What exactly is African Journal Club?

African Journal Club kicks off as a monthly gathering (in-person in Jozi) for anyone wanting to slow down and reconnect with their inner lives through journaling, creativity, reflection, conversation and more analogue living. It’s about making space to gather with journals, pens, thoughts, questions, sketches, dreams and ideas.
Some people will write pages. Some might collage. Others may doodle. And if there are those who just sit and wonder before a single sentence arrives, that’s cool too! All of it counts.

Do I need to be a “journaler” or a “writer”?

Not at all. African Journal Club is for anyone. Whether you’ve been taking note for year or are a beginner – you are our people! A big warm welcome to any over-thinkers, curious people, creative people, tired people, deep feelers, people who used to journal, people wanting to start again, and people who don’t know where to begin. (Actually, not knowing where to start is one of the best reasons to come!)

What happens at a typical gathering?

The heart of it is simple: we gather, phones away, journals out, coffee hot... We are encouraging space to think, feel, reflect and create. Some gatherings may include optional prompts, postcards, conversation starters or creative invitations – use them or don’t. Zero pressure. This is not productivity club. This is heart work.

What should I bring?

Bring:
• Yourself as you are… And bring a journal or notebook
• a pen, crayons or markers you love

If you enjoy collage, sketching, watercolour or creative journaling, feel free to bring extra materials too.

Can I come alone?

Please do. We imagine many people will. Part of the beauty of African Journal Club is that strangers sit near each other with journals and somehow leave feeling a little less alone. There’s no pressure to network, perform or pretend. You can arrive exactly as you are.

What if I’m introverted or nervous?

Then you’re probably our kind of person. African Journal Club is intentionally low pressure. No icebreakers. No forced networking. No awkward sharing circles. You are welcome to just arrive, order your coffee and simply be.

Will I have to share what I write?

Nope. Your journal belongs to you.

What if I get stuck or don’t know what to write?

You won’t be left staring at a blank page. We’ll provide optional prompts, postcards, ideas and starting points for anyone needing inspiration... One of the best things you can do is simply enjoy the space long enough for your own thoughts, ideas, hopes or dreams to catch up with you.

What if I need help or ideas while journaling?

Antoinette McDonald from Do the Heart Work has spent the past decade facilitating journaling workshops, retreats and reflective spaces across South Africa and internationally, so if you need a prompt, idea or nudge, help will be nearby. Over time there will also be more guided sessions, workshops and facilitated experiences for people wanting extra support or inspiration. But there is no “right or wrong way” to do this.

Can I bring my laptop or work while I’m there?

African Journal Club is designed as an analogue space. We’re encouraging people to step away from screens and return to paper, pens, reflection and presence for a couple of hours.
Phones away. Inner life on.

Why 44 Stanley? And why 4 cafés?

What a place. 44 Stanley has soul. It’s bursting with creativity but also feels deeply calm… the kind of place that makes you want to linger. There are cafés, books, art, conversation, old buildings, independent makers, courtyards with trees and people creating things with their hands. It feels like the opposite of rushing. The opposite of scrolling. The opposite of performative spaces. African Journal Club needed somewhere warm, analogue and alive to begin. 44 Stanley felt right immediately.

What’s included in the ticket?

Your ticket currently includes:
• your place at an African Journal Club gathering
• coffee from your chosen café
• an African Journal Club postcard
• a two-hour analogue journaling space
• optional prompts and inspiration
• and the experience of gathering with other thoughtful humans

Why is there a charge?

The ticket helps us create and hold the space well.
It covers things like:
• your first coffee
• African Journal Club postcards designed to inspire and take home
• venue coordination
• creative development
• facilitation and hosting
• and helping build something sustainable that can grow over time
We want this to feel thoughtful, intentional and beautiful from beginning to end.

How do bookings work?

Because space is limited at each participating café, booking ahead is essential. Once bookings are made, 44 Stanley will contact you and let you know which cafe you will be journaling in.

Can I sit with a friend?

Absolutely. If you’d like to journal alongside a friend, simply let 44 Stanley know you want to be in the same café.

Where do I park?

There is parking available outside 44 Stanley and across the street in a secure parking area. See map and details below. Weekend mornings are usually easier and slower than weekday traffic, but we’d still recommend arriving a little earlier so you can find your café, order your coffee and settle in before we begin.

Will there be facilitated workshops in the future?

Yes, absolutely.
Right now African Journal Club begins with simple monthly gatherings because we believe there is something powerful about making unhurried space first.
But over time there will also be:
• guided journaling workshops
• guest facilitators
• creative sessions
• themed gatherings
• online offerings
• courses
• conversations
• retreats
• and collaborative experiences across Africa
This is just the beginning.

Is there an online version?

Yes. African Journal Club will also grow online through workshops, guided sessions and digital gatherings for people joining from elsewhere in South Africa and around the world.
Keep an eye on @dotheheartwork_ or www.dotheheartwork.co.za for more.

Will there be African Journal Clubs outside Johannesburg?

That’s the dream. We would love to see African Journal Club gatherings eventually happen all over the continent - wherever people are hungry for slower, more human spaces again.

Who is behind African Journal Club?

African Journal Club was founded by Antoinette McDonald, founder of Do The Heart Work.
After years of facilitating journaling workshops, retreats and reflective spaces across South Africa and internationally, African Journal Club was born from a desire to create slower, more human gathering spaces around journaling and creativity in Africa.

How do I stay updated?

Follow @dotheheartwork_ and @44_stanleyavenue for upcoming dates, bookings, workshops and future African Journal Club gatherings.

For questions, collaborations or media enquiries:
info@dotheheartwork.co.za