Mandela Day: Help provide hope to the unhoused by donating essential items to The Hope Exchange

CapeTalk and 702's Africa Melane speaks to Marie Slundt, Marketing and Fundraising Executive from The Hope Exchange.

Listen below:

As Mandela Day approaches on Friday, 18 July, many organisations are getting involved to make a difference in 67 minutes.

The Hope Exchange invites you to help them continue vital work beyond Mandela Day in transforming the lives of those experiencing homelessness.

The organisation assists the unhoused with basic needs like ablution facilities and toiletries while providing a haven in the form of social skills and shelter for those transitioning to employment and independence.

You can help by donating essential items such as:

• toiletries
• cleaning products
• non-perishable food

"It's some of the essentials we need all the time, it's quite a big thing on our budget that is very limited, so we appreciate any help we can get," Slundt explains.

Drop-offs are welcome on Mandela Day or any weekday at their headquarters: 14A Roeland St, District Six, Cape Town.

"Our cause is to assist people experiencing homelessness. We try to provide them with dignity and opportunities for positive change in their lives with the aim of getting them to an independent livelihood off the street," she says.

"Homelessness is a difficult topic... it can also be misunderstood... we all come with our own story. We've had clients who've been on the streets for years, and those who have had bad turns and ended up on the streets a few months back. Our social care team will engage and figure out the best steps for that individual..."

- Marie Slundt, Marketing and Fundraising Executive - The Hope Exchange

"Every weekday, we have a service centre where people can come engage with our social care team that includes ablution facilities, and we engage with them throughout the day, providing life skill sessions... It's a very holistic approach, so it's figuring out exactly what the individual needs to make those positive changes."

- Marie Slundt, Marketing and Fundraising Executive - The Hope Exchange

"We're also a second-phase shelter, which means people who are homeless have found employment, but they still need support to become fully independent, and we help them with that..." 

- Marie Slundt, Marketing and Fundraising Executive - The Hope Exchange

Stay involved beyond Mandela Day:

For R67 a month – equivalent to Mandela Day’s 67 minutes – you can support a client’s daily ablution visit. Or make a once-off donation to the banking details below:

• The Carpenter's Shop
• Nedbank, Gardens Centre
• Branch Code: 101-009
• Account No: 1010076043
• Swift Code: NEDSZJJ
• Reference: M25 + your name

For more information or to visit the service centre, contact: marie@thehopeexchange.org.

Scroll up to the audio player to listen to the full conversation.