The Halli Trust Story

How did Halli Trust start on 17 September 2010?

There are so many stories, moments, and milestones I could share, but this is how Halli Trust began. These are some of the highlights from the early years. Our AGM booklets (available on our website) reflect the impact Halli Trust has made over time, but every journey has a beginning, and this is ours.

Where It All Began

I am Heidi Naude, and to tell the Halli Trust story, I need to start at the very beginning because this journey is deeply personal. Halli Trust was founded when I was 42 years old, at a point in my life where all the pieces of my life puzzle finally fitted together.

I was born and raised in Namibia. After matric, I moved to the Western Cape, where I studied Food and Clothing at Tygerberg Technical College for two years. Over the years, I worked in various seasons of life, I ran my own catering business, became a full, time mom, managed home, based sales of CDs and jewellery, and later worked at a toy shop in Somerset Mall for almost two years.

While working at the toy shop, I saw the powerful effect a mascot can have on children during educational talks. At the same time, I became increasingly aware of the needs within our communities. It touched my heart so deeply that I knew this was what I was meant to do.

A Turning Point

In December 2008, my dad, Daan Meyer, a farmer in Namibia, passed away at the age of 83. After his passing, my husband Martin Naude (Founder alongside me) said, “Why don’t we start our own non-profit and give back to the community?” We decided to use part of my inheritance to begin planning what would later become Halli Trust.

Around the same time, Dr Surita Roux, a medical doctor with many years of NPO experience, joined us. She brought incredible wisdom and a deep love for animals. Her passion for teaching people how to care for their animals was contagious and laid the foundation for our animal welfare work.

Choosing the Name “Halli”

Choosing a name for the Trust was very important to me. I contacted a dear friend, Cheryl Hanekom, and shared our vision with her. She searched in a Greek/Hebrew translation Bible and came back with one word: Halli.

Halli means “an unexpected gift and blessing.” The name immediately resonated in my heart. I loved that it reflected exactly who we are, we receive unexpected blessings, and we become an unexpected blessing when we help others.

Learning as I went

With baby steps, or perhaps giant steps, Halli Trust began to come to life. At the time, I had no knowledge of how to run an NPO. Some days were incredibly difficult. I prayed constantly for guidance, knowledge, and wisdom. I had to learn how to manage an organisation, work like a social worker, improve my IT skills, apply for grants, and run Halli Trust with the same discipline as a for-profit organisation.

Halli the Mascot

After seeing the impact, a mascot could have at the toy shop, I knew Halli Trust needed one too. After watching the movie Hachiko as a family in 2010, I chose an Akita Japanese dog as our mascot, a symbol of loyalty and friendship, which is exactly what we wanted to build with children.

Louis Niemand from LifeSize Designs in Monte Vista, Cape Town, designed our mascot. We met one morning for coffee, and he started sketching immediately. When I saw Halli for the first time, I was overwhelmed, he was absolutely amazing. I wanted him to be a cool teenage dude.

I created a creed for the children:

I am smart
I am kind
I am super important
I have respect, always respect

In the early days, we even used our personal vehicle as the Halli Trust car and covered it with paw prints, as if Halli had walked over it. I wanted children to feel safe, to trust us and Halli, and to feel comfortable enough to talk about the difficult things in their lives.

Building the Organisation

We run the Halli Trust office from our home in Somerset West, with three Wendy

houses that we use for storage.
I chose the colour green because it symbolises growth, harmony, and freshness.

A great deal of paperwork had to be completed to register the Trust properly. Lawyers assisted with the initial documentation, and Exceed Somerset West offered their support and became our auditing firm. Step by step, with the help of many people, Halli Trust was built.

We officially introduced Halli to the world on 17 September 2010 at Somerset West Primary School. That day will always be Halli’s and Halli Trust’s birthday. Our hearts were filled with gratitude, for my dad’s legacy, my husband’s support, my children, friends, and the Halli team.

Our Team

Our first Halli mascot volunteer was Marichje de Necker in 2010. Since

then, several volunteers have walked in Halli’s shoes.

Gloria Hungana from Nomzamo joined the Halli team in 2010. Together with Surita and myself, we formed the foundation of Halli Trust. I have learnt so much from Gloria, and I am deeply grateful for her wisdom and example.

