Spice4life - Daffodil Daize Designs

On the other hand, Hawa is 37 years old and has always been a creative soul at heart. She is a qualified graphic designer and is currently in the process of completing her National Diploma in Public Relations at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology. Hawa’s loss was more in her personal life, when at the age of 30 she became a divorcee with a 3 year old son. It was the most trying time in her life, she had just moved back with her parents when her father died four months later. Her father’s last dying words to her were, “take good care after Khaalid (her son)”. This was the turning point in her life, as she could easily have decided to wilt and die and blame people and life for the failure of her marriage but instead she chose to be a role model to her son and also to women who thought there is no hope after a divorce. She decided to take time out from work and enjoy, together with her son, the beauty of the environment that surrounded her by alternative healing.

This enabled her to work through her issues and after six months, she was ready to re-enter the job market with new vigour and definitely with a new spring in her step. “Being a single mom is difficult most times but it’s also hard work” says Hawa and if it was not for her support system, being her mom who looked after her son while she pursued her studies while working at UCT Graduate School of Business, then she would not be where she is today. Hawa has many achievements but the one that stands out the most is in the first year of her studies, when she passed four out of five subjects with distinction, and her son, who started grade 1, wrote her a letter and this is what he said “from Khaalid, I am so happy that you post (pass) and you will all ways be the bests mommy ever and love you”. This was priceless for her and it’s a constant reminder to her growing son that nothing comes without hard work and perseverance and that you never too old to learn.

Both Celeste and Hawa have chosen to look at their setbacks with a fine tooth comb and rather opted to learn from their mistakes than to wallow in them in self pity. In doing this, they have both become strong women in their own right and have embarked on a path to empower women who have the drive but not the opportunity to learn something which could benefit and sustain them for a lifetime. Their newly formed company called Daffodil Daize Designs is the driving vehicle in seeing their dreams come to fruition. One of the products designed by them is an accessory hanger for jewellery and believe it or not, they had to endure more setbacks and criticism about their product, but they took it in their stride and kept on believing that they had a winner, even if others didn’t think so. Celeste made a profound statement that “We can do anything! If man had to create our world, they’d create it way too small, so dream big and make it happen! SUCCESS is 90% guts and 10% finance”.

In aid of woman cancer awareness, Daffodil Daize Designs entered into an agreement with CANSA that for every turquoise, white and pink accessory hanger sold, CANSA will receive a R50 donation from Daffodil Daize, It is in giving that we receive. Another dream to empower women from a disadvantage area in the Sir Lowry’s Pass Village has become a reality. We have the pleasure of being able to create work and add two fantastic ladies on our team being Mariaana Nthikaniso and Michelle Pietersen. Mariaana has 8 children and 3 grandchildren who she takes care of. A honest and hardworking woman, and always the one to have a good word for her fellow human being and an absolute angel. Michelle is a young lady, who has one little girl and has never had the opportunity to be exposed to the job market. Daffodil Daize Designs wants to develop skills in all who joins them on this remarkable journey. It is our objective to select a charity organisation at heart on an annual basis to raise funds for them, by doing this we also create job opportunities for those who want to learn and better their lives. We enjoy what we do and express our pride in whatever we take on in Daffodil Daize Designs.

We are Proudly South African and find it very sad and disturbing, knowing we still have South Africans, who support imported products from China where child labour is being used in sweat shops, and we have so much talent and fellow citizens whom we can develop and grow. It is our goal to hopefully employ more people on a fulltime basis, and this can become a reality, if we have the support of our fellow South African citizens.

We believe in every woman out there and want her to not be scared or give up on living her dream. We want you to create your world by expanding your territory and don’t fear or allow human to determine your destiny. Share with others and try to make a difference on a daily basis, even if it’s a smile or a heartfelt thank you. Appreciate life and respect ALL and don’t forget to laugh as if you’ve never shed a tear, love as if you’ve never been hurt and maximise each day we are blessed with.