Just over a week ago I posted a Tweet on Twitter suggesting that it would be great if the SA Twitter community (SA Tweeps) could donate blankets to those in need this winter.
Well, the power of social networking and the strength of the SA Tweep community has flexed its muscles and this idea has grown into a full blown initiative with national interest.
There are over 50,000 registered Twitter users in South Africa and if we get 5% attendance it will be a substantial number to consider.
All events will take place on the same day, countrywide. Cities/towns we'll be covering are:
- Joburg
- Cape Town
- Port Elizabeth
- Durban
- The Overberg region
- Pretoria
Next time I would like to see East London (3rd top Twitter city in South Africa) and Bloemfontein involved.
I planned to to piggy-back on local radio stations winter projects and use their offices and station as drop-off points for blankets and other donations (non-cash). Since I am not an NGO I would have preferred it if the radio stations would then donate the blankets to charities of their choice. All radio stations have unfortunately declined to participate due to their existing campaigns with confirmed sponsors/advertisers.
The Joburg charity is Kids Haven. Their Mission, as it appears on their website, is:
Our mission is to reach out to children on the streets and others in need in our community.
We will strive to provide them with love and shelter in a nurturing, secure environment. We will give them guidance, therapy, training and support so that they can be the best they can be and take their rightful place in the community.
Alternate collection points in Joburg are:
If you cannot make it to the Joburg TweetUp you can still be a part of #TBD by donating directly to Kids Haven through their website: www.kidshaven.org.za
The Pretoria charity organisation is P.E.N.
If you cannot make it to the Pretoria/Tshwane TweetUp you can still be a part of #TBD by donating directly to P.E.N. through their website: www.pen.org.za
The beneficiary for the Knysna event is the Knysna Round Table.
ARTSA is arguably one of the most focused Associations as far as welfare work goes. It has clearly aligned itself with the plight of children and has run national advertising campaigns to this effect. The ARTSA constitution is also very explicit on the ways in which funds raised from the public may be applied. Community projects are run at Table, Area and Association levels. Successful Association projects have included Childline (the promotion of a toll-free number for children to call for assistance), the National Sea Rescue Institute and involvement with FAMSA.
Visit their website for more information: http://www.roundtable.org.za/
The donations for the Western Cape region (Cape Town and Overberg TweetUps) will go to PASSOP. This is what they do:
PASSOP is committed to the promotion and protection of the rights of refugees, asylum seekers and both documented and un-documented immigrants in South Africa. PASSOP stands for People Against Suffering, Suppression, Oppression and Poverty, and the word means “beware” in Afrikaans. It is a Cape Town-based NGO that was founded by a group of Zimbabweans in 2007.
Visit their website for more information on how you can assist: www.passop.co.za
Durban #TBD will contribute to the East Coast Radio Winter Warmth campaign. Rotary is a facilitator to the Winter Warmth campaign and will distribute the blankets into the rural communities, old age homes and creches. They are a well networked organisation that are actively involved with clubs in each area/town. East Coast Radio also add registered non profit organisations on the beneficiary list provided there is no duplication. Most of these organisations approach the station directly.
Visit their website for more information on Winter Warmth: www.ecr.co.za
Our mission is to reach out to children on the streets and others in need in our community.
We will strive to provide them with love and shelter in a nurturing, secure environment. We will give them guidance, therapy, training and support so that they can be the best they can be and take their rightful place in the community.
Alternate collection points in Joburg are:
- any Williams Hunt dealership (clothes/blankets only)
- VidaE 24 Central, Fredman Drive (clothes/blankets only)
If you cannot make it to the Joburg TweetUp you can still be a part of #TBD by donating directly to Kids Haven through their website: www.kidshaven.org.za
The vision for this ministry started ten years ago when a discipleship group from the Pretoria Dutch Reformed Church became aware of the desperate needs that people in the inner city faced and started a process that crystallised into what is today known as PEN.
The main focus of our ministry is to build long term relationships with the people whom we serve. To minister, not only through bringing the word of God, but to see to all their needs: food, clothes, social and academic care for the children, preventing family violence through therapy, helping with job creation, taking care of HIV-positive people, improving self-esteem and eventually, creating a new wholesome community.
If you cannot make it to the Pretoria/Tshwane TweetUp you can still be a part of #TBD by donating directly to P.E.N. through their website: www.pen.org.za
Alternate collection points in Pretoria are:
- any Williams Hunt dealership (clothes/blankets only)
- PEN offices, Pretoria CBD
ARTSA is arguably one of the most focused Associations as far as welfare work goes. It has clearly aligned itself with the plight of children and has run national advertising campaigns to this effect. The ARTSA constitution is also very explicit on the ways in which funds raised from the public may be applied. Community projects are run at Table, Area and Association levels. Successful Association projects have included Childline (the promotion of a toll-free number for children to call for assistance), the National Sea Rescue Institute and involvement with FAMSA.
Visit their website for more information: http://www.roundtable.org.za/
PASSOP is committed to the promotion and protection of the rights of refugees, asylum seekers and both documented and un-documented immigrants in South Africa. PASSOP stands for People Against Suffering, Suppression, Oppression and Poverty, and the word means “beware” in Afrikaans. It is a Cape Town-based NGO that was founded by a group of Zimbabweans in 2007.
Visit their website for more information on how you can assist: www.passop.co.za
Visit their website for more information on Winter Warmth: www.ecr.co.za
There are a number of blogs and websites that have thought this is a good idea too and have written about the initiative:
- Antie Koekie
- Barrie Bramley
- Represent.co.za
- P.E.N. Organisation
- Komoshin.com
- Creative Ink
- Barrie Bramley (2)
- gardenroute.co.za
- Johns' blog
- Rugby-talk.com
- Sport24.co.za
You can also listen to a podcast featured by komoshin.com where they interviewed me on the project to date.
Support this initiative. For more info visit the #TBD website: www.twitterblanketdrive.co.za or read all about it in the #TBD newspaper
