Cape Town - Aid organisation Gift of the Givers, which began with a group of seven volunteers in 1992, has grown to become internationally instrumental in providing global assistance this year, says its founder, Imtiaz Sooliman.
He was approached on Tuesday about what 2014 had been like for the organisation, which now has 150 volunteers
“It has been a fantastic year for us, one of the busiest,” Sooliman said.
The organisation’s latest project was to help 200 people displaced by a shack fire in Slovoville informal settlement in Coronationville.
“People were packed and ready to got to rural areas when the fire broke out. They have lost everything. So we are helping them with Christmas supplies, clothing, food, toys and hygiene packs for about 200 families,” he said.
Other successes this year included the continuation of their Jumpstart programme, aimed at empowering youths in Grade 11 to become entrepreneurs.
“Those with the best business ideas, we give them the opportunity to get business support, their own business logo, brand identity, banner to market their business, and their own website,” Sooliman said.
“We’ve helped more than 400 kids the last three years, and over 80 this year. It is a fantastic programme.”
He said the organisation’s bursary fund for university students was also a success.
”We are spending up to four or 5 million (rand) a year, but there are still hundreds of students we can’t help,” he said.
He spoke of relief projects in Syria, Somalia, Yemen, Malawi, Kenya and Gaza, where they created boreholes and hospitals, and supplied materials and support in times of civil unrest and need.
“We are growing bigger and bigger, and our success is getting bigger and bigger. We are fully equipped for any emergency, we can set up a hospital in any situation,” he said.
He described as a “tragedy” the killing of South African teacher Pierre Korkie, 57, who was seized along with his wife Yolande in May last year in Yemen’s second city of Taiz by members of al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula.
Yolande was released in January following mediation by Gift of the Givers. Pierre had been only hours away from being released when he was killed when US troops launched an operation to free an American captive held by the same terrorists.
Pierre and the US captive, photojournalist Luke Somers, were killed on December 6 by the terrorists during the failed rescue mission.
“We managed to get Yolande out and Pierre was on his way out,” Sooliman said.
Sooliman said Gift of the Givers had spent about R150 million this year, funded by local donors.
“Everyone has come on board. The majority of our funding comes from ordinary South Africans. I want to thank them for showing us the spirit of ubuntu. And those who stood by us – the public, media, government, our volunteers, the well-wishers – through their prayers and thoughts and generous support.
Cape Times