23 April 2020

Dear Friends of StreetSmart SA

COVID-19 Solidarity

We want to reach out to our Fundraising Partners and their workers, who at the moment have no work - our thoughts are with you.

We had hoped to come out of lockdown earlier this month but circumstances regarding the Coronavirus pandemic have made this impossible. Our President has asked us to endure another two weeks of lockdown and indications are that this may take even longer than we expect. We remain hopeful and continue to refine our organisation’s responses to the coronavirus pandemic as we encourage people to give responsibly and raise funds for those in need.

The very essence of StreetSmart South Africa’s fundraising efforts relies on R5 donations received from the public who eat at restaurants, stay at guesthouses and raise a glass at wine tasting venues. In this way, we have been able to raise more than R1 million annually for 38 beneficiary programmes for vulnerable children that support education, skills development and family reunification in the Western Cape, Gauteng and Garden Route.

Social distancing measures imposed right now means that our restaurant, accommodation and wine tasting partners are all under lockdown and our ability to raise funds for our beneficiaries is under severe pressure. Fortunately, when one door closes another door opens. With so many of us at home cooking more meals than usual and eating in, we have come up with a new concept: ‘Dine in. Do Good’ as an interim measure we could include in our lives during the lockdown.  

Read more: COVID-19 Solidarity

Our hearts go out to our Fundraising Partners unable to trade during these difficult times.

Until our partners are up and running again, you can help us to continue raising funds to maintain essential services for vulnerable children and their families by supporting our COVID-19 campaign.

Dine in. Do good!

We cannot do this without you.

Click Here to Donate: https://streetsmartsa.org.za/donate-to-streetsmart 

Making a difference since 2009, Ma’s for Wellington’s fieldworkers serve as liaison between the organisation and the immediate community. They work alongside the parents/caregivers of the at-risk children in the Ma’s for Wellington programme; supporting them and offering guidance where necessary, to change and to improve the quality of life for their children.

Ma’s for Wellington received R10,000 from StreetSmart Wellington, towards the fieldworkers programme.

From a very young age James had to overcome huge stumbling blocks. His mother was very sick and mostly bedridden. He completed the 3-year programme and was ready to go to school, but due to his mother illness and the fact that she couldn’t care for him, he dropped out of school after a week.

During their house visit the field workers identified that he needed help and support. They took him into the programme for the next two years. He became part of a group of children from our programme that was attending school but, unfortunately, due to various reasons James did not continue to attend school.

James’ mother died that year and he was placed in foster care with his aunt. The organisation assisted his aunt to apply for him to be placed in one of the local schools. According to his age he was supposed to be in Grade 3, but he had not even completed Grade R. The school had him tested and he was placed directly into Grade 3!

It is now two years later and James is doing very well at school. This boy could have been lost on the streets to become just another statistic – one of the children that join gangs or become addicted to drugs, with no hope for the future.

With the help of organisations like StreetSmart, James could be given a chance to have a good and prosperous future - to reach for his dreams and eventually, to make a positive contribution to his community.   

We love to share the feedback of the impact that StreetSmart funding is having on the lives of vulnerable children. Home from Home received funding from StreetSmart Cape Town towards a social worker salary, and here is one of their good news stories:

"A young boy in one of the Masiphumelele homes is currently 17 years old and in grade nine. He was removed from his biological parents in 2011 due to neglect and being unsupervised with nobody to feed him and his siblings. Sadly, his biological mother passed away from an illness and his biological father is currently serving time in prison. At the young age of nine years, this boy had faced many challenges in life and had a hard time growing up.

Since being in Home from Home’s care, he has made everyone proud with his remarkable development and determination to succeed in life. He has a passion for soccer and currently plays for a soccer club in his community. He works hard at school and is a well-mannered boy. He recently received a surprise gift (new soccer boots, shin guards, soccer ball and sports bag) from cricket player JP Duminy, who visited the home and was impressed by him. The expression and gratitude displayed by this young boy was truly an amazing moment. He is currently part of the Mamelani ProSEED Youth Development Programme, which will assist his thinking, development and resilience for his transition process when leaving the care of Home from Home.

Cape Town

Aubergine (City Bowl)
Open for deliveries, See menu and to order Click Here >> https://www.aubergine.co.za/deliveries/
021 465 0000

Neighbourhood Café @ Ramasibi (Panarama)
Open for deliveries from 9am – 5pm on Uber Eats and Mr Delivery
078 293 5937

Nonna Lina (Gardens)
Open for deliveries, to order Click Here >> https://bit.ly/3cHxpKb
021 424 4966

Robinhood Burger & Grill (Gardens)
Open for deliveries on Uber Eats and Mr Delivery
021 286 3353

Societi Bistro (Gardens)
Open for deliveries on Uber Eats and Mr Delivery from 11am – 7pm
021 424 2100

Stacked Diner (Gardens)
Open for deliveries on Uber Eats and Mr Delivery
021 422 1572

Strolla @The Peninsula Hotel
Open for deliveries, Menu available on @Strolla Facebook page. Order via WhatsApp 072 742 3669

The Greek Fisherman
Open for deliveries, Frozen-Food Menu available on @Thegreekfisherman Facebook page.
Order via WhatsApp Geogina 082 565 3669 / Corina 076 778 0057

Read more: StreetSmart Restaurants doing Deliveries

School of Hope is a registered special-needs secondary school that provides a second chance at education for at-risk, vulnerable children and youth, that includes former street children, rehabilitated drug addicts, and children from abusive, neglectful homes. There is no requirement of an entrance exam, only the prerequisite that students demonstrate a willingness to learn. They offer computer application technology (CAT) as a compulsory subject to ensure that every learner leaves the school in possession of knowledge that they can use in the current information age and in their future career.

StreetSmart Cape Town provided School of Hope with a R150,000 disbursement towards the computer skills training instructor salary.

School of Hope recently partnered with On The Ball College, to empower more women to enter the IT business. The college has approached us to nominate a female learner to participate in the Woman in IT initiative. They provide programming and coding classes to young female adults from previously disadvantaged backgrounds to prepare them for a career in IT.

Read more: School of Hope