KZN blogger collects water for Khaya home

Capetonian Julia Ledingham and Durban lifestyle blogger and social entrepreneur, Ria Algoo, stand with Thandiwe Fikelephi and Cynthia Mafaya, from the Baphumelele NGO who were excited to receive the water donation.

Durban lifestyle blogger and social entrepreneur, Ria Algoo, felt compelled to do her bit in assisting NGOs in the Western Cape with water during the drought.

Although Day Zero has once again been pushed back to next year, Ms Algoo donated 1 100 litres of water to Baphumelele Centre in Khayelitsha on Thursday March 15.

Baphumelele provides a temporary shelter for vulnerable and orphaned children and young adults with chronic diseases and HIV/Aids.

The organisation also focuses on skills development for the unemployed, early childhood care, alleviation of poverty, and spreading healthcare information to the community in Khayelitsha and surrounding areas.

Ms Algoo is the co-founder of an NGO called Sai Feeding Scheme and she has been involved in social upliftment initiatives for over 10 years.

She used her blog called The Blog Box and more than 25 000 followers on Instagram as a platform to support her charitable initiative called #Waterblogbiox.

The main aim was to collect water for those in need, particularly the people of Cape Town.

Ms Algoo said while some people can buy their own bottled water from the shop, there are many others who cannot and in times of crisis, it is always the vulnerable that suffer the most.

She said she felt obliged to extend a helping hand and ensure that the children in organisations such as Baphumelele do not feel the burden of water scarcity.

She said some of these children needed water to take medication.

She said they had made an effort to transport the water from Durban to Cape Town.

All water was donated by her social media followers.

She said she decided to use her influence to assist the people of Cape Town who are battling with this water crisis.

She said she also runs feeding schemes and other projects, including giving out blankets in KZN.

“My blog has been existing for about seven months now. I wanted to use the social media presence for good.

“It really is a story of people getting together to make a plan for the greater good. I am not your average blogger, I am here to make a difference and be the change ,” she said.

For help with the project management and logistics of the actual water handouts, Ms Algoo has collaborated with Capetonian Julia Ledingham who is donating her time and resources to co-ordinatiing and water donations to each of the local charities.

She said that the most difficult part was transporting water from Durban to Cape Town because they worried that the water bottles might break.

She said they send the water once a week to Cape Town depending on how much water they have collected.

Bukhosi Mpalweni, manager of Baphumelele, said they were delighted to receive the water.

He said it was difficult for them to use less water as they had 107 children and now at least they will have an extra supply.

He commended the organisation for their contribution in assisting a township-based organisation.