Good Samaritan, Tiffany Maclean (23) from Humansdorp, has made it her mission to take care of the less fortunate in her community.
Despite helping those in need out of the goodness of her heart and never seeking recognition, she recently received the South African Children and Youth Awards in the over 19 category for her talent and charity committed contribution.
Maclean, who has been modelling from the age of 16, initially contributed towards her first charity project to fulfil the requirements needed to participate in various modelling competitions, but soon she felt inspired to do more good work for others.
Some of the organisations she has joined hands with include the 7de Laan soup kitchen, Marlen’s helping hands, Joy Kids International, Dinkey Dot Educational Centre, Masikhathalelaneni in Jeffreys Bay and Tharros Children’s Home in Hankey.
Maclean said since she has worked with so many in need, people in her community have identified her as someone they can rely on.
She said many people have visited her home to ask for help or request for assistance when needed.
“I do charity work to change the circumstances of the young girls and so many others in my community,” said Maclean.
She said she believes people were meant to help one another in any way possible.
“It is difficult for people to ask for help when they are in need and for them to be rejected just breaks my heart,” said Maclean.
“Those in need, who receive the necessary help, feel loved and they know that someone cares.”
Even though Maclean has never wanted recognition for the work she has done, she was surprised to be nominated for the South African Children and Youth Awards for her charity in the over 19 category.
In June, she was one of two young women from the Eastern Cape and the only one from the Kouga and Kou-Kamma regions to receive the prestigious award at the award ceremony which took place at Town Lodge in Fourways, in Johannesburg.
As part of the award, Maclean together with the other award-winning recipients, were able to raise funds for the Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital to help with the necessary medical treatment for children throughout the country.
She said when she received the South African Children and Youth Awards, she felt honoured and proud of the work she had done in her community.
“I believe that this platform will give me the opportunity to get involved with many more charity projects,” said Maclean.
In a bid to continue helping those in need, her most recent project includes handing out much-needed sanitary towels to local schools and organisations.
“It is sad to think that girls miss school due to a lack of sanitary products,” said Maclean.
- For more information or to assist with the sanitary products drive, email Tiffany Maclean on maureenmaclean74@gmail.com.
