This significant gesture reflects a core value: that supporting organ donation should not just be a message, but a principle embedded in action. By ‘gifting the Orgamites’ program to another country, Canadian Blood Services embodies the core philosophy of organ donation: that sharing is indeed the most powerful form of caring. In this case, it’s the sharing of resources to create an even greater impact for generations to come.

This world-first initiative is being led in South Africa by Dr. David Thomson, a Critical Care specialist, surgeon and head of the Transplant Centre of Excellence at Groote Schuur Hospital, and Stella De Kock, the managing director of the NGO, TELL (Transplant Education for Living Legacies).

Attending from Canada were Dr. Isra Levy, Vice President, Medical Affairs and Innovation, Canadian Blood Services; Peggy John, Director, Operations, Organ & Tissue Donation & Transplantation at Canadian Blood Services; and Jenny Ryan, Associate Director, Public Education & Awareness Organ & Tissue Donation & Transplantation, Canadian Blood Services. Attending from the United Kingdom is Roydon Turner, Founder and Chief Creative Officer of the Orgamites and All Good Co. CIC. Roydon Turner, Founder and Chief Creative Officer of Orgamites, is a South African-born Film Director, Producer, and Creative Director now based in London.

Canada’s Backstory:

First launched in Canada in September 2021, the Orgamites program has already made waves across the country, receiving enthusiastic feedback from students, teachers, and parents alike. It has emerged as a vital platform for helping children understand how their bodies work, while sparking conversations about how they can make a positive difference in the world—starting with their own health and well-being.

Learn more about the Orgamites in South Africa at orgamites.co.za