At South African Conversations,we often hear incredible stories about how our Resource Directory impacts lives. This is one of those heartwarming moments we just had to share.

One Sunday evening,I received a call on our 0800 number from a woman named Buhle in Gugulethu,Cape Town. She was originally from the Eastern Cape but had moved to the Western Cape in search of work.

She told me she’d been to a recent event where our Resource Directory was available on an honour basis – take now,pay by month’s end,with no paperwork involved. She fully intended to pay for it later,but as the weeks slipped by without finding work,she feared she would never be able to honour the obligation. Buhle told me it was the most useful book she’d ever come across,filled with resources she never knew existed,and she offered to pay R5 or R10 each month until the book was paid for.

Then came a twist in her story. Back home,her family was struggling to make ends meet. With no one employed,their only source of income,apart from government grants,came from two donkeys that helped locals transport goods. Her sister had called to tell her that both donkeys were sick,leaving her family vulnerable and worried for the future. One of the donkeys was pregnant,and the family was unsure if she would survive giving birth. They had no idea what to do.

Buhle remembered seeing something about horses and donkeys in the animal section of the Resource Directory. She told her sister she would call back with information about where they could perhaps get help. Flipping through the book again,she found the section on equine welfare,listing resources and support services by province. She called her sister,who called the number for the @Eastern Cape Horse Care Unit,and help was soon on the way.

Now,both donkeys are back on their feet,healthy and ready to work again. Buhle thanked me and reiterated her offer to pay,but I told her to consider the directory a gift from us to her family in appreciation for sharing this powerful story.

It’s moments like these that remind us why we do what we do. Because sometimes,something as simple as access to the right information can make all the difference – securing the well-being of two donkeys and the financial stability of an entire family.

Read more about what people say about this extraordinary resource:https://southafricanconversations.co.za/directory/