At just 21 years old, Abigail Camille Haridew of Bayview, Chatsworth, is proving that age is no barrier when it comes to making a meaningful difference.A third-year medical student at the Nelson R Mandela School of Medicine, Haridew has successfully launched and led a heartwarming initiative known as “Clips for Change”, aimed at supporting cancer patients through a simple but powerful act of community recycling.
The campaign focuses on collecting plastic bread clips, which are donated to the Cancer Association of South Africa (CANSA). These clips are exchanged for wheelchairs, enabling patients to regain mobility and independence. It takes approximately 350 kilograms of bread clips to fund one standard wheelchair — a target that may seem daunting at first, but one that Haridew has approached with incredible determination and heart.
For Haridew, the cause is deeply personal. Having lost loved ones to cancer and witnessing the devastating impact of the disease through her medical training, she felt compelled to act.
She said: “The desire to make a difference, even in a small way, led me to CANSA’s bread clip initiative. It’s a simple gesture that can bring life-changing benefits, while also encouraging environmental responsibility.”
What began as a small-scale drive on campus soon grew into a community-wide movement. With enthusiastic support from students and staff at the Nelson R Mandela School of Medicine, Haridew extended her campaign to her community in Chatsworth, as well as to her former primary school — Depot Road Memorial Primary, where she proudly served as the Head Girl in 2015.
To date, her campaign has collected over 80 000 bread clips, which have been donated to CANSA. These contributions will soon help provide wheelchairs for cancer patients in need — a testament to what can be achieved when compassion meets action.
Haridew chose to partner with CANSA because of their unwavering dedication to the well-being of cancer patients and their families. She admires their commitment to restoring dignity and offering holistic care. “They don’t just treat illness — they bring hope and humanity back to those who need it most,” she said.
Through “Clips for Change”, Haridew has not only supported a worthy cause, but also inspired her community to come together with purpose. Her journey reflects the power of youth leadership, the strength of community spirit, and the difference one person can make — one bread clip at a time.
She encourages the public to get involved, urging individuals, schools, and businesses to start collecting bread clips. Donations can be made directly to the Durban CANSA Care Centre at 619 Umbilo Road, or interested participants can contact her at abigailh0805@outlook.com to join the campaign.
