Not victims any more… November 22, 2012 by SAPeople I used to park in an empty field up the road from where I work in Gardens (Cape Town) – but my nerves jangle each time I take my laptop out the boot and have to walk 2 blocks to the office. There is a soup kitchen near this empty field and feel it is a matter of time before someone realises this lady arrives at x time with y laptop. Sad, but that is the reality, you have to think like a criminal in SA to try avoid being caught out – which already happened 2 weeks after moving back to CT, when my boot was drilled open in Constantia Village car park in full camera view (and car guards “present”) in broad day light. They stole my handbag, my passport, my ID, my drivers and all my shopping while I nipped into a store right next to my car. I reported the incident to the local police and was met with a lot of should shrugging. I gave them all the footage of it happening by sitting with the surveillance camera footage for hours and hours, at the shopping centre security rooms, and screen-grabbing the number plates of the get away car, and the criminals actually doing the deed. I gave it to Detective Taylor at Plumstead Police Station, I never heard another peep. Very frustrating since I did all the work for them. To top it off, when I applied for my new ID documents at the Home Office, I ended up in tears, they treated me like the criminal – and I had to prove myself not to be negligent. When did drilling a boot open in broad daylight in a guarded car park become the “norm” . (I never cry… the Home Office, made me cry!) Okay, there are beautiful realities about SA, I love it here, but crime is a big problem, a big snow balling problem, but at least there are people doing something about it. When I parked my car today, I had the usual “get-my-laptop-out-who-is-watching- moment” and then I heard bag pipes and saw hundreds of people walking towards me – and of course my first thought was “oh no!”. But then, I saw their banners – they were all victims of crime, every single one of them, all fed up, all marching. They want to be heard, they want something done about it and I applaud them all. So to all you “Victims of Crime” and to those that want to see SA doing better on this front, well done on getting your feelings on the matter known, I hope the rest of SA will take note, that we do have a voice and if we stand together, we will be heard. These people are victims of crime, yes – but not victims of apathy. Source: Amanda Source: Amanda Source: Amanda Source: Amanda Source: Amanda
Reality Hits – Tragic Rhino Poaching Threatens our Wonderful Wildlife… October 10, 2012 by Amanda Stergianos I was in Madikwe six weeks ago with my three daughters. We had a wonderful time with good family friends and excellent hosts who taught (and fed) us all an infinite amount. Our children learnt so much as the photos tell, and I am so grateful to be living in South Africa to give them access to the wonderful wildlife on our doorstep. However, when we were there, reality really hit home that we can not take this beauty for granted any more, our time is running out. On the third day several rhino were slaughtered, some in Botswana and this one, featured in my photos below, just a few kilometres from our camp in Madikwe. Credit: Amanda The poachers walked into a lion and shot a beautiful alpha male in defence as well. It was heartbreaking, even the children were stunned into a subdued silence for the rest of the day. When I became aware of the #killthetrade campaign, I was compelled to get SAPeople involved to support this essential drive to unite South Africans to ‘kill the trade’ that kills rhinos, elephants and tigers. This is the perfect opportunity for us not to standby helplessly, but to all get involved to create awareness and fight the serious poaching that threatens our wildlife. Please join the drive of #killthetrade campaign which is to encourage people like me an you to take pictures and spread them using social media and email. The more exposure we can give the #killthetrade campaign the better as over 400 Rhino have been killed this year already. Please help spread the word by clicking on the button below to take action. Credit: Amanda Credit: Amanda Credit: Amanda
Letter from the co-founder of SAPeople…raising money for SA children September 13, 2012 by Amanda Stergianos Dear SAPeople Followers… I have never undertaken a physical challenge in order to raise money – and Friday will be my first! A group of 30 beginner cyclists (all mums) will be setting out at 6.30 am on a 3 day cycle tour – finishing in Franshoek. We will be doing 35 to 50 km per day of strenuous off road (half a day of cycling) – single and jeep tracks on mountain bikes in order to raise money for rural children of alcoholic farm workers. My co-cyclists and I have been putting hours into the saddle (and out the saddle!) to prepare and now the time has come! (see photos below). There are thousands of little kids growing up on farms, where parents are paid in alcohol – so weekends and nights are in a stupor. These kids do not get a safe, loving home environment they need, nor the education – so the abuse cycle of addiction never seems to stop. I’ve pledged to do a small part to help our country in its quest to heal itself – by breaking the cycles of poverty that so entrench the lives of children who desperately need to be protected and given a chance to make something of their lives. I ask you if you would please support this cause by sponsoring any amount at all – no matter how small – it is going to such a worthy cause – and the effort is a big one, being a novice cyclist. What to do next: Easy… You can email us a small pledge – and we will send you all the bank details (UK and SA) via email . Email admin@sapeople.com OR Transfer directly to COOP (and reference Amanda Stergianos) Live2Change Standard Bank Seapoint Branch Code: 024109 Account: 071092846 Please reference my name : A.Stergianos On behalf of all the children of Goedgedacht, we thank you from the bottom of our hearts … PS: Don’t leave it for later, just do it now – our lives are so busy, we all mean well but we forget – and your contribution will make a difference. Love and gratitude Amanda Co-Founder SAReunited, SAPeople “If you want to be happy for an hour, take a nap. If you want to be happy for a day, go fishing. If you want to be happy for a month, get married. If you want to be happy for a year, inherit money. If you want to be happy for a lifetime, help someone else” (Chinese Proverb)