Officially 34 – Birthday Magic at Breath of Life

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Birthdays are a chance to look back and forward at the same time.

Today (March 25th ) I turned 34 and what a blessed day it was…. a special person came to visit, lots of cake was had and lots of love was shared. Thank you to everyone who made my day so special.

Firstly, and most importantly, THANK YOU to my children who make me more – more kind, more driven, more brave…. more in every way.

THANK YOU to my family at Breath of Life who lovingly look after our children and for helping me function in that house [I have never failed in that house and it’s because of each of you…THANK YOU!!]

THANK YOU to Cakes and Sprinkles East London for gifting me my stunning cake with the names of the children who were previously at Breath of Life (we intentionally DID NOT put names of our current children because that would be illegal)

And lastly thank you to all of you who donated to my crowdfunding campaign benefiting Breath of Life – the net total raised via BackABuddy is R54 455 . THANK YOU!!!!!! THANK YOU!!!!!! THANK YOU!!!!!!

#Nisha34 Campaign Goal Surpassed. THANK YOU ALL!

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“Many hands make light work.” -Unknown

As of this afternoon we’ve surpassed my #Nisha34 campaign benefitting Breath of Life, , a place of safety for abandoned babies here in East London, South Africa, the original goal was R34 000 and with 17 days to go till my birthday so far we’ve raised R35 996. I’m so thankful to everyone who has helped out…truly thank you from the bottom of my heart. The page remains open and accepting donations until March 26th and anyone still wishing to make a donation can do so at https://backabuddy.co.za/nisha-34

R1000 more was added since the recording of this video – the current total is R35 996

#Nisha34 – Fundraising for Breath of Life in Honour of my 34th  Birthday

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“Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much.” – Helen Keller

On February 26th 2025, I again 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 R34 000 in honour of my upcoming 34th   birthday (happening on March 25th) and 34th  year of life. If you wish to donate you can do so at https://www.backabuddy.co.za/nisha-34 and kindly share the campaign on social media using #Nisha34

7 Years (and counting) at Breath of Life

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“Time is the most valuable thing that a man can spend.” — Diogenes

On January 20th 2018 I entered the Breath of Life house to drop of diapers and I sort of forgot to leave – 7 years and 139 babies later a lot has changed but my love for and commitment to the babies in that nursery is stronger than ever.

Thank you to Michelle Rielly who first welcomed me into the Breath of Life house, loved me and believed in me with me, thank you to Abigail Boshoff who continues to make me feel welcome in the Breath of Life house and thank you to our team of baby caregivers, staff and volunteers who love and look after our babies

Life’s Purposes and 2025 Goals

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“The great danger for most of us lies not in setting our aim too high and falling short; but in setting our aim too low, and achieving our mark.” –Michelangelo

Today is New Year’s Day and with that comes new hopes, new opportunities and new goals. Check out my life’s purpose and 2025 Goals below:

My Life’s Purposes

  1. Fill the world with kindness and love
  2. Make a difference – level the playing field for people who were born with the cards stacked against them
  3. Change perceptions about differently-abled people

2025 Goals

  1. Continue to be kind, honest, generous, grateful, loyal and filled with wonderment
  2. Every day be the best SuperSidekick to Superhero Catherine Constantinides (she’s the best, most hardworking real-life Superhero I’ve ever met she totally deserves me forever  and no matter what else I’m doing in life I will always be here for her)
  3. Maintain and strengthen my deep friendship with Michelle Rielly  
  4.  Raise at least R34 000 for Breath of Life 
  5. Become financially independent – earn more than enough to pay for my own medical aid and groceries
  6. Have more fun – maybe take up art of some kind or simply going to the beach more often
  7. Focus on wellness – pray every day, have good diet, exercise, good sleep, gratitude and get more sun
  8. See Michelle Rielly in real-life again – I miss her lots
  9. Choose people who choose me – no more chasing people
  10. Visit Paternoster
  11. Visit Europe – go to Paris and Rome – and go paragliding in Switzerland
  12. Go whale-watching with Southern Cross Cruises in October (saw whales with Southern Cross Cruises on October 11th – it was awesome)
  13. Stay at Crawfords Beach Lodge
  1. Read 24-48 books
  2. Do 34  or more good deeds – one of the deeds must be having one or more trees planted (Visions of Change helped me plant 5 trees)

(Note: Goals are subject to change with time and that’s ok because I will change with time)

(Note 2: Post last updated 11 October 2025)

My 2024 Life Purposes and Goals in Review

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“Make measurable progress in reasonable time.” – Jim Rohn

As we near the end of 2024 it is again time to review the goals I set at the beginning of the year

My 2024 Life Purposes and Goals in Review

My Life’s Purposes

  1. Fill the world with kindness and love [did my best]
  2. Make a difference – level the playing field for people who were born with the cards stacked against them [did my best]
  3. Change perceptions about differently-abled people [did my best]

