Ever wanted to run, walk, paddle, swim or cycle for charity? Ever dreamt of doing something crazy like bungee jumping or skydiving for charity?
Now, thanks to doit4charity, you can.
People can set up their own fundraising blog on their website free of charge, choose the charity of their choice (provided it is a registered South African non-profit) and begin their fundraising efforts. Anyone who wants to support may donate any amount online by credit card, through their SSL secure system, or make a direct deposit into their bank account.
Our very own director, Tim Smith, will be doing his bit for charity (and working up a sweat) as he is participating in the Cape Argus this year. Another one of our great supporters, Morne Nortje, will also be riding in the Cape Argus. So show some support for these athletes…and help us fight poverty at the same time.
Ard Matthews from Just Jinjer handing over signed shirt to Marianna Boguslavsky
Unless you have been hiding under some rock, you would have heard all about the online and sms competition that we have been running for the whole of this month. Basically, you can win an evening with your favourite local celebrity (just imagine playing pool and drinking beers with Just Jinjer!). The details are here (http://www.breadlineafrica.org/celebs) so check out the competition, sms/donate online, and stand a chance to win a really awesome night out.
The participating celebrities have been really generous with their support. Ard Matthews has donated a golf shirt he wore to the Nelson Mandela Invitational and this shirt will be auctioned at the 27dinner at the Wild Fig. I had the pleasure of meeting him as unlike other celebs who might have their assistants do everything for them, he popped by our offices himself, said hi to the team and even posed for a photo with me.
Bailey Schneider and Heinz Winckler have also donated some special personal items and our Facebook auction group will go live next week where you will have the opprtunity to bid on these momentos…highest bid gets the prize.
We are launching our first ever sms campaign (with an online component) this month…it goes LIVE today! We want to take you out to dinner with one of your favourite local celebs. All you need to do is to make a small, or big (the bigger the better!) donation towards alleviating poverty in Africa and you could win an evening out with Just Jinjer, Heinz Winckler, Sasha Martinengo or 94.7 Highveld Stereo’s Bailey Schneider.
The competition runs from 1 – 28 February 2010, and to enter simply donate to Breadline Africa via SMS (36010) or on our website, www.breadlineafrica.org/celebs. The more you donate, the better your chances to win the prize. And don’t forget to choose which celeb you would like to meet if you win: you do this by including the correct code (JINJER, HEINZ, SASHA or BAILEY) if you enter by SMS, or checking the appropriate tick box if you enter online.
We are thrilled at the support we have received from these South African role models. The competition winners are guaranteed a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity – as well as changing lives through their donations to Breadline Africa.
MXit, the global mobile social networking and instant messenger, has joined forces with us to help generate support in the fight against poverty in Africa, by promoting the competition to its three-quarters of a million music lovers. The MXit Music community will be encouraged to open their hearts and SMS the short-code, adding their support to stop African poverty in its tracks – while having the opportunity to engage for an evening, with some of South Africa’s best music talent.
For the third year running, the Arts & Culture Trust (ACT) will be receiving support from Breadline Africa for South African arts festivals in the form of ACT | BLA Fringe Grants. The aim of these grants is to assist organisers of South African festivals to extend their programmes by providing support specifically to facilitate the participation of artists, performers and groups from peri-urban and rural areas. Festivals taking place between 01 April and 15 November 2010 are eligible to apply for support and successful applicants will be awarded grants up to a maximum of R50 000. At least 90% of the grant must be utilised to cover the costs of registration fees, venue/equipment hire, transport and accommodation of the designated groups. The remaining 10% may be utilised to cover the costs of administering the grant.
We are very please to be involved in this initiative, we look forward to seeing the new talent that will emerge and we are proud to be able to assist impoverished communities that are engaged in arts, culture and heritage to realise their full potential.
BBC container handed over to Breadline Africa
The BBC Box arrived back in the UK after more than a year travelling the globe by road, rail and sea. The shipping container carried a variety of contents from whisky and car parts to tinned cat food as part of a project to tell the story of global trade in the current economic climate. The Box was an ambitious and unique year-long project for BBC News to tell the story of international trade and globalisation by tracking a standard shipping container around the world.
