Solomon’s Haven was founded in 1992, when Maria Solomons and her family opened their hearts and doors to vulnerable children in the area, creating a place of safety and equipping them with the necessary education and skills and to prepare them for their future, and developing them intellectually, socially, emotionally and spiritually.

Maria explains that, in her area, so many women are caught up in a vicious cycle of abuse and neglect that they struggle to look after themselves, let alone their children. “When deciding to leave her abuser, she is usually faced with either living on the streets ór going to a shelter, where she and her children can stay for three to six months… and then? Sometimes they are faced with being thrown out on the streets or going back to the origin of the abuse,” Maria says concerned.

It is with one such incident that Solomon’s Haven was founded. When her late son, Nadeem, was in Grade 5 he started bringing a 7–year old friend home every day. Maria spoke to the boy and he eventually disclosed that his father was very abusive towards him, his siblings (aged 4 and 9) and his mother. Maria eventually invited the boy’s mother for dinner and after a long talk she told Maria that she is faced with a huge problem: her husband is molesting her two daughters!

Maria decided there and then to provide shelter to the women while she took steps against her husband, with Maria’s support. Maria took care of them, reminded of her own background of abuse.

“I did not really have role models, growing up under difficult circumstances, with an abusive father.  We were five to six children sleeping on a bed, without blankets – we had to use carpets and our clothes to keep warm. This gradually formed me to become strong, which helped me to survive and definitely helps me to assist the children of Solomon’s Haven today,” she adds proudly.

Maria is, however, very happy that times have changed and that women are better protected through improved legislation. “When I grew up, men in our community beat some women to a pulp, women felt powerless to take any action and as a result nothing was ever done about it. Now it is a whole new picture. When you lift your hands for a woman (or man!) you will, in most cases, go to jail,” she adds.

“I have a compassion for children, especially those growing up under difficult circumstances, and I am a mother, with a huge heart for children. I do not want to see my children getting hurt… I do not want any child getting hurt, for that matter. Nelson Mandela once said something along the line of: ‘If you have a head and a heart, you see everything differently’ and I feel that is very applicable to me. It does not matter what is ‘wrong’ with the child or what his or her condition or problem is – I just love them.” You can see the kids that arrive here are broken, but I give every child as many hugs and love as possible. The kid realises that you care for them as soon as you give them hugs. It sometimes takes two weeks or more for them to start trusting me, but eventually I do manage to break through their ‘walls’ with love,” Maria says.

Some of the children have grown up with one, but in some instances even two abusive parents. Maria is concerned that in the latter case, the children are left without any caregiver and nobody to protect them. Without a mother a family literally falls apart. Maria adds that in such cases, there usually is no bread in the house and the children have to ask neighbours for a piece of food… or hope somebody will help them.

“Kids like these do not know the security of a family and that is what we are trying to reinstate in their lives.  A family stick together, no matter what happens, like me and my family. We carry each other through difficult times. We want the kids to experience the same and a feeling of home and somebody being there for them after school. Do you know how gratifying it is when they arrive home after school and ask, “Where’s Mommy?’”

“With the help of generous organisations like Spur Foundation, I can be their mommy and provide them with a family. We never eat separately, but together as a family – an aspect that truly resonates with Spur’s focus on the family. In the evenings when we sit in front of the TV, they massage and wash my feet. That is how they give back. They cry when I take my feet back, as it signifies rejection to them.  Pampering me is a thank you from their side,” she says with a smile.

Maria stresses that it is not an easy job – both financially and emotionally. “On the financial side I have to provide food for all of them. Organisations like Spur Foundation contribute regularly and it helps, but it does not cover all our needs. As an example, the 17 kids currently in my care, eat at least ten loaves of bread per day!” she adds.

“On the emotional side I also have to be the strong woman for them. I can only cry or show emotions when I am alone in my room, as I become such a part of these children’s daily struggles. Spur Foundation’s support has shown me that they believe in what I do and that that they believe these children need help. It lessens the burden on me, as I know there is somebody that cares. Spur Foundation recently donated new bed linen to all the children on Mandela Day (18 July) – it was probably the first time in their lives that they slept under new duvet covers! " she adds.

