Thislife Online Magazine

01/04/2025

‘I worked very hard at university and got great results and career opportunities. But I'd always felt inadequate and bought into lies about myself which damaged me and the people closest to me.'

How did Declan Hollywood, a high-flying Irishman in South Africa, break free from feelings of inadequacy and a damaging party lifestyle to begin restoring his marriage? 👏

Why does he say a wing mirror saved his life and what’s his message to anyone floundering right now?

Simply tap this link to find out👇
https://www.thislifeonline.co.za/irishman-in-africa-how-a-wing-mirror-saved-declans-life/

01/04/2025

‘Growing up, I always felt inadequate. Proving myself became my motivator in life. I bought into lies about myself which damaged me and the people closest to me.'

How did Declan Hollywood, a high-flying Irishman in South Africa, break free from his feelings of inadequacy and the party lifestyle that came with them to begin restoring his marriage? 🧡

And why does he say a wing mirror saved his life?

Simply tap this link to find out👇
https://www.thislifeonline.co.za/your-express-read-how-a-wing-mirror-saved-declans-life/

This is our Express Read version of the story 🏃 If you're keen for all the pics and details, choose the Full Story in our post above 😎

01/04/2025

Listen up to our Chelsea! Then tap below to be revitalised by Angelo's authentic story👇

FULL STORY: https://www.thislifeonline.co.za/substance-abuse-to-sports-chaplain-angelos-story/

EXPRESS VERSION: https://www.thislifeonline.co.za/your-express-read-im-back-on-track-says-angelo/

01/04/2025

'Almost 18 years since my journey with drugs started, I’m back on track and really optimistic about my life,’ says Angelo, formerly a Virgin Active club manager, now a family man and sports chaplain to the thriving Stellenbosch Football Club ⚽

How did he untangle himself from a life of substance abuse to provide emotional and spiritual support to hundreds of South African sports people? 🧡🙌

Simply tap this link👇
https://www.thislifeonline.co.za/your-express-read-im-back-on-track-says-angelo/

This is our Express Read version of the story 🏃 If you're keen for all the pics and details, choose our Full Story on the post below

01/04/2025

‘I was a broken, broken young man,’ says Angelo Hannival of the fallout that his tik addiction caused 😭

Let your soul be refreshed by how he overcame it all to become a family man who emotionally supports hundreds of South Africans. Simply tap this link👇 https://www.thislifeonline.co.za/substance-abuse-to-sports-chaplain-angelos-story

25/03/2025

‘I worked very hard at university and got great results and career opportunities. But I'd always felt inadequate and bought into lies about myself which damaged me and the people closest to me.'

How did Declan Hollywood, a high-flying Irishman in South Africa, break free from feelings of inadequacy and a damaging party lifestyle to begin restoring his marriage? 👏

Why does he say a wing mirror saved his life and what’s his message to anyone floundering right now?

How did Declan Hollywood break free from a party lifestyle and feelings of inadequacy to find purpose and success in South Africa?

25/03/2025

‘Growing up, I always felt inadequate. Proving myself became my motivator in life. I bought into lies about myself which damaged me and the people closest to me.'

How did Declan Hollywood, a high-flying Irishman in South Africa, break free from his feelings of inadequacy and the party lifestyle that came with them to begin restoring his marriage? 🧡

And why does he say a wing mirror saved his life?

This is our Express Read version of the story⚡For all the details and pictures, see Declan's Full Story on our post above 🤩

How Declan Hollywood broke free from a party lifestyle and feelings of inadequacy to find purpose, success and a restored marriage

14/03/2025

'Almost 18 years since my journey with drugs started, I’m back on track and really optimistic about my life,’ says Angelo, formerly a Virgin Active club manager, now a family man and sports chaplain to the thriving Stellenbosch Football Club ⚽

How did he untangle himself from a life of substance abuse to provide emotional and spiritual support to hundreds of South African sports people? 🧡🙌

This is our Express Read version of the story 🏃 If you're keen for all the pics and details, choose our Full Story on the 26 Feb post below


Angelo Hannival's journey from substance abuse to sports chaplain of Stellenbosch FC inspires and supports hundreds of South Africans.

26/02/2025

‘I was a broken, broken young man,’ says Angelo Hannival of the fallout that his tik addiction caused 😭

Let your soul be refreshed by how he overcame it all to become a family man who emotionally supports hundreds of South Africans ❤️

How did Angelo overcome a life of substance abuse to get to a position where he’s supporting hundreds of South African sports people?

26/02/2025

'Almost 18 years since my journey with drugs started, I’m back on track and really optimistic about my life,’ says Angelo, formerly a Virgin Active club manager, now a family man and sports chaplain to the thriving Stellenbosch Football Club ⚽️

How did he untangle himself from a life of substance abuse to provide emotional and spiritual support to hundreds of South African sports people? 🧡🙌

This is our Express Read version of the story, if you want all the pics and details, choose our Full Story which follows very shortly on this page 🏃🏽


Angelo Hannival's journey from substance abuse to sports chaplain of Stellenbosch FC inspires and supports hundreds of South Africans.

29/01/2025

'It was mind-blowing, a miracle!' says Elsie’s River mom Rochelle. Discover how her kindness towards children in her community circled back to her and son Alex when they needed it most 🧡

This is the speed-read version of this story, for people who want their inspiration fast 🏃🏾 Enjoy!