As Halli Trust grew, we introduced trustees, representatives, office staff, and volunteers to create structure and accountability. One conversation changed my perspective when someone said to me, “Heidi, you are the CEO of Halli Trust.” That mindset shift helped me step into leadership with confidence.

Our Focus Areas

Educational Involvement

Our educational programmes are delivered with Halli the Mascot on
Wednesdays and Thursdays at schools. Each session is an hour and a half long and includes dancing and life skills talks. We currently offer nine different life skills programmes. Children listen differently when Halli is
present, even though he never speaks.

Community Involvement

We focus our community work in the Helderberg area. Families and individuals are assessed in their homes using detailed 10-page assessment form. Our aim is not

handouts, but measurable, lasting change. We also assist once off cases such as fire victims or families facing temporary
crisis.

We also focus on what the family or individuals’ gifts and strengths are and how they can also contribute to their own lives. Our goal is to restore with dignity and hope. While we cannot change hundreds of lives at once, we can change one life, one family, or even one generation.

Halli Clubs

The Halli Club is for children aged 8–18 and meets monthly in False Bay and Nomzamo.

We also run weekly Homework and Reading Clubs during the school term.

Needlework Club

Inspired by my mother, who made all my clothes as a child, we established the Needlework Club to empower women with skills. Women participate

in weekly sewing classes guided by skilled mentors, learning to create their own clothes and develop practical skills. Upon completing the year, they receive a Sewing Machine Certificate, recognising their achievement and growth.

Rehabilitation and Caring of Animals

Registered in 2014, this programme educates communities on responsible animal care, assists with sterilisation when funds allow, and hosts Doggy Care Days. When we help a family, we help their animals too.

Halli Team

Halli Trust is a team of friends taking hands, ordinary people living out our passion and making a difference in our communities. With God’s wisdom, guidance, and provision, we can do what is important and we grow with baby steps. We, as a team, have breakfast and lunch together and this is a precious time for us. This is where we care for each other and laugh together.

We had to bring structure to Halli Trust to see where and how people fit into the team. We got in Trustees, as it was part of the governing body of the Trust. We decided to bring in Representatives for the different areas that we are registered for, and volunteers that will help us to do more work.

I had a very valuable conversation one day with someone that works in the Non-profit industry for many years, and he said to me: “Heidi, you are the CEO of Halli Trust.” It was a mind shift for me as I then understood we needed to have structure and give people responsibilities. This was one of the greatest pieces of advice that I have heard from an outsider. I also needed to believe in myself and step up if I wanted to make this work.

The Halli Trust Representatives/Volunteers work in different areas of the Helderberg. The Representatives are the core of Halli Trust. The team consists of Community, Animal and Needlework Representatives. We have volunteers that run the Homework and Reading Clubs.

The Trustees play a crucial part to make sure Halli Trust runs properly. The Office Staff runs the daily admin of Halli Trust.

Volunteers play a very important part. It is also very important for people to volunteer. Each volunteer and team member needs to complete an application form and go for a name clearance before

becoming a volunteer. Over the years, we have learned to be careful of who we let in, as not everyone volunteering has good motives. We need to protect Halli Trust, the children, and adults that we work with in the community. We work very hard to promote Halli Trust and build relationships, so that no volunteer can say or experience anything bad about Halli Trust.

NPO

It is really hard work to run an NPO. You need to have so many documents in order. It is important for us to be transparent, therefore our finances are available on our website.

We have decided to do a Quarterly Report every term to show what we did during the term, and all the donations that we received. Everything gets written down because we want people to trust us with any donation that comes in. Our Representatives hand in documents every term of how many children/individuals/families/animals/needlework they assisted during the term, we call it a “giving”.

We undergo annual financial audits, which we submit together with an annual progress report to the Department Social Development. Over the years we perfected many meetings and documents, to make sure the Trust runs smoothly with integrity and transparency. Many documents are needed to be able to apply for funding. We also need to do a yearly AGM and send in a progress report to the Department Social Development to keep our NPO number active and our finances to be audited by Chartered Accountants/Auditors. We submit a form 29 annually of each volunteer to the Department of Social Development in Pretoria to make sure our team members are not on the paedophile list. We are extremely grateful to Exceed Somerset West for all the guidance they have given us over the years and for doing our yearly audit.

