Brave Life

18/10/2026

Help us save lives by getting oximeters to families with vulnerable children —>> click the link in our bio.

16/10/2026

Our outreach at Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital, the largest hospital in Africa, was a beautiful reminder of why Brave Life exists — we were able to support nine new mommies with babies with down syndrome, encourage and walk alongside them on their Down syndrome journey. 🥹💛

05/10/2026

Today I got the call nobody wants to get.
For the fifth time this year, a baby with Down syndrome
"just stopped breathing". He was in his mother's arms, and stopped breathing. He is gone and our hearts are broken.

The reality is that many South African parents don't have access to tools like a pulse oximeter that can help alert them that their child is struggling to breathe. This can give them precious minutes to get to a medical care facility in time. This can save lives.

So in honour of sweet Lungelo, we are collecting pediatric pulse oximeters in October, Down syndrome awareness month. Our goal is 300. Each one costs R579.
As Brave Life, we will also donate, send them out, and personally train each parent. Let's help save a child's life this October.

You can donate on our website OR just DM us. We will gladly accept deliveries or personal drop offs of pulse oximeters. Thank you to everyone with a heart for this.
Please also share this far and wide.

https://www.brave.org.za/for-lungelo

02/10/2026

In America 🇺🇸 67% of these photos would be blank. And for that, I am truly sorry.

This is a reminder of why you will hear us talking about Down syndrome in October. These lives are worth living. These faces are worth knowing.

31/08/2026

It’s incredible what can happen when people from different parts of the world come together for one purpose. 🌍❤️

We had the privilege of sitting down with some special visitors who travelled from overseas New Zealand/Australia to South Africa and joined us on one of our Brave Life outreaches.

In this conversation, we share more about the heart behind our outreaches, how we support and celebrate babies born with Down syndrome and their families, and what it means to have people from around the world come alongside us to make a difference.

We believe that every baby deserves to be celebrated, loved and welcomed into this world. 💛

Thank you to everyone who chooses to stand with Brave Life — whether you’re near or far. Together, we can make a difference.

Christopher Oakden ✨ 𝐽𝑜𝑐𝑒𝑙𝑦𝑛 ✨ חַנָּה ✨

SouthAfrica

04/08/2026

Got to share some really valuable information with teachers and parents of kids with Down syndrome today 💛 We talked about how deeper things — like sleep,health, and nutrition — can influence how our kids learn and behave in the classroom. So grateful for the chance to connect and equip our community with what they need to support these amazing kids.

Glenoaks School what a privilege it is to partner with you guys!

18/07/2026

Every Brave Bag is packed with love, hope, and practical support for families who have just received a Down syndrome diagnosis. 💙💛

These bags are given **completely free of charge** because we believe no family should have to walk this journey alone.

Each Brave Bag may include:
💙 A Brave nappy bag
👶 A Brave baby vest
🧸 A pram toy
🎵 A baby rattle
🦷 A baby teether toy
🧻 Wipes
🍼 Nappies
🧴 Bum cream
🍭 A Collipop collagen-infused sugar-free lollipop from Thenutrinest
🌡️ A Dr Temp sticker thermometer
📖 A Down syndrome Resource File
📚 A Brave Story Book
💌 A heartfelt letter from another Down syndrome mom
🧸 A hand-knitted cat bear made by an adult with a disability
✨ Donated skincare products and samples from brands like Silki, Lanolab & Lelive
🏷️ Stickers and helpful information pamphlets
🎁 Additional donated items when available (hats, jerseys, toys & more)
🩵 A soft winter blanket
🧦 Socks or knitted booties
🎟️ Vouchers or free lessons when available
🔑 A personalised key ring
💙 A Brave bracelet

Every item is thoughtfully chosen to encourage, support, and remind families that they are not alone.

Thank you to every person and business who donates, volunteers, and helps make these Brave Bags possible. Together, we’re bringing hope to families across South Africa. 💙

If you’d like to support this initiative, send us a DM or visit the link in our bio.

13/07/2026

What an incredible weekend at the Special Needs Expo! 💙

A huge congratulation to Little Forest Centre for hosting such a successful and meaningful event. It was such a privilege for us at Brave Life to be part of it.

We met so many amazing people, connected with inspiring families and organizations, and were reminded once again of the strength, compassion, and support that make this community so special.

Thank you to everyone who stopped by to chat, share your stories, and support one another. It truly is a privilege to be part of something so extraordinary. Here's to continuing to build a more inclusive and supportive community together! 💙✨

06/07/2026

We are now experts at finding Down Syndrome Friendly Playgrounds and Outings thanks to our dashing dasher Mr Brave star. We’ve even put up a list of our favorites in Centurion on our blog! Link in bio, and here are our top pics:

Down Syndrome Safe Outings in Centurion (our top picks).

1. Irene Farm. Entry is free, kids can run around and be relatively safe. See the cows and ducks and play on tractors and play gyms. Throw a coin into the fountain and fleet something to snack on at their shop. You can’t bring your own food, so you can plan to buy something at the shop or eat at the restaurant.

2. The Baron at Irene Link. A small enclosed play area with a safe play gym that my kid can’t easily escape. We love to come eat chips here and sit at the table while the kids play on the playground.

3. Rietvlei Nature Reserve. Drive around looking at wildlife for hours, or stop at the dam and picnic. The dam is fenced in, and there are viewing spots. There is also a cafe and playground. This one’s an all-day outing and especially great for kids that like car rides like Brave. It’s also very cheap to get in and you can bring your own food.

4. Willowfeather Farm. Be prepared to get dirty shoes or feet. Lots and lots of playground, animals to feed, a bouncy pillow, benches, and an indoor playplace. There’s snacks and a restaurant available and the area is enclosed.

03/07/2026