Over the last couple of years good news has sometimes felt hard to come by, whilst reading through South Africa’s Good News Blog, I came across this beautiful article written by Khaya Thwala, and it brought me so much joy. Long-standing Londolozi friend, founder of the Martha Beck Institute, best-selling author, life coach, and inspirational speaker, Dr Martha Beck makes a point of travelling to South Africa each year to host one of her annual personal development retreats that she leads with Boyd and Bronwyn Varty, conducted right here at Londolozi! She describes her passion for the Good Work Foundation, and her beautiful journey with Kate Groch. Her love for South Africa and its people is moving, and her words have warmed my heart completely. Her memories of time spent at Londolozi bring a smile to my face, and she is just the most remarkable and inspiring woman.

Today I thought I would share some of the quotes from Khaya’s blog that Martha shared that have deeply resonated with me as a young South African, and proud member of the Londolozi family. I hope you enjoy reading as much I have…

The 1990’s was the spark that ignited Martha’s deep connection with South Africa, when she visited to experience the Madiba Magic that was swirling around the world. From the moment Martha landed in Johannesburg she describes that she was “hooked”.

“Madiba magic is in everyone”

After visiting South Africa, and staying at Londolozi, she had this to say:

“There is something so magical and heart-filling about South Africa. On my first trip, I expected to feel like this was the most exotic place I’d ever been, but it felt like the most ‘home’ I’ve ever been. The landscape and the people and the principle of ubuntu … we hear a lot about the bad things in Africa, but we don’t see on the news the incredible kindness and sweetness that’s knitted into the souls of South Africans. There’s a spiritual essence in the country and its people that’s so powerful and magical, and it matches what I feel in my heart as the way humanity should be living. It’s so good for the heart and it’s so good for the soul.”

The Londolozi Village’s Ubuntu Hut. Lived daily by every Londolozi family member – I am because of you.

Martha has been visiting us at Londolozi for many years now, and has dreamed of sharing South Africa with others. Together with Dave, Shan, Boyd and Bronwyn Varty they created the African STAR (Self Transformation Adventure Retreat) in 2008, and since then, each year they’ve led and continue to lead the retreat three times a year at selected Londolozi camps.

“Tracking your life path in the bushveld” 

The retreat encompasses tracking, trailing, game drives all for the rise in personal transformation. Individual and group coaching explores the harmony between people and the planet in order to elect positive change. Groups of 12 people are guided on how to track with purpose, using the transformative power of nature to guide participants towards their true path in life. Proceeds earned from the retreat goes towards supporting the Good Work Foundation, further supporting and enriching the lives of so many. Not only does her annual safari retreat help people find meaning in their lives, it’s also become part of this life coach’s own journey towards finding purpose and fulfilment.

From her earliest moments at Londolozi, she has been deeply moved by the wonderful work done by the Good Work Foundation, and for many years, she had been an unwavering supporter in making a difference in so many lives of South Africans by revolutionising rural education by providing access to smart technology.

“The vision the GWF was putting together was so full of life and energy – and the joy of learning – that I was hooked”

Martha visited GWF’s Hazyview Digital Learning Centre which opened its doors in 2012, giving life to the vision of bringing digital learning to rural Mpumalanga. She describes watching the children being bussed in for after-school classes,

“As the doors of the bus open, the kids come out like they’ve been shot from cannons – they’re so excited to be in that environment to learn and explore. It’s the most incredible thing. You will not have a better experience in this world!”

“In Africa, I feel safe in my soul”

“There is something bigger and deeper and incredibly beautiful about this place, and it just brings me back and I keep bringing other people back.”

This really brings a tear to my eye, Martha has so stunningly encapsulated my feelings on South Africa, and its incredible people. I love her description of her travels to Londolozi as “Coming ‘home’ to feed the soul”. We live in the most diverse, unique and breathtaking country. Her connection to the land, its people and to Londolozi is exactly the good news I wanted to share with you all today, and I hope its warmed you all on the inside, just like it did for me.

Join Martha in supporting wonder-filled learning with the Good Work Foundation through the Londolozi Ripple Fund.