Copy
26 September 2022

Dear <<First Name>>,

It is with great sadness and sorrow that I dedicate todays newsletter to my friend, colleague and fellow social activist KIKI.

We carry tributes to her from just SOME of the many organisations to whom she donated so much of her time, passion, love and smiles to.

As Lester Kiewiet said in his Cape Talk show this morning - "She was a tornado of shining light".

We hope that her life will serve as inspiration to others to step forward and help fill the huge gaps that her departure will leave in so many aspects of our Obs community.

Should you wish to honour her life, her family has asked for flowers to be dropped at Ferdinandos and donations can be made to:

OBS PASTA KITCHEN
Donations accepted via international Association for Human Values, the Sister organisation of Art of Living:http://www.iahv.org/za-en
First National Bank
Lenasia branch - code 250737
Acc number 62045616119
Ref: name/company ObsPasta

As soon as we are advised by her family of the funeral arrangements we will share them with you.

Yours in mourning

Edwin Angless
LAC Comms

25 September 2022
On the sudden passing of Kiki Bisongo
The Liesbeek Action Campaign (LAC) wishes to extend our heartfelt condolences to the loved ones of Kimon Kiki Bisogno. We are saddened to hear of her tragic passing. Kiki was a friend of the campaign and tirelessly dedicated her time and resources to strengthening and supporting our cause. Aside from her support of the campaign, Kiki and her partner Diego Milesi operated Obs Pasta Kitchen to ensure their community had a weekly meal. Kiki was not only a community leader, she embodied the meaning of creating safe spaces for people who needed it most. Kiki always had a warm aura, a loving smile and a heart dedicated to serving others. We will miss her spirit, kindness and welcoming nature. May she rest in peace.


For inquiries:

Leslie London:
Chair: Observatory Civic Association
chair@obs.org.za

Nadine Dirks:
Campaign Coordinator, Liesbeek Action Campaign 
info@liesbeek.org

Tauriq Jenkins:
High Commissioner, Goringhaicona Khoi Khoin Indigenous Traditional Council 
tauriqishere@gmail.com 

 
A tribute to Kiki Bisogno from the Observatory Civic Association
Kiki, whose love for people outshone the darkest moments. 
Warm, effusive, caring and sharing, Kiki has left us and the Observatory Civic Association is bereft. 
Kiki led the Social Issues portfolio for the Observatory Civic Association from 2019 and took us through the toughest of times during COVID-19 and its associated lockdown. When so many people were faced with destitution, Kiki was the ball of energy, along with many volunteers, who organised nutritional meals for people in Obs unable to access food for themselves.  Kiki was fearless in doing the right things and doing so with grace and an incredibly warm spirit.  We looked to her for guidance and groundedness in many matters of community cohesion.
We will miss her endless enthusiasm, her pep and zep, and can-do motivation, as will so many others in Obs and beyond who have been touched by her generosity of spirit and food.
We can only wish Diego and Luna Stella and Ferdinando strong hearts to cope with such sudden and wrenchingly unexpected loss. Our thoughts go out to you and to the many, many people of all extractions and standing, who shared life with Kiki. May you be comforted by the love which Kiki inspired amongst all who knew her.
Our deepest condolences in your time of mourning.  Kiki will always be with us, whether in the twinkling of stars looking down on us or in the gestures of goodwill between people on the streets of Observatory. 

Hamba kahle, Kiki. 
!Gâi !oes. 
May your spirit rest in peace.
OBSID remembers Kiki

Kimon was a friend to OBSID – as a supporter of our work, as a sounding board to me and as a much valued support system to our social development clients.

From the early days of “Working Wednesdays”, she actively looked for ways to improve the lives of those living on the streets in Observatory whilst aligning with OBSID’s social development programme wherever she could.

I have had the privilege of working closely with Kiki since I joined the OBSID in 2018.  We’ve spent hours discussing ideas, working out plans, supporting each other through the rough times and having a laugh when one was desperately needed.  Kiki’s drive to make the world a better place impacted everyone she met really positively – regardless of whether you were a patron of Ferdinando’s, a staff member of OBSID or someone in need of help.

She cheered us on when we installed our public toilets for the street based community in 2019, and we worked side by side throughout the pandemic, ensuring that we were able to get food and fresh water to this community in the toughest lockdown levels.  Kiki “got” the OBSID mandate and did everything she could to support us.  We helped people together.

