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A proud initiative of Daily Dispatch in partnership with Johnson & Johnson

NOMINATE YOUR LOCAL HERO

 The Initiative

Daily Dispatch started the Local Heroes initiative in 2015 with Johnson & Johnson. Together, we are committed to this project, to uncover the real Heroes in our communities. We’re looking for the 2020 Local Heroes!

A local hero is an ordinary citizen who selflessly does extraordinary work for their community.

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Based in East London, both Daily Dispatch and Johnson & Johnson understand the unique challenges of the East London community. We are invested in the continued development of this area and its people, especially people who work towards making a difference in their communities, like we have endeavoured to do over multiple decades.

Together our positive brand synergy has made the Local Heroes initiative a highlight on the East London calendar.

Local Heroes Awards

We need your help! Nominate your Local Heroes.

We’re calling on you to help us identify the heroes of the Eastern Cape. We endeavour to publish two stories per week to highlight the Local Heroes you have nominated from February until mid-July 2020. Once an article is published, the nominee is automatically shortlisted as a Local Hero, and their story will be reviewed by our judging panel for consideration. Twelve finalists are selected from approximately sixty shortlisted candidates. These twelve finalists will be revealed as the 2020 Local Heroes at a prestigious gala ceremony at the East London ICC on Thursday, 29 October 2020, and known as the Top 12 Local Heroes of 2020.

The East London community is invited to attend the gala ceremony and be inspired by our Local Heroes as we enjoy a three-course meal and watch videos of the Local Heroes and their projects.

Nomination Criteria:

  • The call for nominations opens from 3 February 2020 and closes on 15 July 2020. Thereafter, no further nominations will be accepted.
  • Nominees must make an affect in the Eastern Cape and preferably as local as possible.
  • Unsuccessful nominees may be renominated in subsequent years.
  • Nominations can be in any category including education, health, social development, art and more.
  • Nominees may not qualify if their service within the community was substantially financed by private or public institutions.

What are the judges looking for?

  1. The Nominee has made a measurable and dramatic change in lives of others through the Nominee’s efforts.
  2. The Nominee has created lasting change with a measurable and sustainable programme that will exist into the future.
  3. The Nominee has overcome great personal challenges and sacrifices to help others.
  4. The Nominee has left a great legacy in his/her community and has inspired others to enact change or to get involved in some way.
  5. The Nominee has left a great legacy in his/her community and has inspired others to enact change or to get involved in some way.

How do I enter?

  1. Nominate your local hero by sending an e-mail to localheroes@dispatch.co.za.

Please indicate the following details about your nominee:

  • Name & Surname
  • Cell Number
  • E-mail Address
  • Two paragraph motivation about why your nominee is a local hero.
  • Please also include your full name and surname, cell number and e-mail address.

How will I know if my nominee is a finalist?

  1. Winners are only revealed on the night of the Local Heroes Gala Ceremony on Thursday, 29 October 2020.

Terms and Conditions

  1. Arena Holdings and Johnson & Johnson, employees, and their immediate families and agents may NOT enter.
  2. The judges’ decision is final, and no correspondence will be entered into.
  3. The nominations close on 15 July 2020.
  4. Nominees must agree to take part in publicity for Local Heroes.
  5. The Judging Committee reserves the right to withdraw a nominee if further information of the nominee’s conduct draws disrepute to the Daily Dispatch, Johnson and Johnson, any associate sponsors or to the Local Hero Awards.
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Young pilot is bringing light to learners – literally

Having had to study by candle-light during his early schooling years, Eastern Cape-born pilot Sipho Mangesi is now on a ...

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Many hands bring joy to the needy

The Daily Dispatch, Johnson & Johnson and the Buffalo City Metropolitan Development Agency spent their 67 minutes for ...

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Filmmakers on a high trajectory

Eastern Cape-born filmmakers and actors represented the province well as they took up prestigious screening platforms ...

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EC philanthropist transforms lives

When an Eastern Cape philanthropist saw how academically deserving students struggled to pay their tertiary education ...

