StreetSmart helps Helderberg’s most vulnerable children
StreetSmart hands over R35,000 in aid of Helderberg’s most vulnerable children
StreetSmart SA, an organisation dedicated to helping street children rebuild their lives R5 rand at a time through donations from restaurants, accommodation establishments and wine tasting venues in the Western Cape, Garden Route, Gauteng and KZN, has handed over R35,000 to ACVV Bright Lights at an event at the Restaurant at Waterkloof Estate, in Somerset West.
Since 1997, ACVV Bright Lights, a registered child and youth care centre, assists high risk children in the Helderberg basin to reintegrate into the community and empowers them with alternatives to taking refuge on the streets. The StreetSmart funds will go towards the salary of a social worker.
“We want to express our heartfelt appreciation to StreetSmart for the allocation for 2020. This will ensure that we are able to provide a quality service to children in need. The motto of the ACVV comes to mind: ‘Together in service for the community,’” says Andre Putter, Social worker, ACVV Bright Lights.
StreetSmart is a community initiative that raises funds for programmes that support social normalisation of vulnerable and street children making a real difference to their lives, in partnership with restaurants, accommodation establishments and wine tasting venues. Funds are raised by adding a R5 donation to each patron’s bill. This donation is voluntary and donors are able to contribute more if they wish to. With this generous gesture, StreetSmart establishments and their guests are real change makers in their own communities.
“With the help of our generous supporters, StreetSmart continues to stand out as an important conduit of much needed funding for our beneficiary organisations. In spite of current financial pressures making it harder for people to donate, StreetSmart will be disbursing over R1 million to beneficiaries nationally for the sixth consecutive year, enabling us to support 38 programmes. We are so excited to be able to continue this work through responsible giving and we invite restaurants, accommodation establishments and wine tasting venues to become StreetSmart in their local communities,” says Melanie Burke, Chairman of StreetSmart SA.
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 and The Netherlands.
StreetSmart SA is registered as a Public Benefit Organisation as well as a Non-profit Organisation and ensures that every cent donated by guests 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, donating to StreetSmart where you eat, drink and sleep is the responsible way to help a street child.
For more information or to make a donation, contact StreetSmart SA at Tel: 021 447 3227 email info@streetsmartsa.org.za or visit www.streetsmartsa.o
Issued by: GC Communications Tel: +27 (0) 21 462-0520 Email: info@gc-com.co.za
On behalf of: StreetSmart South Africa Contact: Reinette Retief – Administrator
Tel: 021 447 3227 E-mail: info@streetsmartsa.org.za