If you’re feeling overwhelmed by the problems around us, there’s good news: there are organizations like Relate that make it easy and fun to make a difference. All it takes is something as simple as buying a bracelet when you’re out shopping, and you could be supporting one of over 110 causes that Relate supports.
Dalit Shekel, brand consultant for Relate, has identified some of the parallels between everyday life and the causes that Relate supports, building on the emotional connection that makes their bracelets more than just jewellery.
Animals and Conservation
‘Take animals and conservation, for example. At the heart of all conservation and animal charities is a determination to create and maintain safe environments for animals, whether they’re wild or domesticated. We can all relate to wanting a safe and secure environment for ourselves, and that’s why the plight threatening our wildlife has never felt so relatable.’
Relate has raised over R2.8 million for the Endangered Wildlife Trust and over R1.1 million for Save the Elephants. Bracelet sales also generated R480k for the Jane Goodall Institute of South Africa, whose motto really resonates here: ‘You can help change the world too’.
‘By purchasing a bracelet, you too can contribute to these efforts and help make a difference,’ Shekel reassures us.
Education
The future of South Africa’s education is at stake due to a literacy crisis. Shockingly, a report by the 2030 Reading Panel revealed that 80% of Grade 1 students don’t know the whole alphabet, and over 30% of Grade 2 students still struggle with it. This perpetual struggle to catch up is hindering the potential of these children and the country as a whole.
As Shekel explains, ‘This issue strikes a chord with most of us who can relate to the struggle of feeling lost in class. But we can’t let this problem continue to hold back our children and our nation’s progress.’
Shine Literacy strives to instill a love for reading in children, inspiring them to read not just because they have to, but because they want to. As they say, ‘Words have the power to change the world.’
When you purchase an education bracelet, Shekel encourages you to get creative with it by using it to adorn kids’ schoolbags and bedrooms.
Healthcare
Those of us with medical aid might have felt physically ill upon hearing about the 2023 fee increases. Discovery, South Africa’s largest provider, will increase most contributions by 7.9%, and its top-end schemes will see an increase of almost 10%.
Shekel offers a sobering reminder that, if the increases make medical aid feel inaccessible, it’s worth remembering that over 80% of South Africans don’t have medical aid in the first place, and healthcare itself is becoming increasingly inaccessible thanks to overcrowded, under-resourced facilities.
It’s a colossal challenge, but there are initiatives trying to make a difference. The Pink Drive uses mobile clinics and education units to provide access to breast-cancer awareness and support. Operation Smile SA provides free surgery to repair cleft lip, cleft palate and other facial deformities in children, and the Rotary SafeWater Project aims to provide clean drinking water for disadvantaged communities all over Africa, thus improving the living conditions that ultimately impact a need for healthcare in the first place.
There are many other causes that you can support when you buy a Relate bracelet, and every contribution counts. As Shekel concludes, ‘Everyone appreciates kindness and help when they’re struggling, so let’s make sure that we get it.’ By coming together and supporting each other, we can create a better world for ourselves and those around us.
Submitted by Irvine Partners
