Families lining up for relief in Kya Sand

Media & Stories

FROM THE GROUND

Real moments from Kya Sand and the settlements around it — the videos, photographs and press coverage behind the numbers. This is the work, unfiltered.

Sky visible through the burnt-out roof of the Nkgotwe family home

Emergency appeal

REBUILDING AFTER THE FIRE

A July 2025 fire destroyed Mrs Dikeletsane Nkgotwe's home in Doornkop, Soweto. Walls, windows, doors and a roof are back — plumbing, electricity, tiles, a ceiling and paint are still needed to make it liveable again.

See the story & give

Full documentary

WATCH THE DOCUMENTARY

An official selection at Filmmaker Sessions Volume 4, produced with Valeon — the full story behind the work, on camera, for anyone who wants more than a photo wall.

IN MOTION

Short clips filmed on distribution days and fire responses. Tap any clip to play.

On the ground

Relief handover

Blankets and essentials passed hand to hand alongside emergency responders.

Fire response

After the fire

Families salvaging timber and rebuilding in the hours after a settlement fire.

Community

The children of Kya Sand

The reason we keep showing up — the youngest members of the community.

Fire safety

Prepared for the next one

Fire extinguishers and firewood support to help households stay safe and warm.

Fun day

Setting up the day

Getting the Kya Sands sports ground ready for a free day of play.

Fun day

JUMP4ALL

A free jumping castle day for every child between 6 and 12 in the settlement.

Fire response

A shack fire, in progress

The moment a settlement fire is still spreading, before crews can get it under control.

Fire response

Sorting through what's left

Salvaging what survived, in the hours after the flames were out.

IN PICTURES

A wall of real moments — relief, rebuilding, and joy. Tap any photo to enlarge.

Woman carrying salvaged firewood — Carrying salvaged firewood home — Kya Sand

Women holding donated clothing — Warm clothing handed out to families

A mother and her children at the fun day

Donated fire extinguishers — Donating fire extinguishers to the community

Volunteers serving meals — Serving hot meals on distribution day

Residents clearing fire debris — Clearing debris after a settlement fire

Children on an inflatable slide — Fun day at Kya Sands sports ground

Bread packed for distribution — Fresh bread, ready to share

UDRS team with emergency services — Working alongside City of Joburg EMS

Families queuing for relief — Families line up for relief parcels

Recovering wood after a fire — Recovering usable wood from the ashes

Children on a jumping castle — Children playing, free of charge

Donated blankets — Blankets for the winter cold

Community gathering — A community gathering in Kya Sand

A prefab housing unit — A completed prefab housing unit

Modular homes under construction — Modular homes taking shape

An old shack beside new modular walls going up — The old and the new, side by side

Container-panel walls going up on a modular unit — Panel by panel, a new home takes shape

A modular unit being framed on site — Framing a new unit

A completed modular home with roof and solar panel — Roof and solar going on a finished unit

A completed modular unit with a covered veranda — A finished unit, veranda and all

Checking a finished modular unit before handover — A final check before handover

Interior finishing work inside a modular unit — Finishing touches inside

Wash basins inside a converted shipping-container ablution block — Basins inside a container ablution block

A shipping-container kiosk with serving hatches — A container kiosk, ready for the yard

A double-storey container structure under construction — A double-storey build going up

Fitting a steel canopy to a container unit — Fitting the canopy

A large double-storey container building with an arched roof and staircase — A finished shell, roof and stairs in

A container unit on the truck bed, ready for delivery — Ready for delivery

A shipping container fitted out as an outdoor kitchen — A container fitted out as an outdoor kitchen

A finished bathroom inside a converted container — A finished bathroom, ready for handover

IN THE PRESS

Newspaper coverage and the flyers we hand out on the ground. Tap to read.

Newspaper

“Non-profit organisation assists Kya Sand fire victims”

Local press covers our emergency response after a settlement fire.

Newspaper

Our story, in print

A feature on how the work began and who it reaches.

Newspaper

Support in the settlements

Coverage of ongoing relief and community programmes.

Flyer

Free JUMP4ALL kids' day

Every child aged 6–12 from Sector 2 invited to the Kya Sands sports ground.

Flyer

Prefabs for our community

Rallying the Kya Sands group behind safe, modular housing.

Our vision

“Every society has a right to meaningful change”

Storytelling and sustainable solutions for African communities.

COMMUNITY FASHION DAY

A community fashion and pageant day for the kids and young women of Kya Sand — dignity isn't only delivered in relief parcels.

Young women lining up for the community fashion show — Models lining up for the show

Kids modelling on a runway at the community fashion day — Kids modelling on the day

Young women waiting their turn on the runway — Waiting for their turn on the runway

A young woman smiling before stepping onto the runway — A moment before stepping out

Young women smiling together at the community fashion day — All smiles before the show

PIPELINE JUNIORS FC

Started during Covid-19 to give kids something better than wandering the streets, Pipeline Juniors now runs three divisions for boys and girls — Under 11, Under 13 and Under 15. Under 11 and Under 13 took the 2025 Zandspruit Local Football Association tournament; Under 15 finished in the top 8.

Team hoisting the championship cup together — Champions

Team lifting the cup with their coach — Lifting the cup

Players celebrating with medals and the trophy — Medals all round

Team celebrating together after a match — All smiles after a match

A player receiving a player-of-the-match trophy from a coach — Player of the match

Players with family members cheering them on — The team, with family cheering them on

A coach taking notes on the sidelines during a match — Coaching staff, keeping score

BE PART OF THE NEXT STORY

Every photo here started with someone who chose to give. Your support keeps the trucks loaded, the fires answered, and the children playing.

Donate R150 Volunteer