As she accepted international recognition at the Global Excellence and Leadership Awards, ChangeMakersHub founder Michelle Korevaar chose to celebrate another source of local excellence by wearing a piece from the Pod Collection by Cape Town jewellery designer Tiffany Marx.
Inspired by the richly textured seed pods of the Spike Thorn shrub found along the Cape coastline, the collection reflects the beauty, resilience and regenerative power of nature. Crafted in bronze and sterling silver, each piece carries a powerful symbolism of growth, potential and renewal.
The connection between the jewellery and the work of EcoChangeMakers could not have been more fitting.
“The seed pod represents exactly what we strive to achieve through EcoChangeMakers,” said Korevaar. “Every young person we inspire, every teacher we equip, and every community member who takes action for the environment is a seed of change. When nurtured, those seeds grow into something far greater than themselves.”
The EcoChangeMakers Programme empowers citizens through awareness, know-how and community engagement, creating opportunities for people to participate in building a more sustainable future while supporting environmental restoration and local livelihoods.
Korevaar expressed her sincere appreciation to Tiffany Marx for generously lending the jewellery for the awards ceremony.
“It was an honour to wear a piece that so beautifully reflects the values at the heart of our work. Tiffany’s designs celebrate the extraordinary beauty of our natural heritage while reminding us that lasting impact begins with a single seed.”
The collaboration highlights the importance of supporting local creatives, entrepreneurs and changemakers who are helping to shape a future where people and nature can thrive together.
As ChangeMakersHub looks ahead to the next chapter following its international recognition, the symbolism of the Spike Thorn pod serves as a powerful reminder that the seeds we plant today have the potential to transform communities, restore ecosystems and create lasting impact across Africa for generations to come.
“Just as a seed pod carries the promise of future growth, this award represents not an end point, but the beginning of an exciting new chapter for EcoChangeMakers. The seeds have been planted, and together we will continue growing impact across South Africa and beyond.” — Michelle Korevaar, Founder, ChangeMakersHub.
