastern Cape, and Gauteng, stocking them with thousands of books, training and employing library assistants, and ensuring these literacy hubs are sustainable beyond launch. This dual approach not only nurtures a culture of reading but also creates jobs and skills development opportunities.

In addition to its great selection of age-appropriate books, their libraries also offer safe, calming spaces for kids to find respite. By combining resources, training, and community support, The Bookery is helping young South Africans gain the tools to succeed in school and beyond.

The Bookery

Image credits: The Bookery

10/09/2025

From using his belt as a tourniquet to stop the bleeding of a shark bite victim to advocating for the very creatures so many fear, Monwabisi Sikweyiya has spent more than two decades saving both human and shark lives with Shark Spotters.

Based in Cape Town and recently expanded to Plettenberg Bay, the organisation pioneers innovative solutions to keep swimmers and sharks safely apart, provides emergency response services in the event of an incident, and drives forward shark research and conservation.

As a field manager, Monwabisi leads a team of 30 shark spotters who raise the alarm when sharks are close, while also raising awareness about why we need to give these apex predators space. Great white sharks are vital in balancing prey populations, preventing ecosystem collapse, and maintaining the health of our oceans.

Through his work, Monwabisi has drawn knowledge from fishers, scientists, surfers and swimmers, deepening his understanding of shark behaviour and their ecological importance. This journey has shifted not only his own perspective, but also that of others, from fear to respect.

Shark Spotters

Crisis. Opportunity. Sometimes the two words mean the same thing. That was the case for Monwabisi Sikweyiya when a shark attacked a swimmer off Clovelly Beac...

05/09/2025

More than 100 000 teenagers give birth every year in South Africa. Many of these new mothers come from marginalised backgrounds, have weak support systems, and don’t finish high school. Without the means to create a better future for their children, the cycle repeats itself. Seamstress Suraya Williams is determined to break this pattern. She founded the Design26 Foundation, an organisation in Mitchells Plain that offers sewing lessons, counselling, and motivational sessions for those in need of a second chance.

What began as a small community initiative has grown into a major driver of youth empowerment on the Cape Flats. To date, Suraya has trained more than 1 250 beneficiaries in handcraft production, upcycling, and small business management with a focus on sustainability, equipping them with sewing, entrepreneurship, and business readiness skills. By partnering with schools, NGOs, and private companies, she’s been able to not only impact more people but also build networks that will support her students and open up opportunities for them once they’ve completed their training. “Many of these graduates have gone on to start their own micro-enterprises, gain employment in the textile industry, or generate an income from home-based production and being employed at Design26,” Suraya says.

Building on this success, the team recently purchased land to open the first sewing skills and incubation hub in Mitchells Plain. “This will be a vibrant space for training, business incubation, mentorship, and job creation, directly addressing unemployment and skills shortages in the community,” Suraya says. Through these workshops, young mothers can now acquire practical skills to tailor their lives and become confident career women. “I want the girls who come to my programme to believe they are destined for more,” Suraya says.

Suraya Petersen Williams | Design26 Foundation

Teenage girls face countless challenges. But some face the most daunting of them all – motherhood. The shame and strain of unplanned pregnancies often thrust...

30/08/2025

It may look like just a fashionable accessory, but for thousands of recipients, these handbags carry items that can restore their dignity and bring hope during hard times.

Susan Harwood began her Bags Of Love initiative 15 years ago, filling a few unused handbags each month with essential items for homeless people in Johannesburg. Her project has since snowballed to meet various needs. Dignity packs are now created and distributed to police stations, safe havens, as well as TEARS Foundation – an NGO that provides counselling and crisis intervention to GBV survivors, and Teddy Bear Clinic which advocates against child abuse. Beyond essential toiletries and clothing required by women and children who’ve left abusive homes, the packs contain luxurious extras to make them feel loved, valued, and cared for.

