Page 109 - KZN Top Business Women 2019 eBook

There’s a voice inside you that wants to lead and guide you… get to know

yourself well and be all that you love and that you’re passionate about.

communities where people feel they’re outcast, perceives the overall value as far greater than that of
Creative Director, Heartstrings Community Project
either shunned or marginalised. the product itself, as it was symbolic of a changing
life. From small beginnings seven years ago, they
AULA STRYDOM is the creative director who, Dreaming of building a hall, Paula points to a tent
have many initiatives gaining momentum.
with husband Mike, is the big heart behind outside and laughs, “That will be a community hall
PHeartstrings Community Project. They seek if we can get funds, for people to come together. Integrity, dignity and respect
to cultivate a spirit of belonging and community Sometimes, we just have to start and trust that it Paula describes their success as a result of combining
that they envisage will grow South Africa from will happen; it’s an opportunity for someone to put their strengths. “I feel it’s the respect of men and
strength to strength. Based in Crestholme, the their hand to something and feel that they’re doing women working together hand in hand that actually
initiatives include Heartstrings Trading Co, Calico something for this country, because that’s what leads to success.” She feels they shouldn’t worry
Heart Clothing, and Livingstone Nursery where we’re really passionate about.” about chasing success, but rather worry about what
people come together to maintain and grow plants their influence is and what their calling is – if they’re
which are sold to fund some of Heartstrings’ projects Paula explains that while Mike was working and authentically themselves, and work within the
in Crestholme and surrounds. At Pilgrims Rest tea they were doing well, they weren’t drawn to fancy framework of integrity, dignity and respect, at a level
garden, tea and coffee are freely available for all, places, but rather to out of town locations. Moved by of excellence and hard work, success will follow.
bringing people from all walks of life together. On the difficult times they witnessed, Paula recounted
Saturdays, cake is sold to cover costs and share the saying, “you know, somebody should do something”, A work-life balance is integral to Paula’s family life-
beautiful space with visitors. which was the catalyst for answering voices from style. “Each day is completely unique, it’s quite like
within that said, “Tag, you’re it, do something!” And it is rest. One day we might be doing something
At the Heartstrings community kitchen, meals are they did. After praying about it, they felt this calling administrative, the next something completely
prepared for people in need, including children getting stronger and their focus beginning to shift. creative, so... we’re playing at the same time as
attending the nearby creche and inner-city people They realised that while they were telling everyone, working. Our balance is in work hard and play hard;
who live on the margins of society – sex workers, “live your best life and dream”, they needed to be we do it all with the passion of our calling and that is
addicts, homeless people and those living in shelters. part of making those dreams possible. And so they our balance, it’s how we’ve done this for seven years.”
After providing a meal, the Frontier Church ministry, started, with the insight that they should begin with
led by Paula and Mike, spend time caring for their what was at hand. They took stock and knew the I would tell my younger self to listen to your
emotional needs, as there is often no one in their time was right; they had a bowl of small change that intuition… there’s a voice inside you that wants to
lives who will hug them and listen to their stories. they’d dropped coins into over time, and a gardener lead and guide you, get to know yourself well, be all
A bridge between communities who needed change in his life so, with what that you love and that you’re passionate about, and
it’ll grow and develop from there. Listen to the voice
amounted to exactly R1000 of small change and the
Heartstrings, explains Paula, is essentially about inside of you, and don’t be scared to make mistakes.
uplifting communities, empowering people and commitment of a certain gardener, they took a leap Try things; mistakes are only mistakes when you give
connecting hearts. The definition of a ‘heartstring’ of faith and began. up and you don’t learn something from them. Every
is a vein where blood flows from and returns to Their inspiration was to ‘take something that was part of who I am today is because there was a young
the heart, giving life; connecting people’s hearts rubbish’ and from it create something that was woman who wasn’t afraid to try different things.
provides a two-way flow of life – those that offer beautiful and teach others how to do that too. After Even if it seems so incredibly diverse, you never
blessing find that they are blessed in turn. Paula’s raiding dumpsters, and purchasing a few items that know what that’s all going to accumulate into. When
motivation behind the community project is to fitted their décor design, they went home to begin I look back at all the different things that we were
be a heartstring, in essence a bridge between the process of recycling and repurposing. Paula involved in – I feel they are now coming into fruition.

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