International Children’s Day
Today by celebrating international Children’s Day; we celebrate hope and a future.
“Our greatest natural resource is in the minds of our children”- Walter Elias Disney
Education of our children is the most powerful weapon we have to change the future, but there is little one can teach a hungry child. Hunger in school-going children is one of the biggest educational setbacks in our communities. At Glen Carlou we recognise these struggles and have therefore partnered with the StreetSmart organisation, as well as with members of our local community in order to make a change in the life of a hungry child.
StreetSmart South Africa was established in June 2005 under the founding patronage of Emeritus Archbishop Desmond Tutu. The organisation, a fundraising initiative, is aimed at raising and providing funds towards family reunification, education and skills training programmes for street children as well as for children at risk of becoming street children.
StreetSmart South Africa raises funds for street children programmes through participating restaurants, accommodation establishments and wine tasting centres throughout South Africa – with each contributing to street children programmes in their own communities. The approved beneficiaries in each community runs programmes in aid of the normalisation of street and vulnerable children’s lives, offering them an opportunity for a viable life in society.
The Restaurant @ Glen Carlou has been part of this foundation for many years. We encourage guests dining in our restaurant to contribute R5 (or more) on their bill towards the StreetSmart initiative. Every cent donated to StreetSmart goes directly to the local, allocated beneficiary.
The Kusasa Project, our local StreetSmart beneficiary based in Franschhoek, seeks to address the educational, nutritional and holistic needs of vulnerable children from the farms and informal settlements of the Cape Winelands. Through daily interaction they provide support, encouragement and a safe, stimulating environment in which to learn. Their guiding philosophy is that economic challenges, historic disadvantage, race, colour or language should not be a barrier to a brighter future.
Glen Carlou, along with neighbouring farms, is also involved in funding the Klapmuts Feeding Scheme – an arrangement with the Klapmuts Primary School, providing each child with one nutritious meal a day at school.
Together these initiatives are changing the lives of children in the Winelands and we are proud to play a small role in their futures. Be part of the change, be part of giving our children hope and a future: Eat-Out-Help-Out in a StreetSmart restaurant near you.