“Speak only if it improves upon the silence.” ― Mahatma Gandhi
I know and I haven’t been blogging a lot lately and it’s only because I don’t have anything interesting to share right now but a lot has been going on in my personal life which I won’t share out of respect for the privacy of my loved ones (I don’t live in a vacuum and what I share on this blog and other platforms does affect those I love and their futures so now I’m more reserved about what I choose to share and I will not apologize for that because it’s for the sake of my family).
I hope everyone who has been reading my blog will continue to do so even though the content will be less personal than it originally was. Thank you all eternally for your continued love and amazing support.
With the 2020 Local Hero Awards now behind us, the search for this year’s extraordinary do-gooders is on. Entries for the Daily Dispatch and Johnson & Johnson Local Heroes campaign have officially opened, and the Dispatch is looking forward to the many inspirational stories that 2021 will bring. Daily Dispatch initiated a campaign in 2015 where a panel of judges selects 12 Local Hero finalists from a pool of nominees sent in by readers throughout the year. The finalists are honoured at a gala dinner.
In 2020 a new category, the Front-line Hero Award, was introduced to honour frontline workers’ incredible efforts during the pandemic. This year and in the future, the Dispatch and Johnson & Johnson will continue to search for 12 local heroes and one front-line hero.
The nominees must run their projects in the Eastern Cape, and preferably, their outreach should be as local as possible.
All necessary details of the nominee, including name, cell number, and e-mail address, must be provided in the nomination. Readers can renominate unsuccessful Local Hero nominees from past years for the 2021 awards.
To nominate your local hero, e-mail a 500-word motivation about the nominee to localheroes@dispatch.co.za. Nominations close on July 31.
On the occasion of my 30th birthday I look back with pride and look forward with anticipation while living in the present in gratitude. Thank you to my family who loves me and thank you to My Superhero Catherine Constantinides who guides me teaching me life and the way to live – thank you my people I love you
Me watching the Nescafe Ricoffy’s virtual event hosted by Catherine Constantinides #NescaféRicoffy #NESCAFÉRICOFFYRESPONSIBLYSOURCED
South Africa’s most loved instant chicory and coffee extract, NESCAFÉ RICOFFY, has announced that it now uses coffee beans that are 100% responsibly sourced.
Nestlé is committed to implementing responsible sourcing practices and continuously improving its coffee supply chain. This commitment is brought to life by understanding that the heart of good food is the quality of the ingredients, the people who produce them and the soils and ecosystems in which they are grown. Protecting growers and their environments ensures the long-term success of the business.
“NESCAFÉ RICOFFY is South Africa’s most memorable instant chicory and coffee extract brand. We are extremely proud that Nestlé knows where our ingredients come from and that they are produced in a way that minimizes negative impact and makes a positive contribution to individuals, communities and the planet” Says Nicole Roos, Business Executive Officer, Coffee & Beverages at Nestlé, South Africa.
Launched in 2010, the NESCAFÉ Plan is a tangible effort of how Nestlé creates shared value in the coffee sector for farmers, communities and our planet. It shows a commitment to continuously support responsible and increasingly sustainable value chains. NESCAFÉ RICOFFY has managed to reach the 100% Responsibly Sourced Coffee Beans in Quarter 3 of 2020, which is an incredible achievement for the future of responsible sourcing of coffee beans.
On 9 March the launch was attended by various industry sustainability experts, including Jackie May, Editor of Twyg Magazine, Gisèle Wertheim Aymés, Editor of Longevity Magazine and Longevity Live, Dion Chang, Business Strategist and Founder of Flux Trends, Xoli Fuyani, environmental education co-ordinator with Earthchild, as well as Earth Warrior and philanthropist Catherine Constantinides. The focus was a global conversation around sustainability, repurposing and the importance of creating a generation that is environmentally conscious as well as insights from each panelist from their respective fields of expertise.
The announcement forms part of Nestlé South Africa’s recently launched RE (RETHINK, REDUCE AND REPURPOSE) sustainability initiative. RE is aimed at reinforcing all its sustainability initiatives, strategies and resources to help mitigate sustainability challenges and strengthen its contribution to a waste-free future.
“Our NESCAFE RICOFFY 100% responsibly sourced project is a practical testament of our sustainability commitments in South Africa. It encapsulates all that the RE initiative represents – rethinking our entire value chain, reducing our impact on the environment and providing tangible proof points of our sustainability efforts through our loved brands” says, Saint-Francis Tohlang, Corporate Communications and Public Affairs Director at Nestlé East and Southern Africa Region (ESAR).
