Monica is positioned behind her sewing machine.

Pauline also helps grandma to prepare the stuffing for the pillows.

"My mother taught me how to do needlework. I used to watch her sew when I was younger and I also started doing it to earn money later on," she says.

She produces about six pillows a day which she sells at R20 each and three duvets, which are sold for R80, to keep the winter woes away.

In a poverty stricken society, there are some who are still willing to earn the profit of an honest day's work.

REGARDLESS of race, age, gender or religion, 'blood' is what ties us together. Blood is the fundamental link between the blood donor, the blood service and the patient.

Regular donors ensure a steady, safe supply of blood and blood products.

Less than one percent of the South African population donates blood, but research has shown that a large percentage of all South Africans will require a blood transfusion at some point in their lives.

The 'silent heroes' of the South African community are the blood donors. They are committed to giving selflessly to help save the life of another by the simple, yet profound, act of blood donation. 

The Western Province Blood Transfusion Service together with the SANBS is responsible for the collection of over one million units of blood and blood products annually and offers a world-class product.

Receiving a blood transfusion in South Africa is as safe as in any developed country.

However, due to the increasing incidence of HIV infection, WPBTS has identified the need to educate the public regarding the safety of the blood supply and the implications of rising HIV statistics.

"We encourage South Africans to commit themselves to maintaining a safe blood supply for this country. 

"Blood is essential for the treatment of many serious illnesses and it is of utmost importance that there is sufficient safe blood available for South African patients."

Blood and blood products are used for open-heart surgery, burn victims, new-born babies and in the treatment of diseases such as leukemia and cancer.

You too can help fill the void when a unit of blood (or blood products) means the difference between life and death.

If you are over the age of 16, weigh over 50kg and lead a sexually safe lifestyle - you can do something amazing by donating blood to help save the life of another.

Give the Gift of Hope - give the Gift of Life - Give Blood...

For more information on your nearest blood donation centre, call WP Blood Transfusion Service in Paarl at 871-1030.

You can donate blood every  Thursday between 13:00 and 19:30 at the clinic next to the Protea bioscope in Paarl.

VOLGENDE week, van 28 Julie tot 3 Augustus, is die fokus weer op kanker. Die hoogtepunt is die jaarlikse rubberbootprojek wat Woensdag by die Markstraatbrug in die Paarl afskop.

Die Kankervereniging van Suid-Afrika (Kansa) strewe al vir die afgelope 75 jaar om die meer as 300 tipes kanker wat ons gemeenskappe daagliks bedreig te bowe te kom.

Kansa se dienste is beskikbaar aan alle volwassenes en kinders, ongeag hul agtergrond, godsdienstige affiliasie of sosiale omstandighede.

Kansa se missie is: 'Kansa sal die invloed van kanker aansienlik verminder in alle Suid-Afrikaanse gemeenskappe deur middel van volhoubare navorsing, voorkoming, vroeë opsporing en sorg'.

Die organisasie het tans agt provinsiale kantore en 41 streekkantore wat landwyd mense bewus maak van kanker en kankerpasiënte fisies en emosioneel ondersteun. Die plaaslike Wynland en Weskusstreekskantoor is op Wellington en bedien 38 dorpe waaronder Paarl, Wellington, Stellenbosch, asook die Swartland, Weskus en Namakwaland.

Dienste wat aan die gemeenskap gelewer word, sluit pasiëntediens en gesondheidsbevordering in. Verder is daar 'n baie suksesvolle projek waar vroue met borskanker ondersteun word.

Die Reik-na-Herstel projek is 'n groep vroue wat borskanker gehad het en enige vrou wat as gevolg van kanker borschirurgie moet ondergaan, ondersteun.

Verder finansier Kansa ook verskeie kankernavorsingsprojekte wat daarop gemik is om middelle en maniere te vind wat die negatiewe gevolge van kanker kan verminder.

Die organisasie het 'n nasionale tolvrye inligtingsdiens wat hulp verskaf met diagnose, prognose, voorkoming, vroeë opsporing, self-ondersoek, behandeling, gemeenskapsdienste en sielkundige ondersteuning wat met kanker verband hou. Kontak die hulplyn by 0800-226-622. Sien ook Kansa se navorsingswebblad by www.cansa.co.za.

Volgens Mareé Lambrechts, die Vrywilliger Programkoördineerder van Kansa se Wellington kantoor, is vrywilligers 'n onmisbare bate vir die organisasie. Pasiëntediens-vrywilligers vir die Paarl word weer in Augustus opgelei.

Kansa moedig mense aan om 'n lid van die organisasie te word. Dit kos net R20 per jaar of R250 vir lewenslange lidmaatskap.

Enigeen wat graag betrokke wil raak of navrae het, kan die Wellington kantoor kontak by 864-2633/55.

DAAR is nog plek beskikbaar by Saterdag se mini-konvensie van die Boland Bonsai Kai in die Hofmeyrsaal in Kerkstraat, Stellenbosch.

Een van die bekendste Bonsai-kunstenaars in Suid-Afrika, Charles Ceronio, sal sy vermoëns op tien verskillende olienhoutbome demonstreer.

Ernst van Jaarsveld praat oor die gebruik van inheemse bome vir bonsai en die kompetisie vir Jong Ontwerpers sal weer baie aandag trek.

Besoekers betaal R150, wat koffie en middagete insluit. Dit begin om 09:00 tot die prysuitdeling om 19:30. Navrae by Coenie Brand, 082-804-9195.