[imagesource: Lee Jin-man / AP]

2019, hey – what a year.

As we begin to say farewell and good riddance to another year, South Africans find themselves staring down the barrel of a potentially dark ending to the year.

One word – Eskom. Two words – load shedding. Three words – ma se … well, you get the drift.

Basically, we could all use a collection of pictures designed to put a smile on the dial, and provide some relief and inspiration.

This means a healthy selection of pictures featuring children and animals, plucked from the Atlantic’s ‘Hopeful Images From 2019’ gallery.

The news outlet says these images show “personal victories, families and friends at play, expressions of love and compassion, volunteers at work, assistance being given to those in need, or simply small and pleasant moments”.

Up top, you’re looking at child monks riding a roller coaster in Yongin, South Korea.

Down below, this little dude is enjoying the Vive Latino music festival, which took place in Mexico City on March 17 and March 18 this year:

Rock on, brother.

Next, meet Paul, a koala from Lake Innes Nature Reserve, who was treated for burns at the Port Macquarie Koala Hospital on November 29, 2019.

You may remember the hospital’s name from that viral video of a koala rescued from the flames last month. Tragically, the koala in question, Ellenborough Lewis, succumbed to his injuries, but the money raised for the hospital means the likes of Paul are receiving around the clock care.

Look at his happy, hungry face:

Then, cats.

If you require more details, these cats are from the village of Krompach, near the town of Cvikov, in the Czech Republic:

It was another year of divisive rhetoric from politicians around the world, including the Orange Menace in the White House.

As for his border wall – it’s rooted in hate, but that didn’t stop American and Mexican families from playing on seesaws installed through the barrier in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, back in July:

Here’s six-year-old Joan Stiltner from Chicago, having a ball signed by Chicago White Sox left fielder Joel Booker.

It’s safe to say she’s stoked:

We’ll balance out the cat picture with one of a dog diving during a water-therapy session in Istanbul, Turkey:

To finish, here’s something from our own shores, showing wrangler Shandor Larenty with a giraffe at the Lion and Safari Park, a wildlife-conservation enclosure located close to the Cradle of Humankind:

Wrangling looks like a pretty decent job, provided all of the animals are as peaceful as this giraffe.

Are you feeling a little better, or maybe even hopeful?

You can find more images here, in case you need some extra tonic.

[source:atlantic]