There’s a story in every sip to come with NESCAFÉ RICOFFY and even more so with a responsibly sourced future ahead. Your favorite instant chicory and coffee extract is here to stay, with their use of respectfully grown coffee beans, with 100% responsibly sourced, sharing pride & respect from farm to cup. For more information on Grown Respectfully visit https://www.nescafe.com/za/grown-respectfully or follow us @NESCAFÉ RICOFFY
“Now go; I will help you speak and will teach you what to say.” – Exodus 4: 12
I’m deeply honoured to have spoken to Aubrey Masango on 702 and CapeTalk last night about my life and my work. Thanks to Lee Woolf and her team for their exceptional professionalism. During the interview I mentioned, in part, my work supporting Breath of Life. If anybody would like to contribute to my #Nisha30 Campaign benefitting Breath of Life they can do so at https://backabuddy.co.za/nisha-30
“I am only one, but still I am one. I cannot do everything, but still I can do something; and because I cannot do everything, I will not refuse to do something that I can do.”- Edward Everett Hale
On February 25th 2021 I started actively fundraising again for Breath of Life – a place of safety here in East London, South Africa, that homes abandoned and vulnerable babies – but this time I’m aiming to raise R30 000 in honour of my upcoming 30th birthday and 30th year of life. If you wish to donate you can do so at https://www.backabuddy.co.za/nisha-30 (R2024 raised so far – thank you to all who’ve donated so far – only R27 976 more to raise)
Me and mom with Alan Stapleton and Laura Dorothy (both representing SPAR)
Work for a cause not applause – that’s my message to the world
I’m deeply honoured to share that I am one of the Daily Dispatch and Johnson & Johnson Local Heroes 2020. Thank you to all who have been part of my journey so far – thank you in particular to God, my parents, my siblings, my extended family, my friends and all those who’ve supported my work for the past ten years without whom none of this would have been possible I thank you all very much. Thank you also to SPAR for this award your support is appreciated. I dedicate this award to My Superhero Catherine Constantinides who teaches me that leadership is learning and leading from where you are every single day in small and big ways – it is a lesson I carry with me always.
500 food hampers donated by SUPERSPAR Xavier to the food distribution organized by Superhero Catherine Constantinides at Booysens Informal Settlement [Photo credit: Tyrone Noble from Noble Media Solutions]
“Never doubt that a small group of committed people can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.” -Margaret Mead
Yesterday My Superhero Catherine Constantinides joined forces with SUPERSPAR Xavier and PinkDrive to feed 500 families in the Booysens Informal Settlement who lost everything in a fire a few weeks ago. A HUGE THANKS to SUPERSPAR Xavier for donating 500 food hampers, thank you to Noelene Kotschan and Janine Hills for helping Catherine to coordinate everything and thank you to Tyrone Noble from Noble Media Solutions for being there with Catherine to help tell the story of the day through photography. Thank you to everyone for helping My Superhero Catherine Constantinides to do the AMAZING WORK she does.
Superhero Catherine Constantinides and the Pink Drive staff working hard at the food distribution at Booysens Informal Settlement [Photo credit: Tyrone Noble from Noble Media Solutions]
Statement from Sundeep Dasai (Owner of SUPERSPAR Xavier ) regarding SUPERSPAR Xavier‘s donation of 500 food hampers to the families at the Booysens Informal Settlement:
Superspar Xavier is honoured to assist the residents of the Booysens informal settlement at a time of need. We care for our community and are pleased to assist in making a difference in lives of others. Our contribution would mean nothing without the collaboration with PinkDrive and Catherine. They are the true heroes.
Recently 500 families living in the Booysens Informal Settlement in Johannesburg, South Africa sadly lost everything in a devastating fire but thankfully people like My Superhero Catherine Constantinides exist and she and other people and organizations have been at the Booysens Informal Settlement since the first day of the fire providing aid and comfort to the residents. A special thanks to Carolyn Steyn and her team at 67 Blankets for partnering with my Superhero Catherine Constantinides to provide beautiful hand-knitted blankets to the fire survivors of the Booysens Informal Settlement
#BooysensFire 🔥 To the selfless individuals, organisations, donors & disaster management teams, your work on the ground under these extreme weather conditions over past 72 hrs is remarkable. I'm in awe of everyone I've been privileged to work with on the ground. Thank YOU! 🙏🏽 pic.twitter.com/kNoEDZQKW4
I have made no secret of the fact that I think you are a one-of-a-kind human exemplary in your kindness, generosity and compassion. I truly believe the sun rises and sets wherever you happen to be. Love you to the moon and more than the stars.
