Photos by Edward Roberts
How do you sum up so much awesomeness in one human? Dewald Botha is one amazing humble dude!
You will find Dewald delivering furniture for Resource, a not for profit organisation that redistributes household goods into the community .
It’s his job to load up the van and deliver to those in our community that need a hand up . Dewald reckons he feels that he unfairly gets all the gratitude from the grateful recipients as he is the one dropping them off although many others have worked hard to make it happen .
Moving from South Africa to NZ when he was just 4 years old Dewald feels that he wants to make the most of the opportunity his parents gave him with this move . Although he loves his job he is using his afternoons to study to finish his NCEA L3 so he can head to Waikato to study to be a Sports Physiotherapist, combining the love he has for sport and people .He credits this change to his boss Nadine who has encouraged him to start studying and believed that he can be all he dreams of. Dewald says that having Nadine as his boss is like gaining an Aunty! To much Nadine, it’s pretty cool to be such an awesome boss, we need more employers just like you.
While working with Resource ,Dewald got to know the team from the Acorn Foundation and jokingly said it would be a pretty hard case “if I got my hair all shaved off and showed up at work” ( Dewald had very long hair). This started out as a joke but raising $1345,00 for the Acorn Foundation and now with a freshly shaved head it was no laughing matter! Just another great way he helped out his community, though he assured us it’s no big deal. .
When we asked Dewald if he had any advice for our Youth looking for their first job he replied “ you gotta do what you gotta do”. Meaning your first job won’t be your last job but it will get you towards knowing what you really want career wise . His first job was picking blueberries and then he ended between jobs and heading into Hastings Youth Support Service Mahi for Youth looking for a change . He said he thought they were really welcoming and supportive to help him on his way . It was here that he became part of the Resource work family and hasn’t looked back since .
One his favourite days on the job is turning up to a house where there are kids . The kids all want to help unload the van and are so excited to be getting new things for their home . He remembers one young girl who got a unicorn pillow and was just so excited . That must feel like a pretty cool day at the office we reckon! It’s kind of like being Santa but no red suit !
Thanks for being you Dewald ....you make the Bay a better place
Re-Source connects people and community organisations in need with essential preloved goods, inspiring people to care for the environment by donating unwanted items for reuse.
