Doing our part to give back to our community is a value that the Good Food & Wine Show holds closely to its heart. So each year our organization holds the Table of Peace & Unity, a series of fundraising events across the country, that set out to make a difference in the lives of the most vulnerable members of our extended family – the children of South Africa.
The Table of Peace & Unity – What is it all about?
Ten years ago, one person had an extraordinary vision of pulling together the diverse communities of South Africa through the medium of a meal. Today, this vision has grown to be one of South Africa’s foremost charitable functions. This grand gourmet meal prepared by world class chefs – accompanied by the cream of South African entertainers, celebrities, religious and community leaders – draws thousands of concerned and committed South Africans from all walks of life, who sit down in numerous significant corners of our country, to celebrate our togetherness, and most importantly, pool our energy for a future of peace and unity. The enormous goodwill and generosity of patrons has to date raised more than R8-million for children’s organisations across the country.
A Grand Success: The 2011 Cape Table of Peace & Unity Raised More Than R230 000
The Cape Town event occurred on 09 May – Mother’s Day. A great success, tickets were priced between R350 and R450, helping the event to raise nearly a quarter-million rand for children’s charities. To raise even more funds, part of the day’s programme included the auction of donated items including luxury getaways to Bushman’s Kloof and the Twelve Apostles Hotel & Spa, as well as Alison Thistlethwaite’s painting ‘Bursting Out’ (one of 40 paintings recently displayed in a dazzling exhibition in the 14th Century nave of York Minister, one of the UK’s premier cathedrals). The menu was prepared by the region’s top chefs and paired with the finest organic Lazanou wines:
Starter (Peter Tempelhoff of The Cellars-Hohenhort): Mosaic of free range chicken and wild mushroom with spiced pear chutney, hazelnut and truffle dressing
Main course (Roberto De-Carvalho of One &Only and Morne Botha of Blues): Braised beef with cauliflower puree, warm lentil salad and potato spinach dauphinoise
Dessert (Granger Bay Hotel School): Duo of lemon cheesecake and chocolate mousse, with orange reduction and strawberry caviar
The event also featured a line up of some of the best entertainment in the country – from the Parlotones, DannyK and Alvin Collison (who created a unique-Cape Town vibe), and Vicky Sampson to Yolanda Yawa, the Amy Biehl Choir, K-FM’s Charmaine Noy and Larry Soffer – who each lifted their voices in the spirit of unity under the Downings Marquee. and created a feeling that each one of us present have the power to make a positive change in the lives of others.
Book your place at the next event
Whether you’re single, a couple or a corporate team; sitting alongside other South Africans at an event of this nature has the power to change thinking. It is a wonderful five-star event, where breaking bread together becomes the catalyst for action – for making change happen, not merely talking about it. For to have touched a child’s life, to know that even one life has breathed easier because of you, is to know that you have lived. The intention behind the Table of Peace & Unity is one to be remembered by everyone, and forgotten by none. In particular, the damaged, scarred and frightened children whose lives are forever altered by your action. As one person, you can make a difference. Never think you can’t. Look out for the next event. Book your seats. Bring your friends. Bring your family. Bring the office. It’s a life-altering event. You’ll see why.
Who Benefits?
100% of the funds raised at the Table of Peace & Unity are donated to charity. The 2011 Cape Event supported the following organisations:
Bobbi Bear: A non-threatening means for child victims of sexual abuse to communicate the nature of the abuse, crossing all language barriers. It provides the criminal justice system and caregiver with a better understanding of actual events and enables the initiation of appropriate HIV and AIDS interventions. Click here for more information or here to make a donation.
Copes Clinic SA: This clinic is an initiative of Isililo. Isililo was founded by mothers who are high profile entertainers, as a result of the need to cry out against the abuse of children. This clinic is an outreach programme for abused children. Click here for more information or email info@copessa.za.org to make a donation.
City’s Angels: City’s Angels is about recognising individuals who, despite their own difficulties in life, are doing phenomenal work by caring for the vulnerable children in their community.
Desmond Tutu HIV Foundation: The goal of this organisation is to decrease the rates of HIV infection by providing a safe and supportive places for adolescents that incorporate education/training, recreation and reproductive health clinics. Click here for more information or email info@hiv-research.org.za to make a donation.
Tygerberg Children’s Hospital: The mission of the hospital is to provide the best possible care to newborns and children and to promote health and the rights of children through advocacy, appropriate medical care, teaching and research.
Door of Hope: This organisation aims to save lives by rescuing and receiving abandoned, aborted, abused or orphaned babies and children, and by providing a loving home whilst seeking a forever family or long-term foster care. Click here for more information or email operationsmanager@doorofhope.co.za to make a donation.
Other organisations we support
Over the years, we have supported many deserving causes, including:
First Community Resource Centre: Aims to teach our youth important skills that will empower them to mange themselves without having to revert to the usual paths of gangsterism or drug abuse. Click here to read more or email info@firstcomresourcecentre.co.za to make a donation.
Haven of Strength: Recognises that many learners go to school hungry, suffer from diminished energy and attention levels and sometimes become problematic for teachers. To combat this, they have implemented a Breakfast Feeding Scheme which serves 450 students – more can be served with your help. Click here to read more or email havenofstrength@safrica.com to make a donation.
Little Angels Educare: Runs several projects in the Cape Town region, including day care centres, soup kitchens, feeding schemes and a home for the aged and physically challenged. Click here to read more or email info@littleangels.org.za to make a donation.
Nceduluntu Sanctuary Trust: Non-profit organization to help promote awareness and support to the Mama Lumka homes for abandoned, abused and neglected children. Click here to read more or email mamalumka@telkomsa.net to make a donation.
Philisa Abufazi Bethu: an organization committed to serving the needs of women and children in the Lavender Hill area of Cape Town. Click here to read more or email lucinda@philisaabafazi.org to make a donation.
Strandfontein Training Centre: A non-profit orginization with the aim to develop strong communities based on God’s principles through the training and development of its biggest resource, i.e. people. Click here to read more.
Fanang Diatla Isithembiso: An orphaned and vulnerable children’s initiative with the aim to provide a holistic package of services to orphaned and vulnerable children in residential care. The services include training caregivers on the management of the center, renovating and upgrading the infrastructure and help to prepare older children for independent living.
Red Cross Children’s Hospital: The Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital is the only stand alone, specialist children’s hospital dedicated entirely to children in southern Africa and is dedicated to delivering word-class paediatric treatment, care, research and specialist training. Click here to read more or email cht@chtrust.org.za to make a donation.
