As the temperatures drop and with winter on our doorstep, U-Turn Ministries is calling on individuals, families, churches, schools, businesses, and community leaders to spend just one night sleeping outdoors.
Their A Night on the Streets campaign seeks to raise awareness of the conditions homeless people find themselves in but is also aimed at raising R1 million. The campaign calls on South Africans to spend one night sleeping outdoors — in your garden, on your balcony, or at a group event, on Saturday May 17.
U-Turn will be hosting an exclusive in-person experience for just 30 people at BMW on Claremont Main Road, where you’ll hear powerful stories and connect directly with the cause. Tickets for this event are R10 000 each, with all proceeds going to U-Turn’s safe space accommodation that keeps people off the street at night. While a virtual ticket costs just R100.
U-turn CEO Jean-Ray Knighton Fitt will be taking part in the A Night on the Streets campaign.
Image: supplied
U-Turn board members Anthony Buratovich, Jean-Ray Knighton Fitt, Mphele Tau, and Mike Kane will be taking part.
“By going through even a small part of what people experiencing homelessness face every night, we hope to spark greater empathy, deeper understanding, and real action. By giving up the comfort of your bed for one night, you’ll be helping someone else take the first step toward lasting change,” said U-Turn CEO Jean-Ray Knighton Fitt.
U-Turn communication manager Stephen Underwood said with over 30 000 people homeless in Cape Town and Johannesburg metros combined, their goal is to engage hearts and minds, dismantle common misconceptions and remind South Africans that homelessness is seldom a choice. Rather, it’s often the result of circumstances like trauma, addiction, poverty or systemic failure.
" U-turn helps hundreds of people transition from life on the streets to stability and employment through its innovative rehabilitation programme — which includes the provision of basic needs, substance abuse recovery, life-skills training, work readiness and long-term reintegration. Funds raised through the sleep-out will go directly toward these services," he said.
Last year, U-Turn raised just over R800 000 and used the funds to deliver 28 000 services, provide 14 000 hot meals, collect 1 000 blankets, provided more than 6 000 nights off the street and 6 800 hot showers.
"This year we launched the campaign on Wednesday April 2 and so far we have raised just less than R400 000 - we are hoping to raise R1 million by May 17 (or end of May if some donations trickle in late)," said Mr Underwood.
Participants can sign up individually or as part of a group, with schools, churches and companies all encouraged to host their own sleep-outs and share the message of hope.
To join the movement or find out more, visit www.homeless.org.za/night-out or contact Stephen Underwood at stephen@homeless.org.za