#rak15

It's that time of year again when Cupid's arrow spikes commercialism and shopping mall shelves fill with candied hearts, chocolates and embarrassing 'I wuff you' teddies. Adorable indeed, but perhaps somewhat missing the point of what the day of love should be all about.

This year, try not to get consumed by hearts, cakes, candies and planning the perfect date. Forego spending exorbitant sums on overly expensive restaurants and ditch diamonds for something more special. Here are some of our ideas for showing a loved one you care:

1. Plant him/ her a tree

Did you know that this year is the launch of the #PledgetoPlant campaign? Get involved early on by planting someone special a tree. This way, you can watch it grow together - it's romantic and it's helping our planet! 

2. Adopt an animal

If your loved one is a pet kind of person then you could spoil him/her with a new best friend. There are SO many animals in shelters desperate for loving homes, so please don't buy an expensive pedigree from a breeder, but support the SPCA or another animal welfare organisations instead.

3. Spoil your loved one with a Group Volunteering Trip abroad

Yes this is a biggie, but if you really want to give your partner something extra special then why not spoil him/her with a trip overseas? By volunteering abroad, not only will you get to explore new places, but you'll also have the chance to travel with heart and give back. 

4. Buy local/ fair-trade products

If you do buy your partner a gift then try to make sure that it's from an organisation that only uses ethically sourced materials. Your partner will undoubtedly appreciate his/her gift more if he/she knows it's environmentally friendly, fair-trade and supporting local small business development. Better yet, support disadvantaged communities by purchasing hand-made gifts made by and profiting the residents. Where Rainbows Meet in Cape Town has some beautiful hand-crafted beaded bracelets and necklaces which are made by the lovely local ladies and would make perfect Valentine's Day spoils.

5. Join the RAK15 campaign