StreetSmart hands over R30,000 to Swellendam beneficiary
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 and Gauteng, has handed over R30,000 to the Swellendam Bursary Fund.
The Swellendam Bursary Fund, the town’s StreetSmart beneficiary, provides support for promising local young people wishing to study at university or college, but who do not have the means to pay for their studies.
This grand effort is part of the total StreetSmart allocation of over R1 million for 2020 distributed nationally to 38 programmes working with children at risk.
The local committee which furthers the work of StreetSmart Swellendam, comprises Cathy van Eeden, Francois du Rand, Mari-Louise van der Merwe and Marjolein van Mourik.
“StreetSmart is such an easy to run initiative and it makes a huge difference in the lives of children and young people – right here in our community. We would like to see many more Swellendam establishments participating to give visitors to our town the opportunity to give responsibly and not in the hands of a begging child,” said Mari-Louise van der Merwe, Coordinator of StreetSmart Swellendam.
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.
18ZeroOne @ De Kloof Estate, Bergview Guesthouse, Elianthe Guesthouse, De Kloof Luxury Estate Boutique Hotel, Field & Fork, La Sosta Restaurant and Powell House Restaurant have all embraced StreetSmart and are making a difference in their community.
“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 has 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.org.za.
Photograph credits: Cathy van Eeden