The Little Decorated Tea Box That Changed Everything

(How one NPO turned a R20 box into their best ideas machine)

Tucked next to the till at the Grow Strong charity shop, you’ll find the prettiest thing in the entire store: a small tea box wrapped and covered in hand-written calligraphy. Inside are strips of paper, a few pens, and the magic question: What would you love to see in our shop… especially for Christmas?

It started as a simple idea: instead of guessing what the community wanted, why not just ask? So we decorated an old tea box, stuck it on the counter, and waited.

Every single note is read. Every single note matters.

The tea box has become more than a suggestion box. It’s a reminder that people don’t just want to shop here - they want to feel heard. So next time you’re in Die Lessenaar Stationery shop, look for the decorated tea box. Grab a strip of paper. Write whatever your heart is wishing for this Christmas - practical, silly, impossible, or small.

Because around here, every wish gets read… and quite a few of them come true. (And if you’re feeling extra festive, pop in a gently-loved Christmas decoration while you’re at it. Someone out there just asked for exactly that.)

See you at the tea box - There the story started when the lid of Die Lessenaar was lifted up.