Since its inception between 400 and 500 children have been helped at Solomon’s Haven, with Maria assisting some of them to train as boilermakers, policemen, social workers and more. For this remarkable work Maria was nominated as a finalist in the Cape Times Woman of Worth 2003 Competition and in 2004 she won the award.

“For the next year my big wish would be bigger premises, so that everybody has their own space and can feel special,” she adds. “Feeling special is something they have not experienced a lot in their lives, but the love and support for the children make them look past the fact that there might not be another tomorrow,” Maria concludes.

Spur salutes this great mother of so many of the neglegted and destitude children in her area.

---

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

NAME: Ronel van Dijk, Chairperson of the Spur Foundation and Chief Financial Officer of Spur Corporation Limited
TEL: 021-555 5100
E-MAIL: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
WEBSITE: http://www.spurfoundation.co.za
TWITTER: @SpurRestaurant
FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/SpurSteakRanches  

On 9 August, National Women’s Day, South Africans will be saluting the role of women in our society. In this spirit, Spur Foundation will be saluting Liesel James, founder of Creating Change, one of the primary beneficiaries of the Spur Foundation. 

Creating Change is a non-profit company that strives to empower the youth in under-served communities, to build a sustainable future for themselves and their families. This programme provides education and skills development through indigenous permaculture gardening, healthy cooking and nutrition, product development and more.  

Spur Foundation joined forces with Creating Change to set up the Conscious Lifestyle Programme at the Desmond Tutu HIV Youth Centre in Masiphumulele, Ocean View, between Kommetjie and Noordhoek in Cape Town.

“The Desmond Tutu Centre is aimed at educating youth on health and providing guidance especially around HIV and leadership. It ties in with our Conscious Lifestyle Programme where we teach them about nutrition, the uses of plants, environmental awareness and how to maintain a permaculture garden - an agricultural system or method that seeks to integrate human activity with natural surroundings to create highly efficient self-sustaining ecosystems. We want to inform them about the dangers of chemicals and additives in soil and processed food and, of course, we also want to show them positive and affordable alternatives to it,” Liesel explains.

The Ocean View community is heavily dependent on local industry, seasonal fishing and labour. There is much unemployment and poverty in the area and social problems. Liesel says, as a result, the biggest threats to the children at the Centre and in Ocean View are rape, drugs and gangsterism.

“These children just need to be nurtured, guided and supported, in order to break the negative cycle they may find themselves in – and ironically it resonates extremely well with the Spur Foundation slogan, Nourish, Nurture, Now!” she adds.  

“I have three children of my own, so I understand them and treat all the kids I work with like I am their biological mother. When they do something wrong I have to reprimand them – I often have to intervene when they have anger management, discipline and racial issues. I basically just love them –they are the motivation why I am still here,” Liesel says proudly.

“I have felt like giving up before, due to burnout, but never due to the children, more as a result of a lack of resources or adult ‘gatekeepers’ in the community who were standing in the way of us reaching the children, changing original agreements and making it challenging for me to deliver. Children are here to learn and I am here to teach them,” she says adamantly.

Liesel believes that Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu has always been a man of integrity, standing up for humanity, speaking his truth without fear, calling us the Rainbow Nation and believing that, without forgiveness, there is no future.

“He is really the last honourable leader and voice left in South Africa, after the passing of Nelson Mandela. Mandela, again, can be admired for his humility, wisdom and honourable attitude after 27 years in prison. He was our African father,” Liesel adds.

Using these two formidable leaders as an example, Liesel aims to assist all the children on the programme until they finish school. Every year Creating Change offers more skills development than the year before and the programme is evolving into a mentorship and entrepreneurship programme, assisting the children when they leave school.  This will have an effect on the communities around them and the people they come in touch with for the rest of their lives.