I listened to a TED Talk a few years ago, and the person said, “it’s more

difficult and complicated to run a Non-profit than a For-profit”. Luckily, I am a fighter and not someone that gives up easily. Although it is really challenging at times, and I do get frustrated and emotional, I am in this for the long run.

There are a few values and morals that are very important to me: To build relationships, to be real, to be honest, transparent, have integrity, to be professional and to care and bring hope. With God’s grace and guidance, we can do this, as we cannot do all of this by ourselves. God has planted this seed in our hearts, and He is the one that keeps us watered and going.

We have Halli Ways for each volunteer and active Halli Trust members. Halli Ways are morals, values, and standards that we want and expect of each Halli Trust member and volunteer. We are leaders and examples for so many people that look up to us. If you wear a green t-shirt you are a leader, and it needs to be taken seriously. There are also Halli Ways to protect Halli Trust members and volunteers because we give so much of our time and ourselves, that we need to make sure our team members do not get charity fatigue. Therefore, it is important to take care of each other and to protect the team.

Gratitude

I am deeply grateful to our donors, volunteers, and partners, including ATS Transport, who joined us in 2016 and later sponsored a Ford Tourneo bus, a tremendous blessing that
supports our daily work.

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, and Sanlam Wealth , Philip Baumgardt.

I was over the moon when Jaco announced that they are
donating the bus to Halli Trust at our Golf Day in 2016. This was
the biggest surprise I have ever received! I am super grateful for
this bus! I always say this is our blessing! I prayed for the bus for two years and God made it possible through these amazing men and their families! Such a huge amazing special blessing!!!

The bus makes a huge difference and is a big help when collecting and dropping off donations and transporting volunteers.

Future

My dream is to one day to have our own Halli Trust “Green”

House, a space for training, creativity, learning, and community. A place where lives are restored and hope continues to grow.

To also have more Halli Trust Vehicles that can assist with collection and dropping off of donations

New Logo

Lean and Sachia Venter offered to give Halli Trust a facelift,

with a brand-new logo in September 2017.

We also changed the look of our mascot in 2019 to the more teenage version of the Akita Japanese Dog

Support

I cannot begin to express our gratitude towards all the donations, monthly, once,off financial donations and support from so many amazing people in our Helderberg community. There is something special when people believe in what you do and when they see your honesty (to trust our NPO with the work we do), it is humbling and heartwarming that they trust you with what they give, and that we at Halli Trust can be a blessing to others. That is why I love the meaning of Halli , “unexpected gift and blessing.” We can receive and we can give.

I love to be in our communities around the Helderberg area. The children fight to hold my hand, to get hugs and sometimes a sweetie. A few years ago, Gloria’s little girl gave me the name Nolothando which means “I have enough love to give.” How amazing is that, as my name, Heidi, also means love.

A Non-profit organization has the advantage of bringing a community together. Although it is so difficult to teach people to “give responsibly” and to give to a reliable NPO, rather than handing out at the street corners. As an NPO, we strive to work with other organizations to be able to make a difference in our communities. It is important to me that we make a lasting difference in the lives of our precious communities, with restored dignity, responsibility and hope.

Impact on my Life

I was asked a question by a little girl in Nomzamo one day, “Aunty, why are you white?” I did not know what to answer her and I just said:

“Lovie, I think Jesus wanted me to be white.” Then I asked her if she wanted me to stay here with her? And she said, “No, you must stay where you are.” I was puzzled by her question, and then Gloria explained to me that she could not understand why I am in Nomzamo all the time as she has never seen another white person doing so much for the community. It brought tears to my eyes.

I have scratched in the bins in the beginning years with my gardener for bottles and tins, to hand in for recycling, to get money for Halli Trust. My husband said to me: “My wife, you are crazy!” But this also opened other doors for Halli Trust. I understand how it feels when you sit in front of a family that has nothing to eat. My family home where I grew up also burnt down when I was 16 years old. I understand how it feels for a fire victim that just lost everything. Life is hard sometimes, but we still have choices. My life scripture is Deuteronomy 30:19 – 20, Choose life! We all have a choice, but to hold out a hand and to say “I am here, take my hand” brings hope, dignity and can restore a person/family.

