Don’t give to beggars, says I Care

I CARE, the charity transforming the lives of street children, is appealing to the public not to give any street children money.

According to Gail Elson from I Care, the organisation is finding quite a few new children on the streets and to make matters worse, holiday makers are giving them generous amounts of money.

“Giving these children money enables and prolongs their stay on the streets, and in turn encourages substance abuse, which in turn can lead to crime and all sorts of unacceptable and bad behaviour. Sadly, manly children come to the street during the school holidays with the preconceived idea that they will make themselves plenty of pocket money. With many generous holiday makers in our city, some of these street children are getting in excess of R500 a day begging at traffic lights and intersections,” she said.

I Care, which has been successfully transforming the lives of these children for the past 14 years, is strongly appealing to the public to support the organisation, and if they would like to make a donation, rather to make it to I Care, assisting them in their work with these children. Contact 031 572 6870 or www.icare.co.za.