Every day in South Africa, people work to make this country thrive
The hope dealers are citizens working to change the narrative in SA and who deserve the media's attention and spotlight. Journalists often have a negativity bias and tend to focus on negatively slanted stories. Mandy believes the media should include both ‘light and shade’.
In this series, Mandy interviews extraordinary changemakers who have worked to revive the inner city of Joburg. These are individuals who have stepped up, of their own volition, and invested their own time, energy and passion into revitalising the city - good civil servants, active citizens, whistleblowers, investigative journalists, members of the judiciary and everyday patriots.
The saying is “If it bleeds, it leads." Mandy argues that “If it’s good, it should.”
Ep 1: Gcwalisa
In this episode, Mandy visits the team at Gcwalisa in Alexandra – a simple but powerful model of refilling containers has turned a small idea into a big movement. It’s a concept that helps citizens save money, reduces public waste and rethinks the way they shop.
Ep 2: CityKidz
In this episode, Mandy visits the phenomenal CityKidz school and NPC in the heart of Joburg’s inner city. The school was started in 2008 by property developer Renney Plitt and Afhco Holdings. CityKidz was founded on the belief that every child deserves an excellent education, with fees structured within reach of inner-city families.
EP 3: Urban Surfers
In this episode of The Hope Dealers, we visit Sifiso Gumbi and Urban Surfer. What began as a grassroots recycling initiative has grown into one of Gauteng’s most innovative community upliftment projects, supporting hundreds of reclaimers through branded trolleys, PPE, recycling hubs, digital tracking systems and corporate partnerships.
Ep 4: Ellis Park Tennis Club
In this episode of The Hope Dealers, Mandy Wiener visits the historic Ellis Park arena where new life is being breathed into the facility. She tells the story of Alec Galanakis and the Joburg Tennis Grassroots Foundation.
EP 5: Skateistan
In The Hope Dealers, Mandy Wiener is telling the stories of people who change the narrative in the city ofJoburg. In this episode Mandy is at Skateistan’s HQ in New Doornfontein where skateboarding is being combined with educational support and youth leadership.