Meeting the Need, Not the Checklist: What Happens When We Make Room, Not Rules

Sometimes, all that is needed is to reach out—and be heard.

Some months ago, we received a message via our social media inbox. A young woman from South Africa reached out. Her mother was trapped in a deeply violent and escalating situation and had nowhere to go.

Bertha’s Legacy doesn’t currently operate in that region, but we just couldn't turn her away because every life matters. And when a cry for help comes in, we listen and we act. Because violence doesn’t wait for location boundaries.

Though we had no official programme there, one of our team members lives nearby and immediately stepped in. We began providing emotional support to the daughter, while behind the scenes we searched for a safe solution for her mum who was also navigating substance use recovery. Her history of substance abuse limited the free support programs she could get access to. We had to step in and help a sister.

We ran out of time as the situation intensified. The abuse she was facing escalated and she had to be moved.

Thanks to the daughter’s courage, she is now in a safe space with her. We provided financial support during the transition and began working on a longer-term solution to help restore her hope and dignity.

And that’s when something truly special began to unfold.

We reached out to Thabi—a dynamic creative entrepreneur known for her skills in training women on handmade interior decor accessories. We asked if she had any programmes that might help this woman rebuild from the ashes.

She offered the mother a free place in her candle-making masterclass🌺We sponsored the daughter to join her, so they could walk this journey together.

We believe this intervention was more than just wax and wicks. It was healing. Connection. Light🕯️And a rare moment of joy after years of trauma.

In their own words:

“The candle-making class was a truly special and uplifting experience for us as a mother and daughter. After everything we’ve been through—years of emotional hardship and healing—this workshop gave us a rare moment to breathe, connect, and create something beautiful together.

This was so much more than just a class—it was a moment of light, joy, and hope during a time where we’ve truly needed it.”

At Bertha’s Legacy, we believe in the power of art as therapy. Creative expression is a pathway to healing. Candle making, in particular, holds a quiet symbolism that deeply resonated with this journey. The act of melting, moulding and creating light from broken pieces mirrored their own process of rebuilding after trauma. In crafting something beautiful with their hands, mother and daughter reconnected not only with each other, but with parts of themselves they thought were lost. The warm glow of the finished candles became a reminder that healing is possible, and light can return, even after the darkest nights.

The message from the mother touched our hearts.:

“I really, really appreciate EVERYTHING and the start-up pack. So that you know, you guys actually saved my life. I owe you more than you can imagine.”

💛 To Thabi—thank you for saying YES. For seeing the potential in a woman who was almost written off. Your generosity and warmth have created ripples far beyond your workshop.

This is just the beginning of something beautiful.

We believe healing is a right, not a privilege. And we’ll continue walking alongside women, one story at a time, until every life touched by violence finds safety, hope and purpose again.

Because every life matters. Every woman matters🌺

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