The Christmas period is a time of good will, delicious food in abundance, and a lot of drinks flowing freely for many – but for some, it’s a time of hardship, misery, loneliness and a lack, especially of love and food.
So in keeping up with the Christmas spirit, Banyana Banyana head coach Desiree Ellis, through the Desiree Ellis Foundation, teamed up with long-time friend Shilene Booysen (South Sudan Senior Women’s National Team head coach), as well as Gina Scotland and Steven Scotland to put smiles on some elders and pensioners in her community of Cape Town.
In her Facebook page, Shilene posted pictures of the food parcels, and wrote the following words:
“I don't want to live in the kind of world where we don't look out for each other. Not just the people that are close to us, but anybody who needs a helping hand. I can’t change the way anybody else thinks, or what they choose to do, but I can do my bit. For many, Christmas time is a struggle when it should be a happy and festive time. Many of our elderly in all communities struggle with basic needs. Over the last couple of days, we were able with the help of the Desiree Ellis Foundation, to put food in the hands of over 100 elderly families in the Western Cape. Thank you so much to the Desiree Ellis Foundation together with Gina Scotland and Steven Scotland for helping some of my communities’ elderly have a Christmas where they can again believe that God does provide for the needy, He does care for them, He does still perform miracles. I (and they too) am grateful for your amazing love towards me and my people. May God continue to bless you and your families and may you have an amazing Christmas."
Ellis is currently holidaying at home in Cape Town after a hectic year where she led the Sasol-sponsored Banyana Banyana to their maiden CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations triumph over Morocco in a pulsating final following a 2-1 win.
The squad will have another busy year as they have qualified for the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup that will be held in Australia and New Zealand in July – they have been draw in Group G alongside Sweden, Italy and Argentina.
CentreCircle.online reached out to Ellis during her break to chat to her about the wonderful gesture of bringing smiles to the less fortunate.
This is quite a good gesture coach, what brought about the idea?
Well we always need to look out for others and can always do our bit. Shilene Booysen did this for her community last year and this year I helped her with her project and decided to assist other organisations that I have been working with. We spoke about this and decided to call it The Granny Christmas Drive. We all know in most households the Granny is the one taking care of everyone.
How long have you been doing it?
This is actually my first, last year I arranged a lunch outing for the youth in partnership with the Alcardo Andrews Foundation, which is based in my hometown of Hanover Park (Cape Town). But this we year decided to do something for the elderly. During the Covid-19 pandemic we had a regular vegetable pick-up from the director of Stars in their Eyes, Nic Jooste, who is based in the Netherlands – this was for Hanover Park, Hout Bay, Atlantis and Riverlands. The Desiree Ellis foundation has been active since Covid. Due to work commitments, I am based in Johannesburg so I decided to partner with The Alcardo Andrews Foundation, who does great work in Hanover Park. I assisted them and three other organisations – the Lavender Hill Sports and Recreational Foundation, the Rise foundation and the AA Development Program (led by former Referee Anwar Alexander) with a monthly financial contribution or whenever we were able to help. We also partnered with the AA Development Program in Tafelsig, Mitchell’s Plain, who always assisted with dry ingredients.
How many families did you help this time around?
My mom also saved some of her pension money, and, along with other donations, gave a treat for the old age home in Hanover Park. Due to lack of sponsorship, we were only able to assist 100 grannies. The plan, however, was to help all the organisations we were working with but we just could not get that far.
Is this going to be an annual event?
Of course, we don’t want it to just be a once off. And even if we don’t get any sponsors for next year we are already planning the next one and looking at partnering with others to reach more for the needy in our community.
How important is this for you and the Foundation?
It’s very important as we want to create a positive impact on communities. I want to use my voice to motivate women to believe in themselves. but as I said, we always need to look out for others and do our bit where we can and remember that there are those less fortunate than us.
When choosing items to hand over, what was uppermost in your minds?
Most pensioners have already received their pensions and by the second week of the month it was exhausted. So, we looked at the basics – your meat, oil, tea, coffee, sugar, and some luxuries chips, peanuts – things that would sustain the family for some time. When chatting to Shilene she gave a list of what she handed out to her community so we just went with the same list as it was mainly household necessities to have a decent meal.
Do you plan to take this to take this to other provinces or other entities (like orphans, homeless) – basically, what are the bigger plans for the Foundation?
Well for now we have just assisted organisations we worked with but would like to do more and stretch it to the length and breadth of our country if we can, but with lack of support and sponsorship it might be very difficult. We will however always assist as many as we can.
Your message to everyone out there during this period…
It’s been a tough few years for everyone, many having lost lives, family members, jobs, homes, etc. And this is the first year we actually get to spend with our broader families. Please be safe and take care of each other, family is precious, so enjoy time at home. Make sure you put a smile on someone’s face as there is always a somebody that has less than what you have.
By Matlhomola Morake
