Meet Ru-Juani: The 8-year-old with a big charity vision

Ru-Juani Jansen van Vuuren is not only a pageant finalist, but she also has a big heart for those in need and hopes to make a difference in the lives of others with her charity work.

Ru-Juani is a finalist for Toddler and Tween of the World South Africa and at only eight years old, she is trying to make the world a better place by collecting items for Wollies Animal Shelter.

“My heart breaks when I see an animal that is hungry, cold or alone. I wish I could hold every dog, cat and mouse and say ‘I see you’. That’s why I collect animal food, blankets, toys and cages – I want them to feel love too,” she explained.

This is, however, not the only charity Ru-Juani is working on; with the help of her mother René, they give back to people in need. They take canned food, warm clothes, toys and toiletries to people that has nothing. She also started the Autism Awareness Handprint Project, where the entire community came together to paint their hands and make handprints. Each handprint was a message of hope, ‘to show we are all different, but valuable’. Her modelling school also gives out something small, such as lollipops, to people in town. She mentioned it’s not just a sweet, but a moment of care for another, to put a smile on their faces.

Ru-Juani shared her inspiration for reaching out.

“One day, I saw a dog running around, skinny and scared. And I thought, what if that was my Zeus? When I learned about Autism, I thought, ‘how does it feel to be different and not understood?’.

In my heart, I felt I needed to do something, and then I did, because caring is not just a word, it’s something you do with your hands, your time, your heart, and soul.

“I want every person, big or small and every animal to know they are not alone, someone cares.”

Her aim is to help 100 animals be warm and safe, to give hope to 100 people with food and clothes and also hold 100 hands in love and acceptance. She noted her true goal is just to touch one heart at a time and make that person or animal feel they are important. Then she would feel like she had won.

Currently, she is collecting food, blankets, toys, towels and kennels for animals as well as canned food, clothes, toiletries and toys for the people they try to help. If you would like to donate, drop your items off at 17 Falcon Street in Greenhills or contact them on 065 097 3136.

“Even if it’s something small, it means the world to someone who has nothing. It’s not what you give, it’s how you give it,” Ru-Juani added.

Of her participation in Toddler and Tween of the World South Africa, Ru-Juani explained it is not just a competition, but a chance to show what you can do with your heart.

I wear a crown, yes, but I wear it so others can see that I am here to help.

“I want to teach children that you don’t have to be big or perfect to make a difference. You just have to care,” she said.

Ru-Juani concluded, “Thank you to everyone who has given a blanket or come to make a handprint or taken a lollipop with a smile. You show me that I am not working alone. I also want to say a special thank you to my coach, Anche Steyn from SA All Star Models Randfontein, who walks with me, believes in me, and helps me to be strong. And to my mom, who is my hero. Without you, I am not me.”

“I am proud to help others, one smile, one handshake and one animal at a time.”