I always find it difficult to talk about myself… But today, I am going to give it my best shot. My story ties in with my parents’ story. So perhaps you should read their story first and then come back and read mine.

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I will start my story in 2014 when my life came to an earth shattering halt! This is when I received the horrible news that my cousin, Rensia had been brutally raped and murdered. After receiving the news I was so mad at God and vowed that I will never set my foot on South African soil ever again.

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Time went by, and in September of 2016 my mom let me know she bought a ticket to South Africa because she wanted to visit her sisters. I felt a tug and despite me promising myself that I will never go to South Africa again, I told her that she could not go without me. I quickly made arrangements with my work situation and bought a ticket the following day.

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In November of 2016, as soon as I set my feet on the beautiful South African soil, I knew that time and God had helped me deal with my anger, fear and doubt. I knew I was home. This is something that I really can’t explain because I have spent most of my life in Europe, and yet when I arrived in South Africa I knew this is where I have to be. We spent a month in South Africa and when we got back to the Netherlands, we started making our arrangements to immigrate back to South Africa.

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A few months after we arrived in South Africa, while living in a community with my two aunts and their families, life threw me a curve ball. She was wrapped in a pink blanket, weighed about 3,5 kg’s and her name was Fundiswa!

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I have always had this question in my heart… ‘Do I want to bring children into this world?’ As soon as Fundi’s biological mom placed her in my arms I knew that love had no boundaries and this answered that question in my heart; ‘I don’t want to bring children into the world, I want to adopt children!’

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When Fundi came into my life it awakened something inside of me. I knew that I wanted my life to have meaning and that I wanted to bring change. I could however sometimes feel so overwhelmed by the amount of people that are in need of help and Mother Teresa and her life became a big inspiration to me. Her famous quote has always been my motto

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“I alone cannot change the world, but I can cast a stone across the waters to create many ripples”

– Mother Teresa

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When covid-19 hit South Africa, my mom and I were in lockdown for weeks on end, and the dream of starting a NPO where we could add value started stirring in our hearts. This virus has left hunger, lack and devastated families and communities in its wake. We felt there must be something we could do! As we started brainstorming this, things started to fall into place. My dad became our hero by contributing the very first donation to feed the poor. Riaan and Els followed and soon some more family and friends. Before long we were overwhelmed with the goodness and trust of family and friends as they offered to contribute. Our dream of a NPC was starting to take form.

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On 30/06/2020 our NPC was registered and Pebbles & Ripples NPC became a fact!! Together with family and friends we are embarking on this new journey to be the change we want to see in this world; in our beloved South Africa.

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If you told me in 2014 that in 2023 I would be living at Rensia's House in South Africa, that I would be the mother of two beautiful adopted children and that I would be running a NPC with my mom, I would probably not have believed you…. And yet, here I am.

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I am so incredibly grateful to be where I am and I am extremely excited to see what the future holds!

I would love for you to follow along on our journey!

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Blessings

Danielle, Fundi & Kuhle