Where it all began…

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In 2008 I first visited Cape Town and Durban, South Africa, to visit family. During the trip I spent some time volunteering, and then returned in 2009 to continue volunteering. I had found my passion. A 3 week holiday wasn't enough, so in 2010, I took a 3-month working break in Durban where I spent mornings volunteering in the Inchanga community, and afternoons working remotely for the business. I would go out into the community and provide support wherever I could, delivering clothes and food parcels, helping in the clinic, and the classrooms, and when I came across children unable to go to school due to the lack of uniform, I would personally sponsor them to help give them an opportunity to gain access to education. 

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I also arranged for my tech company to provide the NPO ‘1000 Hills Community Centre’ with free eLearning courses to pave the way for a new computer skills development program.

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During the 3-month period, I met three young boys whose mother had sadly passed away, and they were left with no one to care for them.  I worked with a Social Worker and the Department of Social Development for several days until they gave me temporary responsibility for the boys. I then spent the next week trying to locate any family they had and, long story short, I managed to get them rehomed with their Aunty in Peaceville.  Since then, I have kept in touch and monitored the boys’ progress and visited them in South Africa every couple of years, taking with me money raised through sponsored walks etc, and hauling over large suitcases full of clothing and other much-needed items.

 

Combining Business and Philanthropic Efforts…

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Volunteering in the Inchanga community, I witnessed firsthand the disparity in access to education and the harrowing realities faced by disadvantaged children. I realised I wanted to be at the helm of the company I was working for, and I knew it could be the vehicle for social change in the countries that needed it the most. I wanted it to be a company that could leverage technology to solve real-world problems. My idea for ‘Opening Doors’ was born.

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It was in 2007 I took over the business, and it was in 2021 that I rebranded the company from TutorPro to Intellek. ‘Intellek’, in Afrikaans means ‘intellect’, creating an important link to my involvement in South Africa.

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It was at this time, I arranged for a percentage of every purchase made through Intellek directly supports initiatives such as the 1000 Hills Community Centre. Supporting my Opening Doors vision: helping to ensure every child gets access to education and a safe environment.

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Learning should be considered not only as a tool for eradicating poverty but also as an opportunity to ignite a revolution for future progress.

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Celebrations & Life Changing Decisions…

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In 2023 I celebrated 20 years in business and the big 40!. To celebrate these milestones, rather than having a party, my husband and I decided to take the boys (Aaron 16 at the time, and Jerry 19) and some of my Intellek team to South Africa to build a new classroom in the Inchanga community. It’s the only facility of its kind and the intention is to create a safe space and new opportunities for children of all ages. Whilst there, the team also participated in a careers workshop, sponsored more children by buying their school uniforms, delivered food and clothes into the community and helped out in the classrooms. 

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My husband, Jay, had been on trips to South Africa with me before and always loved it. January 2024 was the first time for Jerry and Aaron. I have always wanted to move from the UK to South Africa, and Jay and I had chatted about doing so when the boys were older, but when Aaron said he wanted to come too, it changed the game for us! Aaron was in his first year of a brick laying apprenticeship, and felt that it wasn't for him. He had the opportunity to move to a new country, help make a difference and go on a roller-coaster of an adventure at the same time. He grabbed the chance with both hands!

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Jay was working as a Yard Manager for a company he'd worked for for the past 10 years, and was ready for something different. Aaron showing interest in coming was a big surprise to both of us, but it was an eyeopener and made us realise what we could do if we put our minds to it and worked together. 

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Jerry decided to stay in the UK, that was a tough decision and one we found hard to swallow. However, he's just started his own business, he's in a relationship and is busy with football and motocross, so we had to respect his choice and we are so incredibly proud of him. He loved his time in South Africa in January 2024 though and he'll be out to visit twice a year!!

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So it was during our January 2024 visit, we agreed… it was time to move and start to help make a real difference.

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Opening Doors was a charitable initiative, setup alongside my learning technology business, if we were going to make the move and help to make a real difference, we wanted to get Opening Doors registered as an official NPO.

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We returned to the UK on February 14th, 2024, and began the process. We applied for our visas and submitted our application to register Opening Doors as a South African NPO. Both of these involved A LOT of paperwork and patience (which I don’t have), but a few months later we finally got approval for both and immediately booked our one way flights!

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For those of you that haven’t heard of the Japanese concept Ikigai, it refers to something that gives a person a sense of purpose, a reason for living. I feel that we’re absolutely living in our Ikigai!

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Please follow our journey on social media, and if you'd like to volunteer... we'd love to host you! Find out more here.