The Cape Town International Convention Centre celebrated its birthday by helping those who help others.
And as part of its 12th birthday celebrations, the centre has donated R12000 to each one of 12 NGOs providing services and support to the elderly and the youth in Cape Town and surrounding areas.
According to Julie-May Ellingson, CEO of CTICC, this was a fitting way to celebrate a milestone for an organisation that has grown from 27 staff members in 2003 to 151 permanent employees this year.
The 12 NGOs are: Abalimi Bezekhaya (Philippi), Beautiful Gates and Family Centre (Crossroads), Covenant Women, Inc (Mitchells Plain), Foundation for Alcohol Related Research (Rondebosch), Haven Night Shelter (Cape Town), Home of Hope (Table View), iKhaya leThemba (Khayelitsha), Lions Club (De Grendel), Mitchells Plain School of Skills (Mitchells Plain), Mother’s Unite (Lavender Hill), Red Cross Children’s Hospital (Mowbray) and Zip Zap Circus (Cape Town).
The CTICC had an already existing relationships with six of the organisations, while the rest were identified by staff members.
“Each of the organisations identified share the values that we are guided by; passion, integrity, innovation and excellence.
Over the past 12 years, the CTICC has injected more than R25 billion into the national Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and more that R22 billion of that was contributed directly to the Western Cape economy,” she said.
She said that over the years, the centre has continued to host successful events, thanks to the support of the locals.
Tino Tadokeka, fundraising manager for Beautiful Gates, said that they were very happy with the relationship they had made with the CTICC over the years.
“They have been of great help to us as they have assisted in various projects that afforded our children with items such as stationery, bags and food. They are continuing to make a difference for the better,” he said.
Tadokeka said that the donation will go a long way. “More than 4000 children benefit from our programmes,” he said.
Christina Kaba from Abalimi Bezekhaya said that the donation will help many start up their farming enterprises.
She said that they will use the money to buy manure for the farming enterprises of residents in the townships.
“We help residents to start food gardens so that they can sell their vegetables. Many of them don’t have the money to buy fertilizers and we often help them but it is quite expensive so this will help us with that,” she said
