Crumbs, laughter and togetherness. A tea party thrown just for township grannies (and the grandpas who managed to sneak through) reminds us that sometimes the most important joys are the humble ones.
Johannesburg, South Africa (26 May 2025) — A tea party for township grannies recently celebrated the pillars of so many households in South Africa. Leaving behind a trail of happy crumbs, the tea party rightly gave the gogos their flowers of appreciation.
Organised by Charity Begins with Me (CBWM), the humble occasion was in no shortage of song, laughter or treats. Thanks to CBWM’s community, a variety of delicious treats were organised for the guests of honour, leaving behind more than enough for them to take home.
“They showed up, some in taxi’s, some in wheelchairs, and some on crutches,” shared CBWM’s Stephan Ferreira. “It wasn’t very fancy…It was chaotic. It was stressful. But it was perfect. Just for one afternoon, we tried to forget about the hard times and the suffering and we appreciated each other.”
With pots on the fire to supply hot water for the (many) cups of coffee, biscuits, cupcakes and muffins galore, the day brought smiles to many weathered faces. 150 grannies (and a few grandpas who managed to sneak into the party) were present.
Efforts like this are a reminder for all of us that sometimes the most important joys aren’t the flashy ones. They’re the simple ones in which one person says to another (or over a hundred in the case of this tea party) ‘I see you. I see your efforts. I see you carrying more than you show’.
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