MaDD

WOMEN. They come in all shapes, colours and sizes – and from different ethnic groups, nationalities, religions, belief systems and parts of the world ….and they speak different languages. For the most part though, the vast majority of women speak the universal language of love and are strung together in unison by the golden thread of caring and nurturing – across the globe.

A true example of compassionate women is active in Dainfern Golf Estate in Johannesburg. Expats from a variety of countries joined forces with a handful of locals to create the “MaDD” (Making a Difference in Dainfern) group, with an aim to raise much-needed funding for various causes brought to their attention – and have a lot of fun in the process!

All are members of the Dainfern Outreach Group (formed by longstanding resident, Susan Harwood) which comprises 70 like-minded individuals who share and act on information received about people and animals in distress. The MaDD group comprises the following dynamic ladies who pool their creativity and caring hearts to bring joy to those in need:

Lynne Morgan: Born in SA. Lived in Dainfern for 20 years. Supporting the Teddy Bear Foundation and helping with fund raising for the past 23 years.

Susan Harwood: Born in the UK, grew up in Zimbabwe and has been living in Johannesburg for many years. She has been involved in philanthropic initiatives for over 20 years

Priscilla Gênio: From Brazil and now in South Africa since December 2020.

Odette Bosmans: From the Netherlands. She has lived in the USA and Ethiopia and moved to Johannesburg in September 2020.

Olga Lucia Lombana: She has lived in USA and now in Johannesburg since July 2018.

Tiffany Moore: Born in the USA, raised in Jamaica, West Indies, lived in Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands and now Johannesburg, South Africa since October 2020.

Sonia Desai: From Zambia. Resident in South Africa for many years and involved in philanthropy for the past 25 years.

Sabrina Manikkam: Born in Durban and living in Johannesburg for 32 years.

Natasha Calenborne: Born in Jozi, raised in the sunny south coast of KwaZulu-Natal, ventured to Swaziland for some years, before landing back in Jozi!

Ceren Taygun: From Turkey, grew up in Holland, lived in Greece, Rwanda, Egypt and South Africa.

Sunisha Sookdew: Born in beautiful KwaZuluNatal, South Africa and living in Johannesburg for 18 years.

Since the dynamic group got together they have hosted three successful fund raisers, including a fair in the latter half of 2021, which raised a substantial amount of money for the Teddy Bear Clinic. The Teddy Bear Foundation’s Medico-legal Clinic is a specialised medical facility for children who have been abused or neglected and a training service for medical professionals working in the child protection field.

Other beneficiaries were the TEARS Foundation, an organisation whose aim is to enable survivors of rape and sexual abuse to find the assistance, comfort and compassion they need; and the Live Life Always team (LLA) which is a group of people who are otherwise unemployed but clean the streets of the northern suburbs of Johannesburg.

The ladies continue to weave their magic in and around the Dainfern community and are currently busy planning special events for 2022.