Liesel and her team have been working with some of the children for five years and watched them grow and learn. She realised that children need a huge amount of support, especially in these communities where there is a lack of guidance, career counselling and good mentorship. She assisted regularly to provide them with different stimuli, constant education and guidance on how to make healthy choices. The children need to have a safe place to talk about anything.

The Desmond Tutu Centre provides learners with dedicated counsellors, but some of the Ocean View children are still carrying a lot inside them, without much safe assistance.  “I hope that they will remember me as someone who is independent, a finisher, but more importantly as someone who loved them dearly and believed in them,” Liesel concludes.

Spur Foundation has supported Creating Change for the past 6 years and have watched the project grow from strength to strength through the dedicated and passionate work of Liesel James and her team. She truly embodies the spirit of ubuntu and Spur can proudly salute Liesel as one of South Africa’s great servants of her community.

FOR MORE INFORMATION: NAME: Ronel van Dijk, Chairperson of the Spur Foundation and Chief Financial Officer of Spur Corporation Limited
TEL: 021-555 5100
E-MAIL: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
TWITTER: @SpurRestaurant
FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/SpurSteakRanches

Tonya Khoury of Fourways in Johannesburg is a woman with more than 20 years’ experience in media monitoring and client liaison and is widely regarded as one of the foremost experts in the South African and African media monitoring industry.  

As the Managing Director of newly formed media monitoring company, ROi Africa (based in Lynnwood, Pretoria), she is driven by service. “I learnt very quickly in my career that sales equalled superb customer service and I loved making unhappy clients happy. During my employment at a competitor media monitoring concern just over a decade ago, my eyes opened to the opportunity of making money out of ‘cutting up newspapers’!  This passion was unleashed and got stronger every day.  

Career 

Tonya started her monitoring career Newsclip until her entrepreneurial flair took the upper hand and she started Jisani Digitrack, the first black empowered media monitoring company in Africa, in a partnership as Sales and Marketing Director and shareholder. Unfortunately the partnership soured, but Tonya’s passion for innovative media monitoring persisted.  Her experience across various other monitoring companies including DDI taught Tonya that entrepreneurship takes tenacity and an “I never give up” attitude, being a leader in the industry comes from fighting mediocrity and honing in on market need. 

Tonya, who initially wanted to be a lawyer, learnt early that she was never going to fit into a corporate law firm. “I’m an entrepreneur and that is something deeply ingrained in me. Passion and attitude is everything – these are attributes you either have or not – and I believe that it cannot be taught, like skills and knowledge. I have experienced that all these aspects are important, but the former two are crucial and have been essential for my career and life as an entrepreneur,” she explains.   

Being an Entrepreneur 

“It takes balls – big, big balls to be a business owner. It isn't glamorous and it isn't easy - it's much, much harder than clocking in and out and taking your pay cheque at the end of each month. But, if you want to make a difference and believe you can, and if you are dead set on a dream you have no choice but to do it ‘alone’.  If you're lucky you'll meet people along the way that are like minded and they will give you a ‘leg up’. In most instances where money is concerned, they won't. But there is no bigger rush in the world than a solid sense of achievement, knowing you were right and reaping the rewards, which is already happening in ROi’s case!” she adds. 

She believes that, if people have a passion for what they do, they will make a success out of it. “There is no reward greater than fulfilling your passion. Following your passion does, however, come with hard work and risks. I have fallen more times than I care to count, but I never gave up. Business is tough - really tough - but so is life sometimes and if you enjoy what you do, then that’s the bonus. Entrepreneurship is a drug like no other and must be used with caution.” 

Media Monitoring 

Tonya is also a strong believer that the South African media monitoring industry needs a shake-up, as well as a move away from Advertising Value Equivalent (AVE) as measurement tool. “We have to be faster, sexier, more effective and more interactive. Due to this I have decided to forge international partnerships, which allows for access to international ideas at the forefront of media monitoring,” she explains.  

