Five ways to support a cause and give back

Want to give back to a cause you care about and make a positive impact in your community, but not sure where to start or how to go about it? We’ve got you covered!

Start by trying out one of the following five ways to support people or animals in need around you:

1. Fashion accessories with purpose: Wear your heart on your sleeve by opting for cute bracelets or other fashion items that speak to a community initiative or an organisation doing good in a field you care about. We love the pretty, colourful, beaded bracelet from Relate Bracelets. Through the sale of bracelets that are beaded by seniors from communities such as Ikamva Labantu, the organisation supports a variety of notable causes that provide clean drinkable water to communities; help the fight against malaria and other health organisations. Find these bracelets at Woolworths and Poetry.
2. Like, share and repost to show your support: We all know what a powerful tool social media is when it comes to spreading awareness – and you can do it from the comfort of your couch. Follow charitable causes who you care about and help inspire others to get involved by either donating your time or money to help boost their social media presence  or by simply posting about their work from time to time. 
3. Use your talents to support a cause: You may not be able to give money towards a cause, but if you have a talent or hobby that could help, you could use this to assist a cause you are passionate about. For example, if you are passionate about food security, and you have green fingers, you could look into supporting a community food garden or even start one yourself for a community in need. Not only are people from the community able to sustain themselves and eat from the project you start – but they can sell the produce and earn money through subsistence farming. This goes in line with the old adage that says,” ‘Give a man a fish, and you feed him for a day; teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime”. This method of farming is the most widely used by many rural communities for financial support and food security.
4. Declutter and donate: Most of us have way too much stuff stashed in our cupboards, so why not take the time to declutter, free up some space, get organised and donate whatever you haven’t used in the last year. Be it gently used clothing, household goods or even furniture – if you don’t need or use it, someone else will. Make sure to donate to a reputable NGO with a credible track record of making a meaningful impact. By verifying the organisation’s formal NPO status on governmental platform npo.gov.za, you’ll be making sure that your donation is put to good use.
5. Share your skills through mentorship: Giving isn’t always about goods, items and money. Your knowledge and experience are precious resources that sometimes get overlooked when considering how to give back and support charitable causes. There is a lot of value that your talents can add to a charitable cause you are passionate about. Identify a worker or an NGO you can donate your time and skills to, in terms of mentorship and skills transfer and offer support in this way.