Our The Big Issue Winter Drive is in motion, and we invite all our readers to round up their relatives and friends to knit scarves, blankets and beanies for our valued vendors. Our aim is to have all our vendors sporting your fluffy creations on Tuesday, 18 July, which is International Mandela Day. See page 20 for more details on how you can get involved.

Look out for our main feature on teenage change agents Hunter Mitchel, 10, who is raising funds for rhino conservation, and Avantika Naidoo, 16, who raises awareness and funds on behalf of Project Dignity, an organisation that provides sanitary wear to young girls in disadvantaged communities. We also feature three teenage entrepreneurs from Langa, and an aspiring ballerina who is dancing her way to the top.

Conservationist Braam Malherbe shares tales from his most recent earth-saving expedition, which saw him rowing from from Cape Town to Rio. Meanwhile, documentary photographer Yasser Booley talks to us about finding his passion, and travelling halfway across Africa using nothing but public transport.

We’ve also rounded up a variety of things to see and do to help you unwind. Don’t forget to pull out our Little Issue feature and share it with your kids. We wouldn’t want your children to miss out on any of the fun.

And, what would an issue be without our valued Big Issue vendors? This month, we speak to vendors Zamikhaya France and Nancy Mngqelana, and showcase a selection of vendor art pieces, which were inspired by music.