Helping the world one woman at a time
"I choose to help women because by helping women we are helping the world."
NEWCASTLE – Michael van Der Merwe is the founder of Lovedeeds, an NPO organisation aimed at helping women.
He is currently on a 6 000 km journey across South Africa on a bicycle, pulling a wagon.
Read: Pretty powerful with ABSA
He is trying to get the attention of communities in order to raise funds for Lovedeeds and create awareness about the need to protect and help women.
He started his trip in Johannesburg, plans to cycle to Amanzimtoti, along the whole coast to Northern Cape, Bloemfontein and then back to Johannesburg.
As he passes through towns, he stops to meet with people who are willing to help his organisation and to get publicity for his cause.
“I need to get five million rand to make Lovedeeds what it needs to be. If I can get 250 000 people to each donate R20, I will raise the money. But that means I will need to see 1000 people a day, if my journey takes a year like I planned,” he said.
Mr van der Merwe expressed what a challenge his journey has been thus far. He said some towns welcome him with open arms and others aren’t as friendly. He has difficulties charging his phone and laptop to stay in touch with the world.
“At Lovedeeds we want to create safe houses for women as well as assisting those outside the safe homes. We want to also help them get appropriate counselling and keep them safe and secure. They must also have access to skills development, legal aid, recruitment, housing, transport and so on. Our aim is to help women become fully functional and happy members of society,” he explained.
The wagon is a project by King Enterprises, whose purpose is to start up and give away businesses. There is space for businesses to advertise on the wagon, for a fee in order to contribute to Lovedeeds.
Once the wagon is a viable business, it will be given to someone who is poor with little prospects. King Enterprises will give away this fully functioning business with stock and guidance.
With the five million rand Mr van Merwe aims to raise he plans to spend R500 000 as seed money, to assist in setting up a business for one woman.
R100 000 will go towards helping anyone with an existing business.
Also read: Newcare Women’s Circle extends care to Privarshan
With every R100 000 mark reached there will be three lucky draws for donors to the cause. The draws include a R5000 food voucher, R5000 cash, R5000 will go towards paying someone’s debt, a new car valued at R175 000, a holiday in Knysna worth R15 000 to an elderly woman and a R100 000 scholarship to a young entrepreneur.
R3 000 000 will be used to purchase and develop a property into a self-sustaining safe house.
All remaining funds will go towards creating new awareness campaigns and upliftment projects.
“I choose to help women because by helping women we are helping the world. Their existence is crucial to livelihood and it is very important to make sure they are happy in society and that is what this organisation will ensure,” concluded Mr van der Merwe.
If you would like to contribute to Mr van der Merwe’s cause, you can contact him on 072 232 5645. Alternatively you can add him on Facebook under Michael’s Angels (Michael van Der Merwe).
