StreetSmart raises R100 000 for organisations helping street children in Joburg
PARKVIEW – Restaurant patrons help raise R100 000 to assist street children.
An amount of R100 000 was handed to two organisations which assist street children thanks to donations from restaurant patrons across Joburg.
Public benefit organisation and NPO StreetSmart functions to assist street children to rebuild their lives through the work of various local organisations.
Joburg restaurants including Zulas (formerly Moyos) at Zoo Lake, La Cucina di Ciro in Parktown North, Balata Restaurant in Randpark Ridge, Secret Eats in Rivonia, So Yum in Hyde Park and The Kitchen – L’Antico Giardino have heeded the call to offer restaurant patrons the option of adding R5 to their bill to assist StreetSmart.
On 11 November, during an event at Zulas, R70 000 was handed over to Kids Haven and R30 000 to MES-Youth Enrichment Programme to better the lives of vulnerable children. This money was raised during the last year at the partner restaurants in Johannesburg.
National chair of StreetSmart SA Melanie Burke said, “We want to create opportunities for a viable life for every child in South Africa. “StreetSmart gives every cent raised to beneficiary organisations in the city in which the money was raised.”
Burke added that she wanted to see more restaurants, wine-tasting venues and accommodation establishments raise their hands to be part of the solution. “It costs the restaurant nothing to be part of this, but every R5 makes such a difference.”
StreetSmart was set up in 2005 by a group of concerned Capetonians under the patronage of Archbishop Desmond Tutu and has since expanded to 15 towns and cities across the country. Similar StreetSmart organisations also run independently across the world.
“In spite of the socio-economic circumstances in our country, this is the sixth consecutive year that we will be handing out over R1million nationally,” said Burke.
Bridging school manager at Kids Haven Priscilla Watungwa said the funds raised this year would assist to stabilise children coming off the streets with basic education (reading, writing and life skills) for a three-month period before they are assessed to join formal schooling. Watungwa added that 26 children went through the most recent bridging programme, 23 of which would join formal schooling next year.
Executive manager of MES (Mould, Empower, Serve) Leona Pienaar said the R30 000 donation would assist children as part of their after-school programme, empowering youth for a brighter future.
StreetSmart Johannesburg coordinator Jenny Stricker-Greeff appealed to local restaurants and accommodation establishments to join the StreetSmart community.
For more information contact jennygreeff@mweb.co.za
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