MySchool MyVillage MyPlanet has been around for 21 years and to celebrate they have launched the ‘21 years of Giving Back’ campaign with R2.1 million to give away to 21 causes. That’s big bucks, R100 000 each! Cardholders have until the end of February 2019 to nominate their favourite South African beneficiary that matters to them. In May, 21 winning beneficiary organisations will selected and the supporters who nominated them will each receive a R1 000 Woolies Giftcard.
“We want to encourage our supporters to also consider bringing local, smaller organisations doing heroic work in their communities into the fold; and for whom the giveaway of R100 000 can make a considerable difference,” says MySchool MyVillage MyPlanet General Manager, Pieter Twine. “We hope that R2.1million to give away to 21 causes to celebrate 21 Years of Giving Back will inspire supporters to put their local heroes in the spotlight and give them a chance to win R100 000 towards the continuation for their important work within communities.
As part of this campaign, MySchool invited me to visit a local beneficiary close to my heart and document some of what they get up to in the community. I’m such a fan of Arise, so much so, that I officially joined their team in a part time capacity on Monday! Arise is based in Heideveld on the Cape Flats, Cape Town, and they believe that every child belongs in a thriving family.
They see families crumbling under the weight of poverty, crime, social injustice and abuse and aim to strengthen family units through their various programs. They work with both children and parents or caregivers to counsel, strengthen, and equip families so that they can be a place where children feel safe, loved, and find a sense of belonging. For children without families we advocate for them to be in families through our adoption advocacy programs and adoption support programs.
Their Family Centre aims to preserve, strengthen and support families in resourced-poor communities to build resiliency so that children and their families can overcome adversities and reach their full potential. They do this by providing therapeutic consultations, psychosocial groups and our award-winning family strengthening programmes. Their Adoption Support Programs work to build new families for children without families through innovative advocacy and professional post-placement family support. In an attempt to increase our footprint and spread their programs Arise offers Train-the-Trainer workshops, where they equip other professionals to run their programs in their own context and spheres.
Here’s a short video of my visit to Arise’s ‘Finding Feelings’ program at a local school in Heideveld this week. Each of the kids’ parents have already had an in depth consultation to assess what’s happening in the home & Arise walk a journey with each family. Take a look:
Arise is one of those organisations where winning R100 000 would be a real game changer! As a MySchool beneficiary they are paid out about R1000 a month which means that they can provide sandwiches, coffee and tea to every participant attending one of their programs. That’s really quite something but imagine how they could serve the community even better if they were to win. You know where my vote is going!
If you are not yet a MySchool cardholder, you can sign up for free at www.myschool.co.za or download the MySchool MyVillage MyPlanet App, nominate the cause that matters to you, and be part of the active citizenship our country needs.
*This post was sponsored by MySchool My Village My Planet