Archive for the ‘Projects’ Category

Thank you to Cape Town Tourism who once again supported the TCD Trust on Mandela Day in July. Not only did they come along to Red, Green and Gold creche with wonderful treats for the children they got stuck in doing the hard work of clearing up the children’s play ground area.

In the afternoon Cape Town Tourism organised that members attending the JAMMS session could bring along donations for Red, Green and Gold Creche. We were overwhealmed by the generous donations of blankets, toys, books and a much needed large fire extinguisher for the creche.

These donations were delivered to the creche on a cold and raining winter’s morning, the teachers were so delighted and thanked us again and again for the support they had received from everyone in the Cape Town tourism and hospitality industry.

I would like to thank Cape Town Tourism for their support and for raising the awareness of the TCD Trust and our projects. We have worked together for many years and hope that our collaboration together will continue to unite ALL members of Cape Town tourism and hospitality industry to work together and create even greater awareness of what can be achieved through becoming a Friend of the TCD Trust.

Next time you are thinking about how can your company become more involved or support responsible tourism initiatives remember the the TCD Trust and supporting the great work we are doing in communities around us.We URGENTLY need your support to make Cape Town the best Responsible Tourism destination in the world so join us now as a Friend of the TCD Trust.

See our website for details : www.tcdtrust.org.za

OR contact me to set up an appointment and I will come and visit you and tell you all about the benefits for your business by becoming a Friend of the TCD Trust. You can contact me, Bronwen Wetton on 079 899 2294 or E-mail me : bronwen@tcdtrust.org.za

Ten Reasons to volunteer for a Non Profit Organisation
Article written by Dalene Ingham-Brown of Discover Africa

If you’re thinking about becoming a volunteer, you’re an absolute blessing. However, actions speak louder than words, and what better way to inspire you to take the final leap of kindness and sign up than to give you ten solid reasons why you should volunteer for a Non-Profit Organisation (NPO)

1. They need you
When you volunteer to help an organisation in need, they’re able to funnel their economic resources in the direction of making local improvements that directly help those in need. Know that you are a valuable part of the organisation, saving them up to R150 per hour! Your donation of time, is a donation to change.

2. Creating Ubuntu
Volunteers are great for building camaraderie and promoting team work… women volunteers especially. Dealing with different types of people from all walks of life, working together towards a common goal is a sure way to build a nation!

3. Builds self-esteem
Volunteering boosts self-esteem. By helping and learning you gain a stack of knowledge about the surrounding community. This knowledge, paired with that feel-good factor of being able to help others, means that you’re able to foster empathy and self-efficacy, which is the stuff that builds good ol’ self-esteem. Score.

4. Social responsibility
Volunteering for an organisation is a way of providing a valuable community service that proves to be a great investment in your community and others who live in it.

5. Boosts wellbeing
Getting out and helping others does wonders for your physical and mental health. It reduces stress and improves your mood. They say that when you shift your attention and efforts to others, you are more likely to lift your emotions to a positive state, and your actions interrupt usual tension-producing patterns, causing stress reduction… meaning less wrinkles!

6. Build a community
Depending on where you decide to focus your volunteering efforts, you make a real difference in the lives of those who the organisation serves. These efforts build up various elements that make up an entire community. A few of these elements within a community include:
• Support families (daycare and eldercare)
• Improve schools (tutoring, literacy)
• Community Health (family and patient support and education)
• Protect animals (rescue and rehabilitation)
• Support youth (mentoring and after-school programs)
• Beautify the community (beach and park cleanups)

7. Learning
Volunteering helps you learn and grow in many ways. On a personal level, volunteers often discover hidden talents and passions that are directly linked to improving self-confidence.
Volunteers are also able to learn about how the government works and supports NPOs. Don’t we all just want to learn about government operations?
The community you volunteer within is also great in building your knowledge base. Involved in various projects, you’ll have the opportunity to learn about local resources that are used to aid community project needs.

8. Work experience
Being involved in any organisation is great work experience. If you help in the administration side of things then you will no doubt learn loads about people, planning and the running of an organisation. If you physically help with various projects it’s a brilliant way to get on the job experience, interacting with people or animals you may be interested to work with in your career at some stage.

9. Give back
Often volunteers decide to get involved with NPOs because they want to give back to the community they know and love. It’s also an opportunity for people to support community resources that they use themselves, or that they know makes a lot of difference to uplift a community. If an organisation has helped someone that you love, then giving back in the form of volunteering is an extremely generous, thoughtful, valuable way to show appreciation.

10. You make a difference
Every person who volunteers helps. A lot.

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United We Are Strong

“…ninety-two, ninety-three, ninety-FOUR!!” The crowd’s chant could be heard throughout the neighbouring communities of Philippi as it celebrated Tata Madiba’s birthday outside the buzzing Red, Green and Gold Educare. South African flags streamed proudly through the streets as a spontaneous rendition of Nkosi Sikeleli iAfrika broke out. One might be struck a little short of breath when first witnessing the depth of pride that beams from South Africans as they sing their national anthem; today was no exception.

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A group totalling no fewer than 70 arrived in waves throughout the morning at the little crèche in Marcus Garvy informal settlement in Philippi. With them came deliveries of food, books, fire extinguishers, South African flags and some good old fashioned muscle-power to help with everything from stirring soup and washing windows, to planting trees and moving stones from the children’s play area. All of these being in response to the ‘wish list’ of Head Mistress “Siya” – a lovely woman of calm confidence who could be found sporting her funky floral wellies in the midst of whatever work there was to be done. Today she welcomed helping hands and donations from many businesses and individuals from the tourism and hospitality sector, including Anix Consulting, Blue Flag, Discover Africa, Ashanti Lodge, Jewel Africa, Centre Stage Travel, and Laura Prast. All thanks to the critical coordinating and lobbying efforts of the Tourism Community Development Trust.

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Siya and her team at the crèche met the Tourism Community Development Trust during a particularly bad flood during the winter of 2011. After weathering that particular storm, the crèche was still in dire need of a plan – complete with action to back it up – in order to avoid finding itself sloshing through water again in future. The Tourism Community Development Trust came with both; they organised an extremely successful gala dinner for this particular cause, hosted by the Mount Nelson and raising sufficient funds to build an elevated wooden classroom complete with an admin office, sick bay and toilet facilities! Since then, the Tourism Community Development Trust has continued to support the crèche by channeling the generosity of the sector, including this year’s ‘giving’ back’ activities in honour of Nelson Mandela’s birthday.

The Tourism Community Development Trust plays a very unique and effective role in responding to local needs such as these by mobilising and coordinating the contributions of tourism and hospitality businesses and individuals so that they have maximum impact. After all, individual contributions on their own are often not enough to meet larger demands. When you put them all together and focus them on a common goal, however, the bigger projects of community groups such as the Red, Green and Gold Educare can be achieved!

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