In times of crisis – such as during Covid and in winter when shack fires become more prevalent – Bags Of Love has expanded its efforts to include food parcels, meals, and blankets. And as an avid conservation supporter and trustee of the Balule Outreach Trust, Susan also packs essentials and snacks for the attendees of Koru Camp, a conservation initiative that provides opportunities for people from disadvantaged communities to engage with nature in the Greater Kruger area.

Susan’s efforts are supported by her daughters, Jenna and Sasha, and housekeeper, Esther Ncube, and made possible by donations from friends, family, the Dainfern community, and kind strangers. “Without their generosity, we couldn’t do half of what we do,” she says.

If you are in Johannesburg and would like to contribute, you can contact Susan on [email protected] or follow ‘Susan Harwood BAGS Of Love’ on Facebook.

For those who’d like to start doing something similar wherever they’re based, Susan recommends a new or gently used handbag filled with the following essentials: face cloth, soap, toothbrush, toothpaste, deodorant, tissues, sanitary pads, lip balm, lotion, comb, mini toiletry bag, and non-perishable food items. She also suggests extras such as a notebook and pen, a sweet and savoury snack, a juice, a soft scarf or pair of socks, school stationery and school shoes for kids, an item of costume jewellery, and if the sizes of the recipient are known, a shirt and new underwear.



All images supplied by Susan Harwood/Bags of Love.

27/08/2025

Sibusiso Kubheka makes history as the first person in the world to run 100km in under six hours 🇿🇦

26/08/2025

If it wasn’t for Aneska and Shaun Spies, hundreds of animals would be suffering under extreme weather conditions. With what little spare time and resources they have, the couple builds kennels for dogs in low-income areas whose owners don’t have the means to create a shelter for them. Their initiative, Kennels For A Cause, began in 2021 as a humble operation that has since built close to 500 kennels.

“My vision is to one day have our own dedicated workshop, a space where we can create opportunities for individuals from townships to learn how to build kennels,” Aneska says. “The aim is to upskill them so they can take this knowledge back into their own communities, helping to meet the overwhelming need for kennels while also creating a source of income for themselves.” It’s a big dream, Aneska admits, but she believes that the right people will cross their paths to make their dream of empowering people and caring for animals come true.

And so far, their overwhelming kindness has attracted even more generosity and proven the power of community. Thanks to local businesses and the kindness of strangers all over South Africa, Kennels For A Cause has even facilitated a cross-country delivery of kennels, hand-sewn dog beds, and gift bags filled with pet necessities and treats to an animal rescuer in the Eastern Cape. “Any small act of kindness can drastically change a life,” Aneska says.

Kennels For a Cause

In Cape Town, South Africa, dogs without shelters have to deal with extremes. From the scorching summer sun to the cold, wet days of winter, they face harsh ...

22/08/2025

Scientists studying kelp beds off the coast of iSimangaliso Wetland Park in KwaZulu-Natal made an unexpected discovery when they found a rare bed of rhodoliths. These nodules, formed from coralline algae, resemble tiny pinkish-red pebbles and have only been seen in local waters once before in the Eastern Cape.

Until recently, conservationists had speculated about their presence in broader parts of the country. The recent sighting by local and global researchers aboard the Angra Pequena pinpoints where these extremely fragile and slow-growing beds are located. It is vital that they are now protected from trawling and pollution, as they contribute to sustaining a healthy marine ecosystem in the province.

While rhodoliths are not as big as coral reefs, they are a food source and act as a habitat for many marine species, contribute to the maintenance of kelp forests and, as producers of calcium carbonate, play an important role in the carbon cycle.

This discovery highlights the importance of conservation programmes that empower people to get to know the ocean better, explore the wonders lurking in our seabeds, and contribute to the protection of our marine ecosystems.

Visit Wildoceanssa for more information on this discovery and the work being done to protect our marine life.

Image: Wild Oceans

Wildoceanssa | iSimangaliso Wetland Park

17/08/2025

A mother orangutan cradles her child. A tiger in chains coolly stares into the camera. A room piled high with elephant tusks reveals animals who are no more. Each of these photographs from 18 award-winning photographers, including our own Adrian Steirn, is travelling again as part of the MOVING PICTURES exhibition, giving voice to endangered species, fragile landscapes, and the deep connections between humans and the natural world.

