StreetSmart digs deep to foster change in Cape Winelands

StreetSmart South Africa is determined to continue changing the lives of our country’s most vulnerable children and their efforts have seen 29 individual programmes benefiting nationally from their fundraising efforts in 2021.

In the greater Cape Winelands area, StreetSmart raised just over R53 000 for their four beneficiaries: Home from Home, Ma’s vir Wellington, NorSA and the Thembalitsha Foundation.

The funds raised help these local organisations to retain social workers dealing with vulnerable children as well as equipment and stationery for educational programmes.

“On behalf of everyone at NorSA and the children we serve, a huge thank you to StreetSmart and their fundraising partners for their contribution and support. These funds make an enormous difference in the lives of our children and their parents in a tangible way,” says Petra Nel, project manager at NorSA Community Care in Wellington.

Peter Marx, executive director at Home from Home, also voices his gratitude: “Many thanks to the organisation for their ongoing support of the important work that we do. You continue to support us even in these times when it has been so difficult on the hospitality industry.

“We really don’t know how you manage to keep reinventing your role to still provide such crucial support to our SA communities. To you and every partner and supporter.”

There are currently 12 establishments in the Winelands that have embraced their vision to make a real difference to the lives of children at risk of living on the streets, through giving their guests the opportunity to be real change makers in their own communities.

“It has been a privilege for Rust en Vrede to be part of this campaign for over a decade. The organisation has such a tremendous impact on the lives of kids far less fortunate than most, and we are happy to continue in association with them on this noble path,” says Jean Engelbrecht, owner of Rust en Vrede Wine Estate in Stellenbosch.

With their main source of funding under severe pressure because of the prolonged lockdowns, the NPO still managed to raise R780,000 nationally to help more than 2 000 vulnerable children and their families.

The organisation is dedicated to changing street children’s lives by supporting intervention programmes through donations from hospitality venues in the Western Cape, Garden Route and Gauteng.

With the hospitality industry decimated by Covid, StreetSmart had to find supplementary sources of income to continue changing lives, one child at a time.

“Despite the economic fallout from the ongoing pandemic, our fundraising partners continued to fly the StreetSmart flag, enabling their patrons to continue giving to this most worthy of causes. Despite the intense hardships experienced by all, and our hospitality partners in particular, our partners have continued to show resilience, resourcefulness and concern for the communities in which they operate,” says StreetSmart SA chairman Zaid Adams.

“Thank you to our fundraising partners, their patrons, as well as all our beneficiary programmes for making a difference in the lives of the children. We look forward to more years in these relationships of giving and supporting those who need it most.”

Funds are raised by StreetSmart partners who add a donation to their patrons’ bills.

This donation is voluntary and donors are able to contribute as much as they wish. StreetSmart invites more businesses to become fundraising partners, to make a real, long-term difference in the lives of street children.

For more info or to make a donation, call 021 447 322, email [email protected] or go to www.streetsmartsa.org.za.