When the Village Went Digital
My name is Rochelle, and I run Mzansi Mama – an uplifting digital community of over 14,000 South African mothers. The heart of my platform is to create a safe, positive and relatable space for moms in South Africa – filled with encouragement, shared wisdom, humour, real talk and community support. Here is my story…….
When I became a mom for the first time, it was during the 2020 COVID lockdown. There
were no hospital visits, no baby showers, no family flying in to help. My family lives
overseas, and like many South African moms, I found myself navigating motherhood in
complete isolation. They say it takes a village to raise a child – but when I looked around,
mine wasn’t there.
That’s how this little project began. I started sharing budget-friendly kid activities in my area
and small snippets of everyday motherhood – the chaos, the exhaustion, and the joy. I called
it Mzansi Mama, never imagining it would grow into a digital village for mothers across the
country.
Over time, I realised that so many moms were quietly carrying heavy loads. That’s when
Bless a Mzansi Mama was born – a simple idea to bless one mom each month with a
grocery voucher. She can nominate herself or someone else, but it’s never just about the
groceries. It’s about letting her know she’s seen, supported, and loved.
The very first mom who was blessed had lost her job but was baking muffins and rock buns
to keep food on the table. When she received her voucher, she sent a message saying, “You have no idea what this means. I was down to my last bit of flour.” I remember sitting there, completely overwhelmed, realising that something small could make such a real difference.
What started as posts about kids’ crafts and lunchbox ideas has become something far more
meaningful – a community of moms who celebrate, comfort, and uplift one another. Whether
it’s through sharing a money-saving tip or nominating someone for a small act of kindness,
these connections remind us that we’re not alone.
Our village might be digital, but the love and support are real. Because at the end of the day,
motherhood was never meant to be done alone.
Rochelle
Founder – Mzansi Mama
The post South African Mom Building an Online Village appeared first on The Home Of Great South African News.
My name is Rochelle, and I run Mzansi Mama
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