King David Victory Park will be hosting a King David SleepOut Under the Stars on 18 June. It will be one of the coldest and longest nights of the year.
Inspired by the 702 Sun International CEO SleepOut, the aim of the King David SleepOut is to raise awareness of the plight of homeless youth, and to collect blankets for Girls’ and Boys’ Town. The blankets will be distributed to children living on the streets.
Grade 7 pupils, teachers and principals at King David Victory Park, as well as Rabbi Craig Kacev, director of the South African Board of Jewish Education (SABJE), will be camping out in the corridors of the school with only a cardboard box to sleep on and a few blankets for warmth. Every pupil, regardless of whether they are participating or not, will be encouraged to support the initiative by bringing warm blankets to donate.
“We have embraced this opportunity to create awareness among our students, for those who are not fortunate enough to sleep in a warm bed at night,” said Gaby Cohen, marketing and communications manager at King David Schools. “The idea of giving, and having empathy for others, are values that are instilled in all our students.”
Girls and Boys Town centres are registered as children’s homes, rather than reformatories. They have served an annual average of 34 416 beneficiaries, with about 100 children currently awaiting urgent admission into their 10 national centres.
The goal of the 702 Sun International CEO SleepOut is for business leaders to raise R25 million for Girls and Boys Town. The annual CEO SleepOut is a global and growing movement. June 18 will be South Africa’s inaugural event.
Collection boxes for blanket and beanie donations from the public will be available at King David Victory Park on 18 June.
Details: Girls and Boys Town
Details: King David Victory Park
Details: 702 Sun International CEO SleepOut™
