Help a Mother Smile again and rebuild her life

Hi everyone,

My name is Jeni Noble. I’m a mother from Mitchells Plain, and while I never imagined myself in this position, I’m reaching out because I’m at a breaking point — and I’m asking for a bit of kindness.

I’m a mom to an 11-year-old boy who still believes his mommy can fix everything. Most days, I wish I believed it too. Since leaving formal employment and working on building a catering business, I’ve been trying to stay strong for him — waking up every morning, putting on my best face (even if it’s chipped and aching), and sending out CV after CV. Admin, retail, cleaning, caregiving — I’ll take anything if it means I can keep the lights on and food on the table.

But the truth is, everything is falling apart around me — literally. Our roof leaks when the Cape Town rains come. We collect water in buckets and cook with candles when the power is out. My health is failing. My energy is drained. And the man who once promised to be there... is not.

One of the hardest things is my teeth. It’s not vanity — it’s survival. I walk into job interviews and see th...