CPR members raise R20 000 for education!

Tourism businesses on the Cape Point Route collectively raised more than R20 000 to fund a child’s education at a function held on 1 Dec 2010. The Barocca Lounge at Rioja Restaurant felt like a Dutch World Cup soccer party on Weds 1st Dec. Tourism businesses and suppliers dressed in bright orange gathered for the annual launch of the Cape Point Route guide to the south peninsula and a fundraiser for the Empowerment Through Education Trust.

The 2011 Guide to the Cape Point Route hits the shelves and brochure stands around Cape Town this week for the start of the summer tourism season. The brochure is a tangible finale of the tourism offerings run by the region’s destination marketing organisation Cape Point Route. The energy and colour reflected the passion of tourism business owners in the south peninsula.

Guests were greeted by fantastic performances by talented local artists who are integral participants in the eMzantsi Carnival on Sat 4th Dec 2010. Ricardo Herdien led the team at the CPR launch with gospel singing, followed by harmony singers Van Die Blokke from Ocean View and whose looks do not match their angelic voices! Then we were blown away by 15 year Shannon Docherty from Fish Hoek whose voice is not reflective of her age! The 783 Movement is a collaboration as part of the eMzantsi Intercultural music project with a fusion of musical genres. The eMzantsi performance ended with a bang as the Marhoshi Gumboot dancers stomped their attention on the tourism guests.

During the performances Boulders Beach Lodge and Southern Right hotel arrived in orange printed t-shirts and 100 orange balloons which were filled with booby prizes or breakfast vouchers. They charged R5 a pop and it was luck of the draw as the team raised an additional R500 for the education fund!

Barbara Elshove-Schmidt welcomed guests and thanked Lemonade Design for their creative work to design the information guide, printers Trident Press and photographer Jacques Marais to took the cover photo as well as Brochure Management and False Bay Couriers who distribute the guide. Thanks also went to the web team Siteworx and Tourism Marketing for their work on the Cape Point Route website which supports the printed brochure in promoting the south peninsula as a tourism destination. Sally Grierson of Cape Point Route explained the initiative of the evening which took the form of a silent auction, where guests bid for sponsored items to raise money for the Empowerment for Education Trust. Herbie Eichel represented the trust and explained more about the programme which provides quality education for children from Masiphumelele and Ocean View as the children from Masakhane and Green Curtains crèche attend “big” school!

The bidding started in earnest with guests trying to outbid their unknown competitors for prizes from wine and meal vouchers to experiences, massages and weekend getaways to raise money for a child’s education. Wine sponsored by Cape Point Vineyards and Spier wine estate and canapés from Rioja were enjoyed as the bidding continued and the final tally of funds is currently R20 500!!!! The cost of educating one child for a year is R15 000 and the target was reached comfortably.

As Barbara said, “The Cape Point Route ambassadors and tourism business owners have showed their community spirit by coming together to support an initiative that will build the future of our region by educating children to become leaders”. Sally was delighted with the financial success of the auction and the alliances and relationships that continue to grow and develop amongst tourism members and suppliers in the south peninsula!

IMAGES:
1. The Cape Point Route Team - Shayne, Barbara, Sally, Natasha
2. Team Southern Right and Boulders Beach Lodge
3. Barbara and Lambert van Rijswijk from Lemonade Design who designed the brochure
4. Lizanne and Tracy from Cape Point Vineyards - wine sponsors for the evening.
5. Barbara from Cape Point Route watching the Marhosi Gumboot dancers