#ImStaying: Join the movement for social change

In the midst of darkness – an influx of negative news and what appears to be a mass exodus of South Africans – a glimmer of hope emerged in the shape of a Facebook group, simply called #ImStaying.

Members are invited to share their feel-good stories of South Africa, their reasons for staying in the country despite x, y and z, and share positive, uplifting anecdotes.

With over 350 000 members and growing quickly, people of all races, cultures and backgrounds have joined up, eager for a change from the doom and gloom of late.

Some of the stories are funny, some poignant, but all of them make you feel a glow of warmth for South Africa.

We decided to keep the good vibes going, and find some locals keen to share their stories of why they are here, and why they are staying.

If you would like to have your story featured, email sandra@northcoastcourier.co.za.

Not going back

Originally from the East of London, Pauline Quant first came out to South Africa in 1978 for a holiday.

“I was here for a month and it was just so lovely,” she said.

“We went to the Kruger, we went to Durban, it was a whirlwind.”

“We came out again in 1986 and when we went back, the snow was up to here, and my husband said ‘I’ve had enough of this’.”

A few months later they moved to South Africa.

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“It’s just got such a different atmosphere living here,” she said.

“I know there are problems in this country. I have had a gun at my head in Jo’burg. But I keep saying to people, there are more good people in this country than not. Unfortunately, those horrible people get the headlines, don’t they?”

Vowing to stay in the country, Pauline said she feels like an alien when she visits family in the UK.

“I just love the different cultures and the vibe here. I think people seem happy.”

South Africa will turn around

Natalie Theunissen and her dad Malcolm Kensett run a business together and believe South Africa is still economically viable.

“I think we have challenges but I think everywhere has challenges,” said Theunissen.

“My and husband and I travelled a lot before we had our son, and we were always excited to come home.”

The lack of employment concerns both Theunissen and Kensett, and they understand why people would leave to find employment. But Kensett believes there are still opportunities here.

“We are happy to stay. This is home. “My hope is that those that leave, some will come back highly skilled,” he said. “That has been the pattern elsewhere, for example in Uganda and Rwanda. I have seen countries that have turned around.”

Doing my bit to help

Richard Finch was born in the UK and lived there for 62 years. “From the age of nine, I wanted to come to Africa,” he said.

“In 2008 I set foot on this continent for the first time, at the age of 62.”

He retired in 2007 and heard about an volunteer organisation that wanted people with experience and expertise.

“I applied, and got a placement at the University of Namibia. I was so excited that I had a big ‘going to Africa’ party!”

After three years in Namibia, he moved to South Africa. He now has a small guest house in Ballito, called Ekhaya.

“I have every nationality staying here,” he said. He is also a freelance consultant in teacher training. “I’ve done a lot of work in reading development in foundation phase, I’ve done some work with matrics and I have done a lot of professional development training for teachers. I also do voluntary work with teachers in government schools.”

Richard loves life in Ballito, particularly the climate.”I go to England every year but I would never go back. This is home.”

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He believes that change comes about through education.”I want to do whatever I can, the tiny bit, to make a difference in education and in schools. Because of the history of South Africa, there is a lot of work to be done in raising self esteem.

“I am not naive and blind to the negative side, but there is always going to be a negative side,” he said.

Our education is top-notch

Pamela Botha’s daughter, Bianca, studied entomology at the University of Bloemfontein.

“Everyone laughed at the fact that she was doing her degree there,” Botha said. However, when Bianca was up against 48 candidates all over the world for a full scholarship to do a PhD in entomology in Brisbane, the amazing work she did in her masters degree won her the scholarship!” She was up against students from Oxford and Yale.

“When Bianca applied I told her not to get her heart set on it. But she actually got it! Her professor, a world leader in entomology, told her that her standard of work far exceeded the other candidates. So perhaps we should think twice before we slate our universities.”

“It is the easiest thing in the world to be negative,” said Botha. “But we still have schools where you get an amazing education, government schools too. Education makes a country.” She has lived all over the world due to her husband’s career, and firmly believes that the grass is not always greener on the other side. She has a special message for people who criticise the country but never work to make a change.

“Get out and go do something to help people!” As for Botha, her passion is dogs and she does fundraising for local organisation Puppy SOS. She believes South Africans have a unique sense of humour that is hard to find in anyone else. “When people ask me why I moved back to South Africa, I say ‘because I wasn’t going to spend my whole life searching for South Africans when South Africa is here.'”

You get back what you put in

Young soon-to-be-newlyweds Ashley Dearling and Eric Du Preez feel strongly about staying in the country.

“There is a lot that we both love about South Africa,” said Ashley. “We are both bush people, it is where we go to unwind.”

Ashley is a pediatric occupational therapist and Eric a doctor, and they each

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