Our First Visit
My late partner Michael and I first visited South Africa in 2005. During that trip, I met Jaucki, a remarkable tour guide who introduced us to our first glimpse of township life.
Many people mistakenly equate townships with shanty towns. But a township is a real, living community — where children go to school, people go to work, and neighbours share stories across the garden gate.
Of course, like any community, challenges exist. Issues such as drug and alcohol abuse can deeply impact families, with individuals sometimes resorting to theft from loved ones to sustain an addiction. It’s heart-breaking, and family life is often the first casualty.
Meeting Dreamcatcher
It was through Jaucki that I met Anthea Rossouw, the founder of Dreamcatcher South Africa — a visionary social enterprise that empowers marginalised communities through sustainable tourism, education, and entrepreneurial support.
Dreamcatcher trains women to become self-sufficient, giving them the skills and confidence to raise their families with dignity. Like all parents, they want their children to go to school, find meaningful work, and live with hope.
Over 15 years, Michael and I returned every December, spending a month supporting local families. I delivered entrepreneurship programmes for women working from home. Michael, ever the photographer, captured the heart and soul of the people we met with extraordinary insight.
I’m proud to say that Carole Spiers Group is a partner of Dreamcatcher South Africa. We support their mission, and they are always seeking volunteers to help continue this vital work — from education and mentoring to creative and business development roles.
My First Assignment: Building Confidence
My very first assignment in April 2025 was to deliver a confidence-building programme to a group of teenagers to a school in the Kwanangaba township.
Encouraging these young people to stand up, make eye contact with one another, and offer a firm handshake was no small feat. They went along with it, but it didn’t come naturally to them. For some, it was the first time they had been asked to present themselves with such presence and self-assurance.
But they were willing — and that willingness, that openness to grow, was both humbling and inspiring.
Continuing My Work — In His Memory
Michael passed away last year, but before he died, we talked about me continuing the work we began together.
And so, in April this year, I returned — this time on my own — to reconnect with the people we had supported and to meet others I had yet to know. I’m still delivering the same message: helping people manage stress, improve their health and wellbeing and build resilience in their daily lives.
Stress Knows No Borders
Is stress in a South African township so different from stress in London? In many ways, no.
When I delivered a stress management workshop to local businesswomen, I heard the same frustrations I’ve heard in boardrooms in the UK: poor communication, lack of time, and the sense that no one is really listening. People are people, wherever they live.
A Community That Cares
Although it’s been over six years since I last visited — with the pandemic keeping us all apart — I was welcomed back with open arms.
Now, sitting in a homestay [guest house] in Melkhoutfontein, I watch people going about their lives. Children walk to school, people head off to work, and neighbours wave as they pass by.
Final Reflections
I’m not saying life here is easy. The devastation caused by addiction knows no borders. But here, extended families often stay close — parents, children, and grandchildren living under one roof. And when things go wrong, the community steps in to support one another.
A South African township is far from a utopia, but it holds a powerful lesson in resilience and human connection.
As I prepare to deliver another stress management session tomorrow, I feel quietly reflective — and deeply grateful that I am able to continue the work that Michael and I started, together.
If you’d like to learn more or volunteer with Dreamcatcher South Africa, visit dreamcatchersouthafrica.com.
