StreetSmart SA hands over R480 000 to their Cape Town beneficiaries

StreetSmart SA, an organisation dedicated to helping street children rebuild their lives through donations from restaurants in the Western Cape and Gauteng, has handed over R480 000 to their Cape Town beneficiaries for 2015. The beneficiaries are Cape Town Multi Service Centre, Home from Home, Learn to Live, Ons Plek and TLC Outreach ProjectsStreetSmart restaurateurs and their diners are taking hands to make a difference in their communities. Nationally this partnership has raised more than R1 040 000 during 2014, for organisations that are actively involved with social development and rehabilitation of street children with the ultimate goal of family re-unification.“Our partnership with StreetSmart has allowed us to ensure that we strive to be the best in the industry and we endeavour to do so in the future. It is remarkable how StreetSmart’s funding has enabled so many children and youth over the years to gain access to education, skills training and job placements.” said Nelly Burrows, director of Operations and Development at Salesian Institute.StreetSmart South Africa has also given substantial financial support for 2015 to beneficiary organisations in other areas, namely The Kusasa Project in Franschhoek; Home from Home in Stellenbosch; Twilight Children and Kids Haven in Johannesburg; PEN in Pretoria; and Masizame in Plettenberg Bay. All these charities are actively involved with the social development and rehabilitation of street children.Funds are raised by adding a R5 donation to each table's bill at the participating restaurants. This donation is voluntary and diners are able to contribute more if they wish to. Nationally there are currently 92 restaurants that have embraced StreetSmart’s vision to make a real difference to the lives of street children. “2014 has been another exceptional year for StreetSmart SA. For the first time, StreetSmart will be disbursing over R1-million to beneficiaries nationally. Through steady organic growth StreetSmart will continue its upward trend, with one aim: to help as many street children and children at risk, through successful partnerships and promoting responsible giving via StreetSmart restaurants,” says Nils Heckscher, chairperson of StreetSmart SA.Every cent raised in StreetSmart restaurants goes to organisations that run street children programmes. To cover operational and expansion costs, StreetSmart relies on partnerships with business, fundraising initiatives and private donations. At their annual handover event held at the Radisson Blu Hotel, Granger Bay, Stenströms, an iconic Swedish fashion house established in 1899, handed over a further R25 000 donation to StreetSmart SA. These funds will help to maintain the momentum of this life-changing project. “It gives us great pleasure to support StreetSmart SA. Children living on the streets are amongst the most marginalised of all South Africa’s children, and they need our support,” said Anders Bengtsson, owner and president of Stenströms.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, India, USA – San Francisco and The Netherlands. StreetSmart SA is registered as a Public Benefit Organisation as well as a Non Profit Organisation and ensures that every cent donated by diners 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, eating and donating at a StreetSmart restaurant is the responsible way to help a street child.For more information or to make a donation, phone StreetSmart on 021 418 0621, email info@streetsmartsa.org.za or visit www.streetsmartsa.org.za.