It’s almost time for the CEO SleepOut

CEO SleepOut: CEO ambassadors Yusuf Abramjee and Karen Landi, join Headmistress of kingsmead, Lisa Kaplan and pupils Shane Bassin, Franck Leya and Victoria Arthur at the Mandela Day preparations for the Sympathy SleepOut. Picture: Samantha Hartshorne

CEO SleepOut: CEO ambassadors Yusuf Abramjee and Karen Landi, join Headmistress of kingsmead, Lisa Kaplan and pupils Shane Bassin, Franck Leya and Victoria Arthur at the Mandela Day preparations for the Sympathy SleepOut. Picture: Samantha Hartshorne

Published Jul 26, 2016

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Johannesburg - The 2016 Sun International CEO SleepOut (on July 28) is an invitation for business leaders to raise money for the education of young South Africans, but the youth are as motivated as their adult contemporaries.

July 18, Mandela Day 2016, saw pupils from six schools participate in a readiness exercise for the School Sympathy SleepOut by creating make-shift sleeping bags from recycled newspapers.

CEOs from around the country will take part in this year’s SleepOut on Nelson Mandela Bridge on Thursday to raise funds for three education-focused organisations.

Schools were also invited to show their support by doing the same, and Kingsmead College announced that they would be hosting a joint event at the school on Thursday, supported by Liberty.

The financial services group is providing logistical support on the night in the form of medical standby facilities, catering and items that make up a “SleepOut kit”.

Everything lent to the pupils and teachers sleeping out on the grounds of Kingsmead on the night will be donated after the event to a beneficiary that supports homeless South Africans.

The Kingsmead scholars are collecting sandwiches and launching a reading room for Fight with Insight, a boxing centre for youths in the Joburg inner city.

Reddam Bedfordview’s pupils have pledged to collect items for Mother Teresa in Yeoville, St Vincent School for the Deaf and for Chaylil, an informal settlement in Jackson’s Drift. Redhill High School will be joining them.

“The School SleepOut has two aims: to encourage pupils to develop empathy for the thousands of homeless and vulnerable South Africans, and to make a tangible difference to those in need by collecting much-needed items,” said Dhiren Sivjattan, chief operating officer for Liberty’s value added services.

He challenged other schools to sign up at www.theceosleepoutza.co.za .

South Africa’s official marketing arm, Brand South Africa, will also be playing their part by collecting books for underprivileged communities during the SleepOut on Nelson Mandela Bridge.

Brand South Africa has requested that participants each bring along two books and place them in the Library of Hope structure that will be erected on the bridge.

Brand South Africa chief executive Kingsley Makhubela said a “Library of Hope” would be set up to receive book donations.

“We are hoping to collect more than 1 000 books during the evening of July 28. We will then distribute the books to disadvantaged schools,” he said. In return for bringing books, each CEO will get a piece of a puzzle on which they will write a pledge showing their commitment to play their part, and when all the CEOs have placed their pieces of the puzzle, the pieces will make up the South African flag.

Brand SA will allow participants to earn virtual money through activities on the night, enabling them to purchase items for the evening - soup, coffee, sleeping bags and blankets. About 1 000 homeless people will benefit from the campaign.

 

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