I cannot begin to tell you the fulfilment, gratitude, and humbleness that I feel when we help an individual/family. Gloria always says: “We bring hope!” and I realized when you lose hope, you only live for this moment and not for tomorrow. But by being there, listening, teaching, and praying for the individual/family, we make a huge difference! Sometimes we only need to help once, and they will be okay. Although my dream is not necessarily their dream, we still expect the individual/family to work with us, to restore broken relationships, have dignity, responsibility and hope to ensure a big difference in their lives. To explore their own gifts and strengths and how they can make change and take responsibility for their own lives.

I have learnt a lot in the years, and I have grown emotionally and mentally as a person.

In fact, in all aspects of my life, I am a better person today. How can you not be? If you have an impact on other peoples’ lives, it changes you!!! It is an extremely humbling feeling when the children run up to my car or when they see me.... calling out “Halli, Halli, Halli!” It is just so unbelievably awesome!!! Reaching out to hold my hand or to give me hugs or when we stop at a school, where we have visited before, the children spontaneously start to chant “Halli, Halli, Halli!” jumping up and down. I love what we do!!! I do not want to change it for anything!!!

I shall keep on fighting to make a difference! I will not give up!

This is one of my theme/motivation songs, that keeps inspiring me to go further and to reach higher... “I won’t give up” by Jazon Marz.

Halli Trust has already made such a difference in our community! Together as a team we are growing and learning new things every day.

I listened to a tape, recording many years ago about missionaries. Peter Hammond talked about Guilt Manipulation and Poverty. This was really a mind, opening talk for me as a young adult. This talk was about giving responsibly and about making a measurable difference. In his talk he

encouraged people to give to registered NPO’s/churches and not to give money to people or to just hand out food because you simply encourage people to keep on begging and wanting more and more. I also call it baby bird syndrome, the more the little ones are chirping (screaming) in the nest the more the mom and dad needs to feed them.

In the Bible, 2 Thessalonians 3:10 says: “The one who is unwilling to work shall not eat”. Yes, we need to be responsible and be good stewards with our finances as well. Therefore, my passion is to make a measurable difference and not to just tick a box to say what was done. Colossians 3:23 says: “And whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as if for the Lord and not for people”. There are many scriptures to reach out and help the poor but for me it's also to reach people that have lost hope.

A dear and trusted NPO friend told me to read the book When Helping Hurts by Steve Corbett and Brian Fikket in 2024 what an amazing lifechanging book! We are now going to implement the book in what and how we help in our communities and with our Halli Clubs.

When Helping Hurts challenges the common approach to poverty relief
by showing that well, intentioned aid can unintentionally harm the poor
if it creates dependency or undermines dignity. Instead, it argues for empowering, relational, asset, based solutions that address the deeper brokenness in people’s lives, spiritual, psychological, and social, not just material needs.

I am extremely grateful for what we have accomplished so far! God has been good to us, and He has put all our plans/dreams/visions into place. I still have big dreams for Halli Trust. He is truly the heart and passion behind Halli Trust. We would not be able to do what we do without the presence and wisdom of Father God!

He started this small little flame in my heart, and it is growing daily!!!

I want you to know that: You are AWESOME!!! You are smart!!!
You are kind!!!

You are super important!!!

Thank you for taking the time to read our story!

These are some of the highlights that I shared with you, but we have many more stories and photos on our social media pages. Make Halli Trust your NPO/Charity. Take our hands and make us stronger to make a bigger difference.

Do your bit by making a difference, remember it starts with YOU or join the HALLI TRUST TEAM. This journey has changed me completely!

May you feel inspired by our Halli Trust story! To also go out and make a difference!! Or to get involved with us! Never give up, do not see failures and mistakes, see them as opportunities to keep on and fight the good fight! Learn from it and educate, if necessary, but keep on making a difference!

Friends forever,

Heidi Naude 💚
Founder & Trustee – Halli Trust