Kiki was a great support to us when OBSID opened housing for previously street-based people and helped us with fundraising and the supply of much needed food.  This support continues to today.  

She also worked closely with our work-based rehabilitation team each week for over 2 years, teaching human values, stress management techniques and advancing her vision for peace in the community any way she could.  Our clients loved their weekly “Working on Wellness” sessions!

Just recently, we had been meeting to throw around ideas about how to create a path via the OBSID social development programme into long term work on an urban farm that Kiki was visualizing for those willing to make changes in their lives and leave the streets.  Her vision for this project was clear, as was her commitment to it.  This showed in her success in finding a potential funder to come on board to back her.  It’s my greatest hope that someone is able to take up the reins of this project and bring it to life in Kiki’s memory – I’m sure it’s what she would have wanted.

Kiki was also integral to the Obs Journey in 2021 and 2022.  Conversations and interactions as part of the Journey have unlocked new ideas and opportunities to source services and support for the street based community from development partners, and we hope for positive impact and change in the future.

Our entire team is devastated at her passing and shocked by the suddenness of it.  I can’t wrap my head around the magnitude of this loss for the community of Observatory. A very bright light has gone out, and we are all the poorer for it.

To Diego and Luna Stella, their families, the Ferdinando’s family, the Obs Pasta Kitchen family and all their friends… know that we are with you, sending you love and strength.  Your loss is immense and unimaginable.  Please take some comfort in the knowledge that Kiki was loved, respected, admired and had a profound positive impact on the world, something we should all aspire to.

I leave the last words to some of those involved with OBSID on whose lives she had such an impact…   Stanley, Neville, Chuma, Ruwayda, Xolile, Jordan and André:

“She inspired us by always talking about hope and peace.  I know she will rest in peace, we’ll miss her very much, always happy and smiling”

“I love you very much and will never forget you”

“Nothing will be the same without you.  I’m so angry and confused that you’re gone.  Miss you”

“I will live your words – live your dreams and live your peace.  That’s what you taught me”

“You made a big impact in my life and I will sorely miss your energy and your laugh”

“So sorry that you’re gone, but I know you are in heaven where you belong”

“We’ve lost the biggest icon in the Obs community.  You supported the homeless and we won’t forget the human values you taught us”

“Wednesdays will never be the same, but we’ll carry the spirit of peace in our hearts.  As you always said after our sessions – VERY GOOD! VERY GOOD!”

Rest in power, Kimon.

PERSONAL & FOX FORCE 5 TEAM TRIBUTE
Minha homenagem ao meu passeio ou morte
Minha vida professor,

First, a big thank you to Kiks wherever you are,I know you're still as close despite the dimension!
I first met Kimone at the common public grounds of Malta Park, a place where most if not all come to push the reset button, rejuvenate and make a friend too. Being semi-homeless, new, reserved but able to self-identify with my reason of travel, a hard-earned  football opportunity to play abroad after successful trial elimination down to six players. I shared my only cause which was pleading for fundraising to make the dream come true as it did. Kimone invited me to sit on the lawn and started knowing more about this but most importantly about me and I was enrolled for the best lesson and  experience of life in South Africa. Life for me in South Africa started on that very week with breakthrough of networks and most of all settling down to a normal life with basic necessities, courtesy of Kimone, Jenni of OBSCAN and Edison of the Bohemian Lofts.

To common matters with Kimone, she thought that coaching the girls would be a good experience for me, fundraise and help improve the team’s quality in the year of 2021. As scareFox Force 5 Ladies Team, the most experienced ladies team I had the honour of competing with as a coach. As usual,Kiki broke it down tome and made the novice candidate, I feel more than able to help the Foxes into an era of contending at any ladies competition we feature in and boy did we grow week in, week out, fixture in, fixture out, session in and session out.