“Media interaction has to be lightning fast.  You have to be quick and, more importantly, consistent. You have to fully understand the media monitoring industry and, with my more than 20 years’ experience, I know that ROi is heading for an amazing future,” Tonya says proudly. She is adamant that media monitoring is not a ‘nice to have’ but an essential tool for each business, especially in crisis situations. She believes it is impossible for an individual to keep track of a story running out of control, as there are simply too many outlets. This job calls for specialists, in the form of media monitors, as negative brand reputation messages require immediate attention across all spheres.  

Being a Woman

“Women are exceptionally hard working and inventive and topped with their multitasking ability, they make formidable impacts on the Media Industry. Being multitaskers, I also find that women are able to focus on more than one thing at once, which is ideal for our industry. “One of my biggest challenges is time, I’m not patient, my industry is not patient,” she remarks.

She does, however, add that her feminine intuition has helped her to identify the very best support team to build the ROi foundation and, most importantly to decide between right and wrong. “”I have always trusted my gut and I’ve learnt to act on its instruction,” Tonya adds.

Lessons

“Another thing that life taught me is that the only person who can pull the carpet from underneath you is yourself. In my younger years I have struggled a little with self-doubt - I used to be extremely good at telling myself all the reasons I would not be able to achieve something – but with age and experience I have learnt to believe the opposite: listening to all the reasons why I will be able to achieve success, like with ROi”.

Tonya also says that she has also learnt that I am unemployable and can’t work for somebody else. “I have to work for myself because I absolutely need operational and sales freedom in my business plan,” she adds.

Tonya says that a good business model is based on:        

• Identifying a market need – a  hungry market is key to making a business successful        
• Fill the gap with solid operational processes and a robust product to ensure that sales are deliverable and have longevity        
• Take action, quickly.        
• Always raise the bar, keep finding relevance        
• Solid legal and financial paperwork and a robust business model makes for a happy set of shareholders.        
• NEVER give up 

“I can add to this that relationships are EVERYTHING and I could not have done anything in my career without solid, long standing relationships with people, clients and suppliers. These relationships helped me through the difficult times,” she says proudly. 

“I am not only an entrepreneur – I am also a South African! I have a love like no other for three things, my mother, my continent, my industry - Africa is my home, I'm privileged to call myself a South African, I'm hugely proud of what my country has achieved. I've been fortunate to travel to parts of the rest of Africa and I want more, I want to take a solution that is much needed into the rest of the continent and possibly other parts of the globe, - that's the dream!” she exclaims.

The Grow Your Business Expo, supported by the Limpopo Economic Development Agency (LEDA) and MTN Business will take place on 30 July 2014 in Polokwane at the Jack Botes Hall.

The expo brings together small business owners and corporate role players to communicate a process of helping to run and grow successful entities.   Role players that support Limpopo’s Enterprise Development are provided with a platform to connect business owners with resources and tools needed to start, learn, manage and grow their companies.  This will create employment and contribute positively to families and the community, which will ultimately increase the vitality of the local economy.

The Grow Your Business Expo is the ideal opportunity for corporate role players to share their products and services that will match with small businesses that need access to skills, knowledge, finance and markets.  

Funama Productions are hosting the expo; CEO Masetha Serakoana says “the expo is a vital platform for small businesses to link with institutions offering funding, financial assistance and business related products and services. We will also have representatives from the institutions presenting their company offerings. The Business Lounge area will cater for one-on-one meeting sessions offering free advice and consultations with specialists during the expo. My Success Story corner will share achievement stories; this area will also serve as an opportunity for corporate companies to showcase thriving SMEs that they have empowered.  SARS will also be there offering free tax workshops.”

Entrance to the Grow Your Business Expo is R25.00 per person, doors open at 08h00.

Ends

For further information, please contact: Masetha Serakoana E-mail This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Telephone 086 111 1471 - www.funama.co.za

Funama Wedding Exhibition heading for Polokwane. 

The 2nd Annual Funama Wedding Exhibition will take place on Saturday, 26th July 2014 at the Jack Botes Hall in Polokwane Limpopo.  The prestigious exhibition is a show of fresh wedding ideas all under one roof saving visitors hours of time spent travelling and searching for wedding suppliers. The exhibitors promise a display of the best wedding products and services available.

