Hugtober - Girls and Boys Town South Africa

One Hug CanChange A Life.

Every day, children arrive at Girls & Boys Town heartbroken, abused, abandoned, or neglected. Your hug can help change their story.

Buy a sticker and show the worth of your hug.

Buy a Hug of Hope Sticker Now

Join 107668 Hugs of Hope

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Buy a Hug of Hope Sticker.

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Buy In Bulk

Order stickers in bulk for your school, office, or community group.

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Make a once-off or recurring financial donation.

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WHAT IS HUGTOBER?

Hugtober is Girls and Boys Town South Africa’s annual National Hug Day® campaign, dedicated to raising awareness and funds for vulnerable children and youth.

By purchasing a R20 Hug of Hope Sticker, you’re helping provide care, healing and hope to children who have experienced neglect, abuse and trauma.

Join thousands of South Africans by sharing a hug with someone you love, posting your hug moment or first hug story, and helping us turn heartbreak into hope—one hug at a time.

You can also visit one of our Youth Development Centres in Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal or the Western Cape to meet the Hugtober Mascot, take photos and be part of the movement.

Together, we can make a real difference, not only for the dreamers, but also for their families, medical support teams, and broader communities – one sticker sale at a time.

OUR HUG Of HOPESTORIES

Alex M

"I thought I had to be strong all the time. Here I learned that it’s okay to cry, and a hug helps me feel better."

Thulani V

"I didn’t like hugs before because I was scared. Now hugs make me feel safe and calm."

Nina S

"I used to feel like I didn’t belong anywhere. Now I have a place where someone is always happy to see me and hug me."

Nonzwakazi, Child & youth care worker

"As a child & youth care worker, I’ve seen how one hug can calm a child after a nightmare or a hard day. A hug says ‘you’re safe now.’ It opens the door to healing."

For Nonzwakazi, caring for children at GBTSA means more than supervision, “it means being a steady presence in their moments of fear and sadness”, she said. She’s witnessed how a child wakes in tears from a nightmare, or returns heavy-hearted after a difficult day. And each time, one simple gesture — a hug — has the power to calm them. To Nonzwakazi, every hug whispers “you’re safe now,” and in that moment, healing begins.

Bathabile, GBTSA Alumni

"When I was a teenager at GBTSA, I felt invisible. One hug from my family home parent reminded me that I mattered. That hug gave me hope for my future."

Growing up, Bathabile often felt unseen and unheard. At GBTSA, she found a place where her presence truly mattered. One day, after a particularly hard week, her family home parent wrapped her in a hug that said more than words ever could “you are valued, you belong.” That moment became a turning point, planting a seed of hope that carried her into her future. Today, as an alumna, she remembers that single hug as the spark that ignited her hope and reminded her she was never invisible.

Kelvin, Age 12

"When I first arrived at Girls and Boys Town South Africa, I was scared. My first hug when I arrived made me feel safe again."

When Kelvin walked through the gates of GBTSA, he carried more fear than hope. Everything was new — new faces, new routines, and a new home. But one small moment changed everything: a warm hug from his caregiver. It told him, without words, “you are safe here.” For Kelvin, that first embrace wasn’t just comfort. It was the start of trust, healing, and belonging.