Brought into the pack, Kiki introduced me to unique souls with various personalities and a common love for FOOTBALL, but unusually to me notice the love for FAMILY was greater. The Foxes are in deep sorrow but also in sombre celebration of the eccentric life and impact etched into the hearts of many Capetonians and us honoured to be her colleagues, teammates, friends and dear confidants to Kimone Bisogno. The Foxes are:

Marcia
Cheryl
Bianca
Mpai
 Debbie
Hiranya
The Rakoto family
Keely
Lauren
Mitch
Matthew Watkins
Martina

Great moments of winning the Mixed League Bowl, awards offairplay at tournaments, back-to-back runners-up (finalists) were achievements nonetheless but can not come close to the lessons and the love I received from Kiki in any meetup, meal emotional breakdown we would have had together. She would help me not be cutthroat with reflection in terms if tangible achievements I had in the present to knock of my to-do list but be very deliberate and celebratory about your mental wellness, hope, inspirations, happiness and fulfilment. These things are the DEAREST in life not only to Kiki from my perspective but ultimately in everyone’s life.

Nothing would be too huge for Kimone to lend a listening ear. One that is deeply interested in taking action and after deliberating on the way forward, it would always be time to share a moment outdoors, you name it: the Obz Car Boot Sale, the Bisognos get-togethers, nature walks, celebratory pizzas but most of all, the pinnacle would be CHIP ROLLS and  impromptu lunches where we would have share of our most immediate concerns in our shared professions and the community of Observatory and the state of lives.

This would be our guilty pleasure and I am sorry to Diego and Mama Kimone, knowing how strict and deliberate about nutrition. “EUGENE, make sure no Fox notices that this is a thing but most importantly, guys back at home” and then is when I was ushered into the CHIP ROLL programme. “Eugene, take it easy, you’ve made so many friendships, touched many lives and even though you don’t know of it, bridges that will last way longer than you envisioned,” said Kimone when I was breaking down in tears after another postponement of travelling out of the continent to start on my professional football journey once more in Europe.

I held this statement of hope and stability as very dear to me even as I know part of it has come to pass, much more is taking place in the order you spoke of, Kiks.

Lots of love,

Your football coach and student- your KENYAN friend

Eugene Ngambi
Tribute to Kimon from OCFY
Kimon Kiki Bisongo holds a huge place in the heart of Obs Can Feed You. She has been integral in our journey from the very beginning - providing wisdom and resources whenever she could. Earlier this year, OCFY was going through a challenging time. Facing a lack of funding, we began funding ourselves. When we approached Kiki for advice, she rescued us. She began helping us to restructure and become more formal, and had been buying our supplies every week ever since. Without Kiki OCFY might not be here today.

Kiki transformed our community and brought us together, as individuals and organisations to create a safe space for everyone. Finding the words to describe the immeasurable impact Kiki has had on us is hard, but her dedication to this community will forever inspire us and we will continue to do the work necessary in her legacy.

Nadine, a founding member of OCFY remembers how “touched I was by Kiki's unwavering determination, resilience and kindness in the face of so much sadness and adversity. She always found a way to be loving and patient while so much was going on.”

We send our deepest condolences to her friends and family at this time. Rest in peace to our dear community leader Kimon 
WATCH | The couple who use their love language of food to serve humanity
When Kimon Bisogno and Diego Milesi met in Ibiza, neither could have predicted their love would uplift a community.

Although Bisogno was from South Africa and Milesi was from Italy, they shared a passion for food.

“I couldn't speak English, Kimon couldn't speak Italian, but we communicated through cooking,” Milesi says.

After moving to Cape Town, they established their restaurant Ferdinando's Pizza in Observatory...
READ FULL ARTICLE AND WATCH VIDEO HERE
Condolences pour in for woman killed by shark in Plettenberg Bay
Phathu Luvhengo - 26 September 2022

Tributes are pouring in for Kimon “Kiki” Bisogno, 38, who died in a shark attack in Plettenberg Bay on Sunday, with friends describing her as a “beautiful soul”.

The NGO Ndifuna Ukwazi sent its deepest sympathies to the friends and family of Bisogno, a mother of one and co-owner of a pizzeria in Observatory, Cape Town, with her lifelong partner Diego Milesi.

The yoga practitioner was a volunteer civic activist helping the Observatory community. The organisation said she helped found the Obs Pasta Kitchen, serving homemade pasta to homeless people once a week. This month it celebrated five years in operation...
READ FULL ARTICLE HERE
Facebook
Twitter
Link
Website
Copyright © 2022 Liesbeek Action Campaign, All rights reserved.