Beautiful stories from Dankie Lottoland

Online gambling platform Lottoland.co.za is changing lives in their series Dankie, Lottoland on kykNET (DStv channel 144), where giving back is the name of the game.

“The need out there is great,” says Maryke Haywood, the Head of Marketing at Lottoland. “We as a company wanted to give back, especially after the COVID-19 pandemic became our reality, and we wanted to do it through a TV show that resonated with us,” she adds.

Since Dankie, Lottoland S1 started in 2020, a whopping R16 million (including production costs) has been donated to a variety of charities, individuals and causes. Now we take a look at how it impacted those who were on the receiving end.

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Time to grab some tissues 

If you have not yet tuned into an episode of Dankie, Lottoland, we urge you to go grab some tissues – these episodes will melt your heart.

Sig Vir Kersfees: S1, episode 9

To give someone the gift of sight is incredibly special. In this episode, Yolanda Maartens (a radio presenter at OFM) and the ATKV Gemeenskapsteater (community theatre) raised funds to pay for 17 people’s eye surgeries. The look on their faces when everything is finally in focus is heartwarming and makes you appreciate something that most sighted people take for granted.

Huis Zoe: S2, episode 4

Huis Zoe is a special haven for abused women and children in Hartebeespoort, and in this episode actress Christel van den Bergh (Renate Greeff in the Afrikaans soapie Getroud Met Rugby), with the help of Lottoland, got the ball rolling with a R150,000 donation to help the organisation to buy the house that they currently occupy. “After the episode we were stunned by viewers who also contributed with funds, and a last big donation from an anonymous donor enabled the people of Huis Zoe to buy their house... cash! It was amazing,” says Maryke.

Abraham Kriel-kinderhuis: S3, episode 2

To care for orphans is humbling work, and to help the Abraham Kriel Children’s Home in Nylstroom to generate income by building a coffee shop on their premises was of big importance to Lottoland – and to Afrikaans singer Cordelia, who helped them to achieve it. “This was such a wonderful boost for the Children’s Home because by having a coffee shop, the children can work there and learn some skills that will help them join the workforce as adults one day. And it generates an income for the home to help pay bills,” says Maryke.

Growing pains 

Although celebs often want to help, they were hesitant when Dankie, Lottoland started. “At first people were skeptical about appearing on the show,” says Maryke. “They did not know the brand Lottoland and didn’t trust it. But as soon as they started watching the episodes and they saw how we gave away thousands of rands in the iconic green envelope, and did renovations at an old age home and built playgrounds for children’s homes and more, the trust started to grow to where we are today.”

Dankie, Lottoland S3 will air until the end of the year. Start getting into the festive giving spirit by tuning into shows on Saturdays – it may just make a difference in your own life, too.

Watch Dankie, Lottoland S3 Saturdays on kykNET (DStv channel 144) at 18:00 

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