I, Heidi Naude have to start at the beginning with this story, as this is how the pieces of my life puzzle fitted into each other when I started Halli Trust at the age of 42.
I was born and raised in Namibia. After matric I came to the Western Cape. I studied for 2 years at the Tygerberg Technical College whereafter I worked in the catering industry, had my own catering business, became a mother, did a few things from home and worked at a toy shop in Somerset Mall.
While working at this particular toy shop, I realized the effect that a mascot has on kids during educational presentations and talks. I was also exposed to the community-side of this shop and it just touched my heart in such a way that I felt this was what I had to do!
When my dad (Daan Meyer), a farmer in Namibia, passed away at the age of 83 years in December 2008, my husband (Martin Naude) and I decided we were going to start our own Trust to give back to our community. We took some of my inheritance and started planning for the Trust.
Dr. Surita Roux (M.D.) joined us immediately and shared a wealth of wisdom as she worked at an NPO for many years. Her love for animals and ability to teach people to take care of their animals are infectious.
Thereafter, I had to find an appropriate name for our Trust, whereby I contacted Cheryl Hanekom, a good friend. Upon explaining to her what we had in mind, she looked up our proposed “Halli” name in the Greek/Hebrew translation Bible.
Halli means, “unexpected gift and blessing”. This was wonderful as we can receive an unexpected gift and blessing and give an unexpected gift and blessing when we help someone. With baby steps – or shall I say giant steps – Halli Trust started to come to life…
Keeping in mind that I had no prior knowledge about an NPO and what it entails and it was really difficult somedays. I prayed a lot, asking for knowledge and wisdom. I still struggle some days as I had to learn how to run a NPO, how to serve (to a certain extent) as a social worker; how to advance my IT skills; how to apply for grants and run Halli Trust like a ‘For-Profit’, as there is very little difference between a ‘Non-Profit’ and a ‘For-Profit’.
We had to decide on a mascot. After watching the movie Hachiko as a family in 2010, I decided to make our mascot an Akita Japanese Dog.
I loved the fact that their character is loyalty and friendship, and that’s what we want to achieve – to build friendships with community children.
Our mascot was made by Louis Niemand in Monte Vista, Cape Town and he looked absolutely super awesome!
We named him Halli. We created him to be a cool, teenage dude and have a creed that we teach to children.
My car is covered in paw prints, because we want children to feel they can build a relationship with us and trust us to talk about bad secrets in their lives. We showed Halli to the world on 17 September 2010 at Somerset West Primary School. (The 17th will also always be Halli’s and Halli Trust’s Birthday). What a day! We were excited, and proud, with hearts filled with gratitude. The inheritance that I got from my dad, the support from my husband,
children and friends made all this possible!!!
Gloria Hungana became a Halli Trust Community Representative and a trustee member in February 2014. As a family, they are making such a difference in their community and really lead by example. We want all trustee members to live out their passion and make a difference through what matters the most to them.
Gloria was my domestic worker for almost 10 years and she started studying to be a teacher in Jan 2015. We are very proud of her and know she is going to be an excellent teacher. Gloria is responsible for the Halli Trust Stores.
I met Aunt Elsie Jack during this time and we became soul sisters. Aunt Elsie is a pastor and overcome many challenges in her life. She is such a testimony to her community and leads with authority and have a very caring heart, making a big difference wherever she goes. She is the Com munity Representative for Smartie Town and Macassar.
I met 3 other remarkable ladies in Smartie Town, Aunt Helen Jonkers, Aunt Tinkie Baartman and Aunt Ollie Basson that would always volunteer and help. These four Aunties of Smartie Town have been there for me so many times. I can cry on their shoulders, pray with them, laugh with them and we can work very hard together.
I had a dream for a Needlework Project and eventually in August 2015 Lou-Ellyn Pienaar joined us. She made a huge difference by teaching the ladies basic needlework skills. We started with 7 ladies, but at present we only have four ladies.
We started with several Substance Abuse Talks during 2016 to give necessary information and/or facts and testimonies about using substance. Aunt Tinkie Baartman and Aunt Ollie Basson are the Substance Abuse Representatives since 2016. They assist the people in the community who have questions. We don’t do talks anymore, but Aunt Ollie is assisting people who want help, to go to out-patient rehab and they will then book them into rehab if the person cannot cope.
I can promise you, we had great breakthroughs in Smartie Town, and although I have been treated badly and being accused of many false things, God has always been good and faithful and I will show this precious community that I will not give up.
We have had many great things happened already in Smartie Town. The ID truck went there twice, the children were taken to Zip-Zap Circus in Cape Town, we present holiday- and training programs, clean-up projects, collaboration events with other NPO’s, dance
classes and Prayer walks.
In May 2015 Bernine Baumgardt started to volunteer in the Office. Her beautiful, gentle caring heart was very special to me. Bernine and her family became part of the Halli Trust family and we are extremely grateful for everything they do for Halli Trust.
Due to her busy schedule with her small children she could only helped until April 2016, but she still volunteers from time to time and remains an active Halli Friend.
In May 2016 Marvin Nicodemus from Elsies River contacted me through Facebook messenger and he said he wants to volunteer at Halli Trust. We cannot pay him a salary, due to little income, but only remunerate him for transport costs weekly.
Marvin has a very caring heart for the community and a teachable spirit. He is loyal, a good friend and such a hard worker. Marvin is a great help for me and hehas grown as a person and is making a huge, huge difference in Halli Trust. He is the Assistant Project Manager and a Community Representative in Elsies River.
Annissa Koekemoer, a Grade 12 learner from Paarlvallei High School and her friend, Richard, started a Homework Class in April 2017. This is going to make a big difference. According to statistical analyses over the years, this was one of the big challenges as lots of children struggle in school.
In 2011 Martin gave Gloria’s house a make-over in Nomzamo. In 2015 he built a house for Thumeka in Zola and in 2017 we could help Nelson to buy and collect building material for his house in Zola. Martin also helped him with his roof and Nelson has a beautiful little house that he is so proud of.
We had a few big functions to raise some funds- Halli Tea, Dance, Event at The Barnyard and other smaller events.
Halli Trust received a tremendous blessing in December 2016 – a Ford Tourneo Bus sponsored by ATS Transport – Jaco Conradie and Johnny Bosch, Mountsure Brokers – Niel Koch, Rola Motors – Paul Botha and Sanlam – Philip Baumgardt.
This makes a huge difference and is a big help when collecting donations and transporting volunteers.
I contacted Eric Venter from ‘Ontbytsake’ in September 2016. I had an amazing interview with him, but unfortunately we couldn’t afford the 1 minute slot on the program. A big surprise came when I received a phone call from ‘Ontbytsake’. They said that they will do the 1 minute video for us and it will be broadcasted on the 1st of October 2017. Free of charge!! I couldn’t believe it, what a blessing! Here you can have a look at the stunning clip, enjoy!
Over the years we have partnered with many amazing people and companies. Michele Hlava Optometrist came on board and we could help lots of children with eye exercises and many adults received spectacles through Michele Hlava.
As we are celebrating our 7 years in September 2017, Lean and Sachia Venter offered to give Halli Trust a facelift and we have a brand-new logo. I am so excited, as this will take Halli Trust to a brand new exciting level. On this team, we are ordinary people making extraordinary things happen!
We are still in need of a lot of financial sponsors to make bigger things happen and to start paying salaries (one of my big aims for 2017), but we are growing and Halli Trust is busy making a bigger and bigger impact and difference on a daily basic.
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