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GRACIOUS GROUP: - This year's Daily Dispatch and Johnson & Johnson Local Heroes are: Olwethu Ntliziyombi, Lusanda Magwape, Sella Doyle, Xhanti Msauli, Amos Mzimeli, Fezeka Malotana, Unakho Ntshintshi, Heidi Vermaak, Tessa van Heerden, John Goodrich, Mncedi Ngamlana, Zintle Ngamlana and Amahle Qomfo.
- Isringhausen’S Gordon Thompson, left, donated R10,000 to Local Heroes finalist Donae Carelse
GOING THE EXTRA MILE: - Dr John Michell risked his life walking several kilometres, scrambling down steep rocks, navigating deserted cliffs and swimming across a river with a a 25kg pack of medicines and on his back to deliver medicine to a local clinic.
SPRUCING UP: - A team from UThixo Ulungile Ministries spend one of their Saturdays bathing scores of the babies and small children who live in Stoney Drift and giving each child a set of new clothes. From left are Rachael Minter, Jarred Hodson, Joshua Minter and Sihle Nyikana. In the bath are Amahle Tywakadi, Owam Motyamela and Aphelele Calerly.
- Phiwe Ngcengi has been praised as a local hero for his work in upskilling the community of Gompo.
BY THEIR FRUIT SHALL YOU KNOW THEM: - Joshua and Rachel Minter with some of the caregivers and children from the creche in Stoney Drift that they started a few years ago.
TIRELESS: - Rachael and Joshua Minter.
- COMMUNITY HERO: Duncan Village resident, Sizwe Yolo, says as a youngster he used to beg on the streets and got involved in crime at a very young age – until he started going to church. He has since reached out to his local community by feeding many hungry mouths in his neighbourhood through his soup kitchen Picture: MARK ANDREWS
- Daily Dispatch, Johnson and Johnson and BCMDA staffers after a clean up in Duncan Village during their 67min duty for Mandela Day.
- Sella Doyle and her friend Cindy Paremore dish for children at her Parkside home.
- Tessa Van Heerden, 64, administers medication to a puppy with a sore leg after bringing food for him and HIS brothers in Nompumelelo township.
- Amber Wiggill, left, and Amy Long with one of the last little kittens the duo found a 'Furever home' for.
- Eastern Cape pilot Sipho Mangesi handed over 300 portable lighting kits to matriculants from four rural schools in and around his home village of Ngqamakhwe on the weekend.
- Derek Nseko , left, and Sipho Mangesi, right, founders of iFly Academy.
- Sipho Zitha, squatting front, with some of the children he is helping through sport and religious teachings in East London.
- Daily Dispatch general manager Ryan Megaw, Johnson & Johnson project leader Michelle du Preez, BCMDA CEO Bulumko Melana and BCMDA staffers Sesona Yekiso and Siphenathi Makisi clean up the streets of Duncan Village.
- Donae Goosen, director of the Donae Goosen feeding scheme (in the white shirt) helps hand out food parcels with staff from the Daily Dispatch, Johnson & Johnson and BCMDA.
- Finalists of the Daily Dispatch and Johnson & Johnson Local Heroes Awards gather for cocktails at the East London ICC on Thursday before the evening gala honouring those who spend much of their lives giving and helping the less fortunate.
- Elaine Brenkman of Guardians of Hope at Local Heroes 2017
LOVE AND HOPE: - Elaine Brenkman , left, husband, Dirk, and some of the children under their loving care at the Guardians of Hope Place of Safety, which cares for abandoned, destitute babies who are given up for adoption. Each child is loved, nurtured, and prayed over daily. Elaine was a 2017 Local Heroes finalist.
- Matthew and Marion Peake receive their awards at the 2017 Local Heroes Awards ceremony.
- WASTING NO TIME: Monique Lottering, 34, has a recycling service since 2017. She collects household recyclable waste, sorts it in her garage at her Greenfields home and then sells it to a buyback centre – with 100% of the profits going to and uses 100% of the profits to assist local charities. So far she has raised more than R6,500 for the charities. solely from selling recyclables. Picture: MADELEINE CHAPUT
- AW Barnes Primary School is one of the netball teams coached by Lubazi iQhayiya founder Tina Somzana.
- Alex Gcingca Foundation is providing job opportunities to students by using old tyres
- Ludwe Gcingca won a South African Union of Students award for his philanthropic efforts with EC university students.
- Bush Bucks All Stars development programme technical director Nigel Dixon, motivates some of the youngsters who form part of his East London-based football academy.
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