Breadline Africa was very fortunate when The BBC decided to donate the container to us. The BBC Box arrived in Cape Town in December and we have to thank NYK Logistics for sponsoring the container and Maersk South Africa (Pty) Ltd for shipping the container to Cape Town. We are in the process of renovating this container and we will keep you updated of our progress.
Anneline Jacobs, the lady who has been feeding her community from her home for the last few years, said that she is going to name her project, The Children’s World Kitchen. She said that everyone is welcome to get a plate of food from her beautiful container.
Last year, Breadline Africa was the first NPO to be featured on Idea Bounty. We had an influx of amazing and creative ideas outlining various ways of raising funds online and Shaun Dunne emerged as the clear winner. This year we are proud to launch this winning idea. Shaun has created the web application using the Twitter API for this competition and the premise is pretty simple:
1. Ten people will sign up (these 10 people will be chosen from the Breadline Africa followers on Twitter and a DM will be sent to them)
2. Once the chosen ten have signed up, they will receive an email to let them know the competition has started, they have 48 hours to raise as much funds as possible and they need to get their followers to donate in their name so they can win the coveted prize. The email will also include their unique link.
3. These ten tweet their link – or direct people to the site.
4. People have 48 hours to donate and get their followers to donate.
5. The winner is the one with the most donations in his/her name.
What we loved about this idea is that it’s an original one, we like the limited time component and the fact that only ten people are chosen and that they need to urge their followers to donate, help Breadline Africa raise funds and help them win the prize.
So follow us on Twitter and you just might get chosen…
The Melodi Music Trust was founded by Nimrod Moloto in April 2002 and aims to ensure that whistling is not the only musical opportunity that South African children from previously disadvantaged communities have. By teaching children how to read and perform music, it brings joy into their lives.
Breadline Africa is a proud sponsor of the Melodi Music Trust as the Trust is a NPO that relies entirely on donations and sponsorships. The Trust’s holistic music programme has been welcomed by learners, teachers and strongly supported by the principals of the schools that Melodi is involved with. The Trust has a waiting list of principals that have asked for Melodi’s music programme to be brought to their schools.
This year the Trust will be travelling Europe. Check out the full programme here. For those that are lucky enough to be residing in Europe, please go, listen and support! It will be an incredible experience for you.
Sun, sand, waves, djs, jumping castle, toys, presents, yummy snacks and lots and lots of excited, laughing, and energetic kids. Yes, I am talking about the Breadline Africa’s annual seaside party for the children from the poor communities that Breadline Africa supports. If it was not for our annual beach party, these underprivileged kids would not have the opportunity to build sand castles, meet Father Christmas, jump in the ocean and receive a Christmas gift.
Thanks to your generous donations, these children frolicked in the sun, enjoyed a delicious lunch and were spoilt with presents. Thanks to you they were given an opportunity to spend one day with worrying about being hungry, about worries at home or about not being noticed or loved. All of you, our amazing donors, made the difference in these children’s lives.
Wanting to give a Christmas Card with a difference this year?
Breadline Africa is delighted to announce that we have just gone live with our fabulous eCards. Now you can donate in the name of your loved one with one of these cards. A donation of 10 pounds can aid a community in Southern Africa and give hope to those that have never been given a chance. Surprise your family, friends, and colleagues…thanks to you and your donation, the poor children that Breadline Africa supports will have a meal for Christmas this year.
So what are you waiting for? Check out these beautiful images, click on the one you like best and donate! It’s that simple to spoil your loved one and help someone in need.
Our Cans4Skills project never ceases to amaze me. It is progressing so well with two excellent facilitators who teach young men and women skills that will help them derive an income.
Whenever I visit this project to see how the students are doing I am drawn to their enthusiasm. Especially the women. They are so excited to make their mark in a traditional ‘man’s world’ by acquiring skills such as plumbing and bricklaying. They are very proud of the fact that they can fix a leaking tap or a toilet, and that they understand the operations of a water geyser and a shower.
Thanks to all the support that we have received from our donors who have made it possible for this project to continue in such a marvelous manner.
Fundraising, Online Giving | Marianna Boguslavsky February 25, 2010 | 
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