StreetSmart diners raise
R185 000 in Johannesburg and Pretoria
Issued by GC Communications on behalf of StreetSmartSA
StreetSmart SA, an organisation dedicated to helping
street children rebuild their lives through donations at restaurants in the
Western Cape and Gauteng, has handed over R185 000 to beneficiaries in
Johannesburg and Pretoria for 2015. The beneficiaries are Kids Haven and PEN
Streetwise Project.
The Kids Haven reaches out to vulnerable children in the
Ekurheleni district. The funds raised by StreetSmart Johannesburg, will be used
towards the salary of a child care worker, PACE workbooks and transport costs
for educational outings.
“We are
very excited to be part of the StreetSmart initiative, and all the good work
they do for street children in the country. We are truly grateful for this
support in making a difference in the lives of marginalised and neglected
children,” said Moira Simpson, Founder of Kids Haven.
PEN Streetwise project in Leratong, Pretoria, provides
support and supervised foster care for boys on the street. The money raised by
StreetSmart Pretoria will fund the partial salary of a social worker,
apprenticeship training courses and school fees.
“StreetSmart has made it possible to provide our
children in Leratong with a home where they can be re-educated by learning life
skills and values, where they are treated with dignity, can develop
selfrespect and have hope for the future. Thank you to Streetsmart - you
invested into the lives of each of the children in our home,” said Dagmara du
Plessis, PEN Executive Program Manager.
StreetSmart Restaurateurs and their diners are taking
hands to make a difference in their communities. Nationally this partnership
has raised more than R1 040 000 during 2014 alone, for organisations that are
actively involved with social development and rehabilitation of street children
with the ultimate goal of family re-unification.
StreetSmart South Africa has also given substantial
financial support for 2015 to beneficiary organisations in other areas, namely
Cape Town: Cape Town Multi Service Centre, Home from Home, Learn to Live, Ons
Plek and TLC Outreach Projects; Franschhoek: The Kusasa Project; Stellenbosch:
Home from Home; and Plettenberg Bay: Masizame. All these charities are actively
involved with the social development and rehabilitation of street children.
Hettie de Wet, StreetSmart Pretoria Co-ordinator adds:
“Without the participating StreetSmart restaurants and their staff, this
celebration and disbursement to beneficiaries, would not be possible. To our
beneficiaries: we appreciate the work you are doing, and are humbled in
offering you these cheques today!”
Funds are raised by adding a R5 donation to each table's
bill at the participating restaurants. This donation is voluntary and diners
are able to contribute more if they wish to. Nationally there are currently 92
restaurants that have embraced StreetSmart’s vision to make a real difference
to the lives of street children.
“2014 has been another exceptional year for StreetSmart
SA! For the first time, StreetSmart will be disbursing over 1 million rand to
beneficiaries nationally. Through steady organic growth StreetSmart will continue
its upward trend, with one aim: to help as many street children and children at
risk, through successful partnerships and promoting responsible giving via
StreetSmart restaurants.” says Nils Heckscher, Chairman of StreetSmart SA.
Every cent raised in StreetSmart restaurants goes to
organisations that run street children programmes. To cover operational and
expansion costs, StreetSmart relies on partnerships with business, fundraising
initiatives and private donations. These funds help to maintain the momentum of
this life-changing project.
StreetSmart
SA was set up in 2005 by a group of concerned Capetonians under the patronage
of Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu and comprises resourceful board members
representing business and the hospitality and tourism industries. Similar
StreetSmart organisations also run independently in the UK, Australia, New
Zealand, Canada, India, USA – San Francisco and The Netherlands.
StreetSmart
has grown organically and is now active in nine centres. StreetSmart SA consists
of a national Board of volunteers, and each centre has a committee of 3-5
volunteer members that run StreetSmart locally.
StreetSmart
SA is registered as a Public Benefit Organisation as well as a Non Profit
Organisation and ensures that every cent donated by diners goes towards social
and educational upliftment projects for street children. StreetSmart's goal is
to be part of the process of social normalisation and to encourage the public
not to give money into the hands of a child as this keeps them on the streets.
In essence, eating and donating at a StreetSmart restaurant is the responsible
way to help a street child.
For more information or to make a donation, contact StreetSmart at Tel: 021 418 0621 email info@streetsmartsa.org.za or visit www.streetsmartsa.org.za.
StreetSmart Restaurants:
JOHANNESBURG
Balata @ The Fairway Hotel & Resort
(Randburg)
Browns Restaurant (Rivonia)
dw eleven -13 (Dunkeld West)
Five Hundred @ The Saxon (Sandton)
Licorish Bistro (Bryanston)
Qunu @ The Saxon (Sandton)
RBG Sandton @Park Inn Hotel (Sandton)
The Bull Run (Sandton)
The Griffin (Illovo)
PRETORIA
Chapters @ Leriba Hotel & Spa
(Centurion)
Hemingway's @ Leriba Hotel & Spa
(Centurion)
Orange Restaurant @ Court Classique
(Arcadia)
Prosopa (Waterkloof Heights)
Ritrovo (Waterkloof Heights)
