News24 | Matric pupil’s flower business raises R35k to renovate children’s home in Makhanda

• Joanna du Toit raised R35 000 through her flower business to renovate the Home of Joy.
• Her work, inspired by her school’s community engagement ethos, earned her the Neil Aggett Award.
• Du Toit plans to continue her charitable efforts from Stellenbosch University, ensuring Home of Joy remains cared for beyond her matric year.
• If you have a success story to tell, email feelgood@news24.com.

When Kingswood College Grade 12 pupil Joanna du Toit first visited Home of Joy, a care centre for orphaned and vulnerable children in Joza township in Makhanda, she was 14. She was left moved, and with a conviction that she had to do something.

“I knew South Africa had underprivileged areas, but I didn’t realise how bad things were until I visited,” she said. “Seeing how the children lived, many without parents, touched me deeply.”

Four years later, Du Toit has turned that moment into a sustained community initiative, raising more than R35 000 this year through the small flower business she runs from her family farm outside Queenstown.

The funds are being used to renovate critical areas of Home of Joy, which include new ceilings for the bedrooms, replacement doors and windows, and fresh paint, while also purchasing Christmas presents for every child.

On Monday last week, she delivered the gifts with her Grade 10 brother, Charl, who was dressed in a Santa suit.

“The children absolutely loved him,” she said.

A school culture that sparked a calling

Kingswood College describes community engagement as central to its ethos, with pupils regularly volunteering at local projects. Home of Joy has long been one of the school’s partners, and Kingswood pupils have painted murals, cooked meals, tutored children, and spent afternoons playing with residents of the home.

Kingswood College head Leon Grové said Du Toit’s efforts were an example of how service learning could transform young people into active, compassionate citizens.

“Joanna has taken this to heart,” he said.

He added:

Du Toit’s work earned her the prestigious Neil Aggett Award this year – named after Kingswood Old Boy, doctor and anti-apartheid activist Neil Aggett – presented by 2025 memorial lecture speaker Dr Imtiaz Sooliman, founder of Gift of the Givers.

“I honestly didn’t expect it,” Du Toit said.

“I started this simply to help the people around me. Being recognised made me feel supported and showed me that I really can make a difference.”

Growing a charity from a bucket of flowers

Du Toit grew up on a farm outside Komani, always surrounded by flowers. Her mother, Rose du Toit, runs a small but thriving flower-growing business that supplies weddings and florists across the Eastern Cape.

“I’ve always enjoyed growing things,” Rose said.

“I started small in 2019, and slowly expanded. It’s incredibly rewarding. Even after customers have paid, they still send pictures thanking me.”

When her daughter expressed a desire to raise money for Home of Joy, Rose said she gave her the space to find her own idea.

“It took her a while because she always knew she wanted to do something meaningful,” she added.

“One day she came home and said, ‘What if I sell flowers?’ So that’s what we did.”

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Du Toit runs her business by sending out weekly adverts and emails to teachers, parents, and local buyers.

Her parents then deliver fresh flowers to Makhanda every Friday, which she arranges and distributes on campus or through Ten Cross, whose owner, Rose said, takes a reduced commission “as their way of contributing”.

Rose handles the administrative side, invoicing her daughter for the flowers, receipting payments, and ensuring everything is balanced.

“She only orders what’s already sold, so nothing goes to waste,” Rose said.

“She did all the hard work. From the organisation, the communication, and the deliveries. It’s not something teenagers usually make time for.”

R35 000 raised, and a bigger vision

This year, Du Toit raised R35 000, which is the most she has ever managed. Seventy percent is going to Home of Joy, while 30% is being used to support Lebone, the after-school programme she led this year.

“Lebone has about 35 children, so I’m getting Christmas presents for all the children and staff,” Du Toit said.

For Home of Joy, she focused on structural improvements rather than consumables.

Last year Du Toit delivered a bakkie load of food, toys, bikes and balls, but this year she wanted to do something more meaningful.

“Mama Margaret [Ngcangca], who runs the home, asked for renovations. They need new doors and windows, ceilings in all the bedrooms, and paint. I’ll keep raising money in the new year,” Du Toit said.

A family affair

Although the project is her brainchild, Du Toit’s siblings have become loyal helpers.

“My youngest sister is in Grade 4, and she loves helping me deliver flowers,” she said.

“My brother came with me to Home of Joy last week, and he even dressed up as Father Christmas.”

Rose said each child brought their own personality to the initiative.

“Charl has the heart for it. He played rugby and soccer with the kids, but maybe not the organisational side,” she said with a laugh.

“Grace is very organised and could already run the orders, but she’s still shy of the community engagement part. The heart is there for both of them.”

Rose said that watching her daughter commit to the project, even while juggling sports, academics, and hostel life, has been one of the proudest experiences of her life.

“When you’re a mom, you just want to burst with pride,” she added.

“She’s done all of this purely from her heart. Nobody asked her to. She genuinely wants to help.”

What comes next?

Du Toit matriculates this year and is heading to Stellenbosch University in 2026 to study foundation-phase teaching. She insists the project will continue.

“My parents come to Grahamstown often because my siblings are still at Kingswood, so my mom will keep bringing the flowers,” she said.

“I’ll do the adverts and communication from Stellenbosch. We’ll also rely more on Ten Cross, since I won’t be here.”

She wants to keep supporting Home of Joy long after school.

“It motivates me to continue, even next year when I’m no longer in Grahamstown,” she said.

If you have a flippen fantastic story like this to tell, email feelgood@news24.com.