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COMMUNITY in action
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IN THE MIDST OF THE UNTOLD HARDSHIP AND TRAUMA OF THE RECENT FLOODS, EMERGED A POWERFUL GROUP ENERGY AND TEAMWORK – ONE OF THE HEROES WAS THE REBUILD KZN FACEBOOK PAGE, WRITES ANNE SCHAUFFER
rainchild of Tatum Ridgway, the Rebuild KZN Facebook page once again became the perfect platform for crisis relief – this time, the flood relief at Virginia Airport. Tatum, 28, is very swift to knock any idea which places her at the forefront of the action. She was one of many volunteers who played their part for KZN. Tatum’s a Grade R teacher at St Henry’s Marist College, and she chatted to her little charges about the amazing spirit and volunteers at Virginia: “They are like real life superheroes,” she told them. “Like we see Spiderman and Superwoman, these are people doing real life things to save other people.” The Facebook page Rebuild KZN was sparked by the July riots: “I was going insane with all the negativity, and decided to turn it around,” she explained. Within days, 28 000 people had joined in. She refers to it as “light in a time of darkness, hope in a time of despair, and positivity in a time of negativity”. The platform also became a perfect “message board” for those who needed help – or those who were offering help – and it pulled people together. Enter the floods: “I saw a post on the Rebuild KZN page about Virginia Airport, and how desperately the rescuers needed supplies. I used the page to call for donations, and was overwhelmed by the goodness of people from all walks of life.” Tatum’s main role was posting on Facebook, sourcing donations, shopping and collecting. Boyfriend, Brendon Fleming, was by her side, doing whatever he could, as were many, many others. Tatum is
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