“The expo includes wedding gowns, groom suits, cakes, cosmetics, accessories, catering, beauticians, florists, photographers and many other wedding related services.  Future brides, grooms and families looking for wedding service providers are in for a fun filled day with loads of ideas that will help turn any fairy tale dream wedding into a reality. Legend Lodges, Hotels & Resorts, our main prize sponsor is giving couples a chance to win a wedding venue of their choice in Limpopo valued at R20 000.  Other exhibitors are offering happy memorable prizes that include wedding gowns, groom suits, cakes, cosmetics and many more. The expo is a great platform for small business owners to market and promote their services” says Masetha Serakoana, CEO of Funama Productions.

To end the day off visitors will be treated to an evening event with renowned motivational speakers giving inspired advice on relationships and marriage, a wine tasting experience and entertainment by Nia Pearl.   Funama Productions is a media and communications company that specialises in exhibition production services focusing on projects that promote and empower small businesses.   Entrance to the Funama Wedding Exhibition for visitors is R50.00 per person, doors open at 9am.

For further information, please contact:
Masetha Serakoana
E-mail This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Telephone 086 111 1471
www.funama.co.za 

No, not another 2014 FIFA World Cup surprise, but a valid question. As one of the major sponsors of this global event, was the return on investment received what Adidas was expecting as one of the official sponsors, after having spent huge amounts of money?

Speculation is rife that FIFA's World Cup partners pay a hefty price for the privilege to be so closely affiliated with the event – apparently $1.5 billion revenues are taken to be associated as some form of World Cup Sponsor.

Gauteng-based media monitoring company, ROi, who has been reporting to the South African media on World Cup statistics during the event, generated an insightful study that contains the editorial mention of these brands in relation to this event. 

“It is surprising how little editorial coverage there is from each of the sponsors given the massive fee there is to be associated with this world event,” says ROi Managing Director, Tonya Khoury. “I do recognise that media publicity is not the only benefit a company like Adidas will get from such a sponsorship, but I was surprised that it was so low.”

The study, which does not include logo exposure or advertising in relation to the brands, focused on media mention of the various brands on millions of global social networks and 60,000 global online newspapers.

“As could be expected Adidas was the most exposed brand in the editorial space. With almost one third of the coverage against other sponsors, Adidas’ #allin campaign was a massive success,” says Khoury.

Another factor for the sponsor’s success is “largely attributed to the fact that Adidas was the main sponsor of the two teams playing in the final. They are also the sponsor of arguably the best football player in the tournament, Lionel Messi. To add to this 46 goals have been scored by players wearing the adizero F50, including three of the World Cup’s top scorers: James Rodriguez of Colombia, Thomas Muller of Germany and then of course Messi.

“The official soccer ball has also been a success. Brazuca, under the @brazuca Twitter handle, it gained more than 2.75 million followers during the tournament (more than 3.25 million overall), making it the fastest growing profile of the World Cup,” she adds.

When isolating the data set into “Partners” only, Adidas and Sony accounted for over 50% of the editorial coverage. Adidas was the most talked about brand during the tournament across all social channels, like Twitter, YouTube, Facebook, Instagram and Tumblr and attracted more than 5 million new followers across these social platforms - more than any other sports brand.

“A company like Adidas was planning to generate €2 billion (about 28 billion Rand) in football related revenue this year and one wonders whether they have received adequate return on investment to achieve this. They have definitely achieved more than the other sponsors and they have gained valuable publicity, but I am seriously questioning whether they have received enough,” Khoury concludes.  

FOR MORE INFORMATION: 

Tonya Khoury                                       
Tel: 073 874 5377
E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Twitter: @tonyaroi / @roiafricaFacebook:                                           
Facebook.com/roiafrica

{pp}This course is for anyone who has ever wanted to earn their living through writing or wants to simply improve their skills. This course will give you the tools to write newspaper and magazine articles, press releases and edit copy.

{pp}Marion Scher has been one of South Africa's top freelance journalists for the last 21 years, with years of experience in the field of media and the written word.

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