How did the kindness of a mom from Elsie’s River set off a chain reaction that gave her son a lifeline when he needed it most?

29/01/2025

'I don't have words!' says Elsie's River mom Rochelle about the rescue team that swooped in to help her son Alex when he needed it most. Discover how it all started with her own kindness towards children in her community 🙌

This is the full version of this story, with all the details and pics. Savour and share!

https://www.thislifeonline.co.za/story-of-a-matric-student/

How did the kindness of Rochelle, a mom from Elsie’s River, set off a chain reaction that gave her son Alex a lifeline when she fell upon hard times?

22/01/2025

So, we're thrilled to announce that we're starting a series of Express Reads for people on the move who want to be encouraged authentically but FAST 🏃🏾🏃‍♀️

Here's our first one, a speed-read version of the full story we posted earlier⚡️ Celebrate with us how a South African farm girl overcame her tumultuous past to make a massive impact on her community 🧡🇿🇦

Sis Doekies is a former gangster who overcame her past to start a soup kitchen from her home that feeds thousands. Explore how she inspires!

27/11/2024

Tired of bad news? Here's something authentic to restore you!

'I used to eat out of a dump but today I cook for others! I’m humbled and privileged to be able to give food to another person.' So says Sister Doekies, who grew up on a farm in South Africa's Tulbagh, started smoking ma*****na at nine, joined a gang and became a teenage mom.

How did she overcome her challenges to set up a soup kitchen from her home that feeds thousands of hungry people a month?

Let yourself be utterly inspired by her transformation, then why not share this story with someone who believes that change is impossible? 🇿🇦🧡

How did ex-gangster Sis Doekies overcome her past to set up a soup kitchen from her home that feeds thousands?

12/11/2024

This is kindness, this is generosity, this is humanity!

The appeal by Pete Portal and his community for funds to build a healing centre in Manenberg which we previously flagged up on this page has reached its ambitious dream goal of R4.5 million! And it’s even exceeded it by by 5% 🤩

If you missed it, read the full story here. You won’t regret it:

British expat Pete, a former Westminster Abbey chorister, has made an unconventional choice: to call the Cape Town township of Manenberg home. How has it worked out for him, what has he learnt from the people there, and what impact has he had on this vibrant but traumatised and challenged community?

07/11/2024

Wow! The crowdfunding appeal by Tree of Life Church to create a healing centre for Manenberg has reached 93% of its audacious dream goal of $250 000 (around R4.4 million) 👏 If the final goal is reached by D-Day on Monday, it will be South Africa's largest ever crowdfunder sum achieved in 45 days.

The centre will be created from an old tavern built by apartheid powers. ‘Such buildings were often constructed as a containment strategy to keep whole communities addicted and politically lethargic,’ says Pete. ‘The redemption of space this would represent would be really beautiful.’ 🙌

It's not too late for you to help this sorely-needed project attain 100% of the funds it needs. Find out the back story from our interview with Manenberg-based Pete Portal right here: https://www.thislifeonline.co.za/brit-abroad-what-petes-learning-from-living-in-manenberg/

If you'd like to go directly to the donation page, do it here: https://thundafund.africa/campaign/7FDD79081AC697EC8709

30/10/2024

She was a single mom set to lose her income. At the eleventh hour, help arrived and renewed her ability to keep trusting. Discover why Lavender Hill’s Lizania September encourages anyone who’s struggling never to give up hope 🙌

https://www.thislifeonline.co.za/how-i-found-trust-in-my-wrinkled-world/

How did a single mother facing financial disaster find hope in unexpected support? Discover how a helping hand restored Lizania's trust in her wrinkled world

14/10/2024

The planet might be awash with plastic but a group of Hout Bay women are pushing back 🐬

They’re keeping bread bags and other soft plastic out of landfill and the ocean by crocheting them back into long-lasting desirables. Their creations? Bags of all types, hats, bathmats, cushion covers, waste paper bins, Pilates mat holders, Christmas decorations. If you can think it, they’re probably doing it.

The women sell their wares via ReBag.ReUse, an initiative started by Regine le Roux, a craft-lover overwhelmed by the plastic litter she saw while jogging one day. She experimented with cutting up old bags into strips and crocheting them into a square.

Before she knew it, she was paying someone to cut up bags for her. And in the blink of an eye she was running a project! Twenty-one women living in townships in Cape Town and Pretoria are now supporting their households by cutting or crocheting plastic bags for the initiative. Many are now able to pay for food, electricity and school fees that were proving elusive 👏

The tape innards of unwanted video and audio cassettes have now been brought in to the upcycyling fold to be transformed into lustrous evening bags and cushion covers. Further lateral thinking turns their old containers into footstools.

This win/win of positively impacting both environment and community hasn’t gone unnoticed. The project, which donates from its profits to other initiatives such as Neighbourhood Old Age Home and the SPCA, has won a number of local and international awards. Says Regine, who currently earns nothing from the project which she hopes eventually to clone nationwide: ‘It's a wonderful opportunity to be able to help ladies who were previously impoverished. We’re holding hands to fight poverty and create a cleaner environment for all.’ 🧡

What an initative to support! Whether you live in South Africa or waaaay further afield, you can order Re.Bag's designs right here: www.rebagreuse.com 🇿🇦