2024 Goals in Review

  1. Continue to be kind, honest, generous, grateful, loyal and filled with wonderment
  2. Every day be the best SuperSidekick to Superhero Catherine Constantinides (she’s the best, most hardworking real-life Superhero I’ve ever met she totally deserves me forever  and no matter what else I’m doing in life I will always be here for her)
  3. Maintain and strengthen my deep friendship with Michelle Rielly  
  4.  Raise at least R33 000 for Breath of Life and request that the government create a third category for baby havens so we can increase our numbers without anxiety  (Breath of Life is a place of safety for vulnerable babies here in my city I JUST LOVE THEIR WORK) [ Update: raised the amount and more – changing the law was unnecessary]
  5. Take a classroom of kids to the movies for the first time [Update: Didn’t get to it]
  6. Build a strong relationship with Abigail Boshoff [no comment]
  7. Have more fun – maybe take up painting, or pottery or simply going to the beach more often
  8. Focus on wellness – pray every day, have good diet, exercise, good sleep, gratitude and get more sun [Update: Need to work on the sleep and exercise]
  9. Go on a boat cruise here in East London with Southern Cross Cruises -hopefully see whales or dolphins
  10. Paraglide in Interlaken, Switzerland [Update: Didn’t get to it]
  11. Practice Patience [Update: Started working on it in the last 12 days of the year]
  12. Become financially free [Update: Failed]
  13. Teach kids and adults worldwide that Different Is COOL
  14. Continue to raise awareness about the Western Sahara conflict – the Western Sahara has been illegally occupied by Morocco since 1975 due to the fact that it’s rich in natural and though the UN promised a referendum in 1991 it has yet to come to pass meanwhile half of the Saharawi People have been living in the refugee camps in Algeria since 1975
  15. Choose people who choose me [Update: I’m trying]
  16. Read 24-48 books [Update: Read 14 books so far]
  17. Plant 1-5 trees [Update: Had 2 trees planted at my sister’s new house]
  18. Do 33+ good deeds

#Nisha67 Campaign Over. Thank you all for the support.

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“Never underestimate the power of a small group of committed people to change the world. In fact, it is the only thing that ever has.” ~ Margaret Mead

Last night my Nisha 67 Campaign benefitting Breath of Life ended with a net amount of R47 943 (I think I will only know the final amount by Monday but I’m approximately correct)(the gross amount is R51 559). A HUGE HUGE THANK YOU to my family, friends and even strangers who came together to make this happen.

A special mention must also go to Tom & Tori Horse and Heart Stables who did a 22 km horse ride on my behalf in aid of Breath of Life on September 16th- thank you soooooooooooo much.

BackABuddy will transfer the money to Breath of Life on October 14th and Breath of Life will use the money for baby care essentials as well as to cover the operating expenses of the house – electricity, water, salaries, etc.

Tom and Tori Horse and Heart Riding for Breath of Life and Nisha

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I’m very excited to announce that on September 16th Tom & Tori Horse and Heart Stables will be riding 22kms on my behalf (from Cintsa West to Cefani and back) in aid of Breath of Life. The ride will aim to raise R67 000 for Breath of Life and we are currently at R33 844. This ride is significant for me because my new dream is to horse ride but it would be unsafe for me to do so without a specialized saddle and so while we work on that Tom and his team will be riding on my behalf in aid of Breath of Life . Please support this ride at backabuddy.co.za/nisha-67

Mia le Roux makes history as first hearing-impaired Miss South Africa

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Mia Le Roux (L) is crowned by 2023 Miss South Africa Natasha Joubert (R) on stage at the 2024 Miss South Africa final at SunBet Arena in Pretoria. (MARCO LONGARI / AFP)

Mia le Roux makes history as first hearing-impaired Miss South Africa

The 28-year-old model and marketing manager who was representing the Western Cape is the first Miss South Africa who is hard of hearing. According to her profile on the Miss South Africa website, Le Roux, who was born in Sasolburg in the Free State, was diagnosed with profound hearing loss at the age of one.

The part-time B Com Marketing student describes herself as resilient, dedicated, graceful and kind. 

An Open Letter to Mia le Roux

Dear Mia,

Congratulations on becoming Miss South Africa 2024. Thank you for having the courage to put yourself out there and because you did you now have the chance to make the world inclusive for all of us who are different. Congratulations, I’m so proud of you…for the first time in my life I feel represented in the mainstream media

Yours with Gratitude,

Nisha Varghese

Help me serve Breath of Life this Mandela Month #Nisha67

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“In a gentle way, you can shake the world.”― Mahatma Gandhi

On July 18th South Africa celebrates Nelson’s Mandela’s 67-year legacy of service by doing 67 minutes of service. This year for Mandela Month and Mandela Day my goal is to raise R67 000 for the Breath of Life house. For more information or to make a donation please visit https://www.backabuddy.co.za/nisha-67