We’ve finally made it to the end of the year, and many of us are looking forward to some rest, relaxation, good food, and fun times with friends and family.
But for many South Africans living and working abroad, the dream of coming home remains out of reach. December flights are notoriously expensive, and for countless families, reuniting over the holidays feels more impossible each year.
That’s why we set out to make this December more festive for one lucky family by giving away up to two return flights to SA.
We invited South Africans to share their stories about why their families should be reunited for a chance to win these tickets. After hundreds of heartfelt stories, one stood out for us and other South Africans who voted: Geoffrey Lydall’s.
“My in-laws moved to the UK a couple of years ago, and whilst that’s brought them closer to some family there, it’s been a tumultuous time with my 14-year-old niece (one of their granddaughters) battling chemotherapy for a life-threatening brain tumour.
“However, that closeness has left them far from their newest granddaughter (my daughter), born just this November. Flights during the festive season are prohibitively expensive, meaning they may have to wait until sometime next year to meet the little one. It would mean so much to them to still be able to experience some of the fleeting newborn [moments] [as she] is growing so fast.” Watch as he shares his story:
When we called Geoffrey to share the news that he’d won our Shyftmas competition, he couldn’t contain his excitement. “We're excited to have the grandparents meet our daughter; this is going to be the best Christmas ever,” he told us.
And on 12 December, his in-laws, Nigel and Elizabeth Andrews, touched down in South Africa. Their reunion was filled with emotion, relief, and pure joy. Watch the moment below:
This reunion wouldn’t have been possible without the incredible support of our Shyft community. Thank you for sharing, voting, and helping bring one family home.
We also want to extend a heartfelt thank you to our finalists: Alexa Smith, Haneem Hendricks, Manjula Naidoo, Bailee Mitchell, Maria dos Santos, Nigel John Andrews, Shane Scholtz, Anwar Ismail Lockhat, and Leigh Shaw-Taylor, for opening your hearts and trusting us with your stories. Your courage and vulnerability brought the spirit of Shyftmas to life.
As we head into the holidays, we’re reminded of what truly matters: connection, compassion, and the moments we get to share.
