StreetSmart SA, an organisation dedicated to helping street children rebuild their lives through donations from restaurants in the Western Cape, Garden Route and Gauteng, has handed over R100 000 to their Johannesburg beneficiary, Kids Haven, for 2017.

This is part of an allocation of over R1 million raised nationally for the third consecutive year by StreetSmart SA with the balance to be distributed in the other regions later this month.

Kids Haven helps and cares for street children and others in need in Johannesburg. Their vision is to rehabilitate street children and reunify them into the community through care, counselling and psychosocial support. This is achieved with through social work, education, monitored homework and remedial lessons, sport and leisure activities. The StreetSmart funds will be used towards the salary of a Bridging School Programme facilitator as well as learning resources.

There are currently 11 restaurants in Johannesburg that have embraced StreetSmart’s vision to make a real difference to the lives of street children. Funds are raised by adding a R5 donation to each table’s bill at participating restaurants. This donation is voluntary and diners are able to contribute more if they wish to.

The Johannesburg restaurants who take part in the StreetSmart programme are The Saxon Hotel & Spa, Balata at The Fairway Hotel, Cnr Café Bistro, La Cucina di Ciro, Licorish Bistro, Moyo @ Melrose Arch, Moyo @ Zoo Lake, Pomodoro, The Bull Run, Turbine Hall and The Wolfpack. They offer their diners the opportunity to give responsibly in their restaurants, and not in the hands of a child.

“StreetSmart, through the work of our beneficiaries, provides opportunities to empower street children and other vulnerable children in our communities to live viable lives. Through the generosity of our restaurant partners and other supporters we are able to continue to expand our national footprint. For the third time in a row, StreetSmart will be disbursing over R1 million to beneficiaries nationally. We are so excited to be able to continue this work through responsible giving via StreetSmart restaurants.” says Melanie Burke, Chairman of StreetSmart SA.

“When the children arrive at the bridging school, they have survival skills, but not social skills. Our stabilisation programme gets them ready to cope with their lives and this is essential if they are going to make something of their future. That is why the support StreetSmart is giving Kids Haven is so important. If we don’t get this stage of our intervention in children’s lives right, they may be lost forever. However, if we get this stage right, we prepare the children to cope for the rest of their lives. Even beyond Kids Haven, they will continue to grow. For this, I am so grateful to StreetSmart, for understanding the needs of the children we work with, and for walking this journey with us,” said Moira Simpson, Founder of Kids Haven.

StreetSmart Restaurateurs and their diners are taking hands to make a difference in their communities. Nationally this partnership with 92 restaurants has raised more than R1 060 000 during 2016, for organisations that are actively involved with social development and rehabilitation of street children with the ultimate goal of family re-unification.

“While we wine & dine in style, many go to sleep homeless and hungry. Let’s make a difference!” said Christopher Trimble, General Manager, The Fairway Hotel, Spa and Golf Resort.

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, 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.