Buttons4Hope

Hestelle Robinson

Everyone knows that frustrated feeling you sometimes get, sitting with friends talking about how things could be better if only someone cared a little more or did a little more for others.  The one day I was at a time and space where I thought…"Lets stop the whining and get down to some doing!". 

It was surprisingly easy to register as a NPO, to recruit NPO members somewhat harder and to get money impossible.

As we planned our way forward we asked two questions; 1) What do we want to change? and 2) How do we effect this?.  And so we came up with a mission statement that reads: To give hope to families through work, play and skills development.

 To date we have partnered with organisations offering help to the disabled, abused women and children, people affected and infected with HIV/Aids and TB patients. As a NPO we started by offering skills transfer to clients of our partner organisations in the form of jewelry making. All techniques are taught and once clients have undergone our training program, they will have a good understanding of jewelry components and how to use them to produce commercially viable products.  We use donated, recycled buttons as our main material giving our clients the ability to replicate our business model cheaply. Where clients have expressed interest in starting their own business we have assisted.

We are very excited about being able to now begin to formalize employment opportunities as we grow with the help of organisations like HOMEMAKERS Expo. The exposure we get and the sales we make strengthens our organisation and those we assist. As we have progressed this year we have found more and more people who are caring a little more and doing a little more and to those great people, we at Buttons 4 Hope would like to say a great big thank you.

 By:  Johnathan van der Westhuizen |  Chairman:  Buttons4Hope (Reg. No. 085778 (NPO)