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Back to business - Refilwe's comeback in Pretoria

Refilwe has run a roadside café for twelve years; the demolition of the market destroyed the equipment, and $950 will put it back on its feet.

🇿🇦 Pretoria, Gauteng, South Africa1,178 views
Refilwe M. Jacobs
Email verifiedPhoto verified
Pretoria
For twelve years I have run a roadside café in Pretoria. In March, the demolition of the market took an espresso machine and grinder. I have no insurance, and the bank won't lend to me. Before that, my customers came every Saturday, and I employed 1 people from the neighborhood. I have been out of business for 8 weeks. This business pays my children's school fees and rent. I have already started working from home in small ways, but I can't meet orders without proper equipment. Every contribution brings me closer to reopening, and I promise to post photos as I buy each item. Once I'm back on my feet I plan to hire back the people I had to let go. Where the $950 goes: • Replacing an espresso machine and grinder: $770 • Shop repairs and licensing: $100 • Working capital for the first month: $80 Even a small gift gets used right away and I'll thank you myself.
#small-business#livelihood#restart

Updates from Refilwe

  1. Thank you all. We're at 55% now ($524). I'm honestly stunned. I made the first payment toward replacing an espresso machine and grinder.

  2. Thank you all. We're at 22% now ($210). I'm honestly stunned. I met with the supplier and confirmed the amounts.

Donations

RecentTop gifts
  • Mrunal E. Modi 🇮🇳 · $3
  • Kunal Gaikwad 🇮🇳 · $100
  • Bezawit Mihret Negash 🇪🇹 · $200

    “Blessings. This is from my last paycheck, glad to do it. - Mekelle”

  • Claire B. Tucker 🇺🇸 · $33

    “Hang in there. Only $33 but hope it helps. - San Diego”

  • Harish C. Nambiar 🇮🇳 · $10

    “Good luck. Thought of Refilwe all day after reading this.”

  • Priya A. Gupta 🇮🇳 · $15
  • Nahid Milon Howlader 🇮🇳 · $4

    “Be well. From Patna with love.”

  • Femi Jide Okafor 🇳🇬 · $5
  • Adaeze Lilian Idowu 🇳🇬 · $200
  • Adnan Faisal Orakzai 🇵🇰 · $10
  • Anna Nina Smit 🇳🇱 · $74

    “Hang in there. Small amount but sent with love. - Utrecht”

  • Brenda W. Howard 🇺🇸 · $10
  • Maya N. Yates 🇬🇧 · $10

    “Wishing you the best. Hope you get the rest soon. - Belfast”

  • Salma Iman Mebarek 🇸🇦 · $10

    “Thought of Refilwe all day after reading this. - Riyadh”

  • Anonymous 🇪🇬 · $5
  • John Karanja Salim 🇰🇪 · $100

    “Rooting for you. Thought of Refilwe all day after reading this.”

  • Viktor Evgeny Frolov 🇷🇺 · $50
  • Mizanur Habib Sultana 🇧🇩 · $35
  • Todd A. Wilson 🇬🇧 · $10
  • Anonymous 🇬🇧 · $10

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Questions & comments

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  • Shilpa R. Thakur

    Thinking of you and your family, Refilwe. I hope things turn around soon. Take care.

    • Daniel T. DeanQuestion

      can I help in a way that isn't money? I'm near Pretoria!

      • Refilwe M. JacobsOwnerAnswerPhoto verified

        Sharing the link is the biggest thing. And if you know anything about replacing an espresso machine and grinder, advice is welcome too. Let me know if you want more detail.

    • Nicolás J. Carrillo

      Hope things get better soon. Shared this with my family. Don't lose heart. A few weeks ago I was in a hole too and it changed faster than I expected

      • Delilah E. PetersonID verified

        Hang in there, Refilwe. Hope you make a strong comeback

        • Heather F. Perkins

          your post was clear and honest. I'll check back for the next update. Thinking of Pretoria

          • Dola Rina SiddiqueQuestion

            how is Refilwe doing now?

            • Waylon L. Langley

              Hope it all works out, Refilwe. Small businesses are the heart of Pretoria. Hope you're open again soon. Greetings from Jakarta Barat.

              • Willow W. SingletonID verifiedPhoto verified

                Hang in there, Refilwe. This could happen to any of us. All the best.

                • Lúcia Manuela Duarte

                  Stay strong. Hope you get there. Put this on a community board in Kawasaki this morning. Love from Kawasaki

                  • Donna N. KennedyID verified

                    Thanks for sharing this, Refilwe. Looking forward to the next update. We lost years of savings to something like this so I get it. Blessings

                    • Adrián K. Tapia

                      You're not alone. Hope this works out for you. Read this on the bus and kept thinking about it all day. All the best.

                      • Ioanna Oikonomou

                        Wishing you the best, Refilwe. Small businesses are the heart of Pretoria. Hope you're open again soon. My father had a similar thing happen so this one hit home

                        • Helen Eshetu

                          Thinking of you and your family, Refilwe. Everyone deserves a bit of help sometimes. Thinking of Pretoria

                          • Ankit C. Kashyap

                            Sending strength, Refilwe. Looking forward to the next update. My husband and I read this together. God bless.

                            $894 raised of $950

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