After raising R1,12 million nationally through partner restaurants and generous diners last year, StreetSmart SA will be branching out into accommodation and wine tasting establishments. 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. All funds raised support organisations working with street children within the area where the establishments are located.

StreetSmart SA is a conduit fundraising organisation that partners with restaurants, accommodation establishments and wine tasting rooms, to receive donations from diners and guests to support their own locally based beneficiary organisations. In this way locally run programmes that prevent the vulnerable from becoming street children, and help those already on the streets through reintegration back into schools or families, can be funded.

The Top 5 Contributing restaurants last year were: Savoy Cabbage (Cape Town), raising R113,965, La Mouette (Cape Town), who raised R95,322, Foliage (Franschhoek), raising R59,700, Chatters Bistro (Knysna), who raised R40,461. and Nonna Lina (Cape Town), who raised R40,020.

“Being in the top 5 is something I am extremely proud of. We engage our customers on StreetSmart at every opportunity, and this has resulted in some extremely generous donations from philanthropically minded guests.” says Caroline Bagley, owner of Savoy Cabbage, the top achieving restaurant in 2017.

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.

“Many drops make a river, and that is exactly how the generosity of so many people makes 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 invites more restaurants, accommodation establishments and wine tasting centres to participate and more diners and guests to choose to go to StreetSmart establishments – in this way more children’s lives can be changed.

For more information, visit their website.