In Vienna, the exhibition curated by BOS Schweiz has now found a home at the Botanical Garden of the University of Vienna. Until 21 October 2025, visitors can wander through the garden’s pathways where photographs are paired to juxtapose scenes of beauty and vulnerability. There’s a dedicated kids and family tour, as well as an information table and programme tailored to younger audiences, which includes holiday workshops and picture book cinemas.

Meanwhile in Switzerland, wildlife lovers can immerse themselves in an artistic and sensory experience at Umwelt Arena Schweiz. A selection of 56 images is showing as part of an interactive indoor space until 30 August. Alongside these, educational videos loop across screens while a unique virtual reality experience transports you to an orangutan forest school in the jungles of Borneo.

Wherever it goes, MOVING PICTURES reminds us that photography is not only about capturing the beauty of the world, but about inspiring us to preserve it. As the exhibition travels, it continues to engage with people of all ages, proving that you are never too young, and it’s never too late to do something positive for the environment.

Visit BOS Schweiz to learn more about the exhibition as well as the organisation’s efforts to support conservation.



All images supplied with credit to BOS Schweiz.

08/08/2025

Lindsey Appolis is reframing how we see the Cape Flats. Inspired by his childhood home and memories, as well as the distinct communities and neighbourhoods, Lindsey uses his photographic skills to capture the everyday beauty that’s often clouded by preconceived notions.

In doing so, he’s not only changing perceptions, but motivating locals to rise up in spite of their challenges. “There are maybe a thousand of me that’s undiscovered or hasn’t been given the opportunity to nurture this talent,” Lindsey says. “If I can do anything, it’s to bring kids up from there and say, ‘You actually can do this.’”

Lindsey Appolis

Not one second passes Lindsey Appolis by unnoticed. He sees the everyday beauty that’s often clouded by perceptions and preconceived notions. Camera in hand,...

04/08/2025

This weekend, Marimba Jam made history and broke a Guinness World Record by arranging the world’s largest ensemble of marimba players. Over 1000 musicians gathered at Grand West Arena to show off their talents, have fun, and spread joy to the crowd of supporters. The diverse group of marimba players played their hearts out and more than doubled the previous record of 505 people set in Guatemala.

In addition to their performances, Marimba Jam operates as an NPO founded by Kiara Ramklass that offers free music classes to children in disadvantaged schools. Their music of choice, the percussion instrument commonly associated with the joyful sounds of Africa, is fitting for their goal to improve children’s confidence and drive positive social change. Their most recent record-breaking event is just one in a series of initiatives that have united people through music and brought pride to South Africa.

Marimba Jam

Images credits: Marimba Jam, Wynberg Girls’ High School

01/08/2025

A diverse group of South African youth has just set off for Scotland to perform their production, Yes-Ya-Yebo!, at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. Their colourful, high-energy performance is inspired by the spirit of South Africa and shows off their singing, dancing, and storytelling skills in all 12 of the country’s official languages.

The troupe is supported by the Imibala Trust, a South African NPO based in Somerset West dedicated to empowering youth from marginalised backgrounds. Their Sponsor-a-Child programme equips children with school uniforms, stationery, and opportunities to further their education. Meanwhile, recognising that not every child has an aptitude for traditional subjects, Imibala also offers after-school creative arts programmes. Here, the learners are guided to explore art, drama, pottery, music, and ballet to improve their confidence and self-expression. This initiative has encouraged a range of creative exploration and resulted in performances such as Yes-Ya-Yebo!, which have been met with rave reviews both locally and internationally.

This will be the third time the Imibala Trust takes Yes-Ya-Yebo! to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, promising even more local hits and classics that audiences from all backgrounds will no doubt find themselves singing and dancing along to. From townships to global stages, these performers are proudly showing off South Africa’s diversity and demonstrating the immense talent that emerges when we invest in the potential of our youth.

Yes-Ya-Yebo | Imibala Trust | Edinburgh Festival Fringe