#wineforgood: StreetSmart, normalising the lives of vulnerable children, R5 at a time

Thursday, 25 April, 2019
wine.co.za
What can you do with R5? Not much. It can't buy you a bread, a litre of petrol or even a cup of coffee. But R5 can change the life of a vulnerable child. Through donations of R5 at a time R1,695 million was raised in 2018 to support vulnerable children within the community where the donations were collected.

"Many drops make a river, and that is exactly how the generosity of so many people make it possible for StreetSmart to literally change lives, R5 at a time, through our support of programmes that work towards normalising the lives of vulnerable children and those living on the streets. So, please become part of the StreetSmart partner network and give responsibly," says Melanie Burke, StreetSmart Chairman.

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, Germany and The Netherlands. 

Every cent of the donations received in StreetSmart establishments goes to organisations that support vulnerable children through education, skills training and family reunification, in order to give them a chance to normalise their lives and to be re-integrated into society. Giving money to a child on the street, keeps the child on the street. StreetSmart is an easy way to give responsibly. Funds for StreetSmart are raised by participating restaurants adding an optional R5 donation to each table's bill. This donation is voluntary and diners are welcome to contribute more should they wish to do so.

In 2018 the StreetSmart initiative expanded into accommodation and wine tasting establishments. The decision to branch out from a purely restaurant driven campaign developed organically at the request of owners of wine farms, guest houses and hotels who expressed interest in becoming involved and joining the StreetSmart SA community. In addition to the 94 restaurants throughout South Africa where patrons can make a voluntary R5 donation added to their bill, guests at an increasing number of wine tasting rooms, B&B’s, guest houses and hotels are now also able to make a contribution.

Wineries participating in the initiative range from Constantia to Franschhoek and include Buitenverwachting, Waterkloof, Glen Carlou, Haute Cabriere and Jordan. wine.co.za also joined and gives shoppers the opportunity to make a contribution when buying wine online via their checkout process. 

 

Siyabonga’s story

Siyabonga began attending school for the first time in his life at the age of nine years old. “Bongi” as he’s affectionately known, was placed in foster care with a family in Netreg and enrolled at the local Primary School. Due to Bongi’s age, the principal did not want to place him in Grade R with children much younger than him. As a result, he was placed in the grade 2 class, which was age-appropriate although he was not on the appropriate academic level. To ensure that he got the support he needed, he was selected to attend the StreetSmart Aftercare Programme, to develop his reading and writing skills.

Seven months later, Bongi is able to write and is excelling in Mathematics! We are confident that, with the extra support from the StreetSmart Aftercare Programme, Bongi can catch up to the appropriate academic/cognitive level and make great progress in school, which could provide him with an abundance of opportunities in the future.

 

MORE ON WINEFORGOOD

There are plenty of good news stories about upliftment and transformation in the South African Wine Industry. This #wineforgood website, launched by wine.co.za in June 2016, hosts all the positive stories from the winelands, of which there are plenty. wine.co.za has made April a focus for #wineforgood stories, being Freedom Month, as South Africa celebrates 25 years of democracy.
Please share your stories with us and share these stories with the rest of the world.
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