On the morning after the storm, Oom Armaan and Tannie Sana had no home left to return to. Today, they do.
They are a couple in their late seventies, raising their teenage grandson Brendan — whose mother died when he was still a young boy. Oom Armaan has the use of only one arm. Tannie Sana is slowly losing her eyesight, and can stand for only short stretches at a time. When the wind tore their home apart on 11 May, the three of them had nowhere to go. For several nights, they slept outside.
One week later, the building began. Two men — Brad and Johan — gave their time freely, asking for nothing. Local builders worked for greatly reduced wages because they knew the family and could not look away. Brick by brick, sheet by sheet, the home came back. What the storm took in a single night, the community gave back over the weeks that followed.
"We don't arrive with pity. We arrive with a sheet of iron, a bag of cement, and people willing to pick it up and work."
Love Looks Like SomethingThat figure does not tell the whole story — it excludes the materials and skilled labour donated by people who simply showed up to help. Because of that generosity, we are able to build solid, dignified homes at a fraction of what they would otherwise cost. Put plainly: every rand given to this appeal stretches much further than you might imagine.
See it for yourself
The finished home — Oom Armaan & Tannie Sana.
The rebuild, day by day.
"Let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up."
Galatians 6:9One home is done. Two families are still waiting. Oom Armaan and Tannie Sana's story is proof that this works — that with willing hands and the help of people like you, a home can rise again in a matter of weeks.
Help us finish what we've started
Two families lost everything in the same storm and are still without homes of their own.
The Booysen family — a mother and four children — have land secured and are waiting only on funding to build.
Marno, Eustace & Vonnie — three brothers on borrowed time, with foundations already laid and an eviction that could come any day.
During this appeal, donations to Love Looks Like Something go directly to rebuilding the homes lost in the storm. Email proof of payment to admin@lovelookslikesomething.co.za or call 063 771 7817.
Section 18A tax certificates: Elpida is a registered Public Benefit Organisation (PBO). If you need a Section 18A certificate for tax-deduction purposes, you must donate to Elpida — Love Looks Like Something is not able to issue these. Email proof of payment to admin@elpidageorge.co.za and your certificate will be issued within 30 days.
Unless you instruct us otherwise, all donations received during this appeal go directly to emergency storm relief. To ringfence your gift for a specific family or purpose, note it on your reference and email us.