What is Girl with Cake?
Girl With Cake is about kindness. Extravagant kindness, I guess.
I think kindness is so often seen as a naive, unnecessary, childish notion, but I think it’s becoming more and more important.
The internet is pushing the limits of decency and I can see that filtering into our everyday lives. Now, more than ever, being kind and reevaluating the way you treat and judge people is important.
How did you start?
I baked the kind of cake I would for my best friend or a family member, went into the streets of Cape Town with my husband, found a stranger who was resting under a tree and gave him a cake and a knife and fork. It’s weird,
I’ve often baked for friends, coworkers, my husband’s coworkers, and when you walk through the streets with a cake, everyone opens up to you – whether they’re asking for a slice or just drooling out loud.
It was nice to have someone react that way and then, instead of having to explain that the cake was for some
one else, I could say: actually, this is for you.
Where is Girl with Cake?
Girl With Cake started out in Cape Town and is now in Joburg.
How long have you been operating?
Since January 2014, so… 20 months.
Do you make your own cakes?
Yes. Unless someone donates a cake. In Cape Town, there was a lady who ran a baking school, who herself was homeless for a while. She got in touch with me and now and then brought a cake or two that was made during the baking classes.
How do you find people to donate cakes to?
Some are people that I see and meet when I go about my day – petrol attendants that were extra kind for no reason. A guy who sells papers on my route to work, a security guard at work or home.
Others I just find – I get in my car and drive until I find someone. We’ll often sit and talk – the cake and gifts are just a way to connect, the conversation is what’s more important, I think.
Is Girl with Cake in any other Countries?
I started Love in Every City a while back, that marks all the spots around the world where people have given cake.
I always try to encourage people to reach out – whether with cake or some other talent they have – because I’ve learnt so much and my prejudices, anger, hate, expectations have changed, lightened over the last 20 months – that’s something I’d want for others too.
How can people get involved?
Do something! The easiest thing in the world is to sit back and criticise. But that will never change anything.
Doing something, no matter how small – sowing a seed of goodness – that’s what’s going to make a difference in the world. And, even if that difference is only in you, that’s still one more person than yesterday.
How can people contact you?
www.girlwithcake.co.za
www.facebook.com/girlwithcakeblog
