Our Community
Looking to get involved in the community?
The easiest way to assist is normally through a cash donation. If you prefer a more "hands-on" approach, why not join a Cape Union Mart team on our next Habitat for Humanity build?
Keen? Make contact to find out more...
What can I do?
In 2007, Cape Union Mart donated in excess of a half million rand to 14 charities. These charities range from the Cape Town Holocaust Museum, to the Red Cross Children's Trust, to Habitat for Humanity.
Cape Union Mart is committed to giving back to the community. We owe our ability to do so to you, the customer. It is only through your support that we were able to assist these fine charities.
Read on for a list of some of the organistions Cape Union Mart has assisted in 2007.
Useful Links
CAPE UNION MART AND WILD FRONTIERS PORTERS DONATION
Wild Frontiers’ staff member, Linda Willemse, recently led an expedition up Mt Kilimanjaro to do the first ever sanctioned paragliding flights from Africa’s highest mountain. This team of 14 members hiked up the Rongai route (from the North). The whole team summitted on 16 September , and 4 persons safely launched Paragliders off Kilimanjaro. The paragliding flight down was about 90 minutes – quite a nice way to descend from the Roof of Africa!!!
Wild Frontiers prides itself in “making it happen“ in Africa, and this amazing feat proves that we are, again, making wild frontiers!!
This team took top quality K-way mountain gear donated by Cape Union Mart to the Kilimanjaro Porters Assistance Project – Wild Frontiers being the only SA official partner of KPAP. The mountain gear was flown up from South Africa courtesy of Precision Air on their new service between Johannesburg and Kilimanjaro. The equipment was officially handed over to Lucy Ndesa and Edita Mboya of Keys Hotel, in Moshi and Karen Valenti of the KPAP ( www.kiliporters.org ) this is one of a many ways that Cape Union Mart in close partnership with Wild Frontiers, is working to better the working conditions for porters on Mt Kilimanjaro.
HONOURARY RANGERS
Cape Union Mart is proud to have supported the Honorary Ranger Association with outdoor gear, including 35 litre backpacks, water bottles, a tent and a few trekking poles. Cape Union Mart hopes that this small donation goes a long way in assisting a very noble organisation.
THE BELIEVE PROJECT
Marc and Craig Bainbridge are brothers. Craig, the younger of the two, has stage 4 cancer. Marc has taken it upon himself to cycle from Nelspruit to Cape Town in support of his brother, and to kick start the Believe Project.
Marc’s journey is not one of hotel rooms and restaurant breakfasts; he’s planning on slumming it from start to finish. This means Marc is in for a copious amount of camping (when he can’t use charm and wit to wangle free lodging for a night). That’s where Cape Union Mart comes in. Marc will be taking a selection of K-Way gear to help him in his quest, including a tent, hydration pack, sleeping bag, cooking utensils and technical clothing. Hopefully, this will make his life a little easier.
Cape Union Mart is proud to support Marc on his adventure, and wishes him the best of luck for what is an incredibly worthwhile cause.
EDUCO AFRICA
Educo Africa is a non-profit organisation that aims to raise the quality of life of people and communities in South Africa through the vehicle of outdoor education and development. Educo Africa focuses on youth at risk or in need.
Educo is represented on five continents, and Educo Africa was established in 1994. Cape Union Mart is a proud supporter of Educo Africa.
SA AIR MERCY SERVICES
The South African Air Mercy Services (AMS) is responsible for air ambulance services, and provides an integral role in community outreach by allowing geographically removed, impoverished communities access to trained health professionals.
AMS specialises in providing medical relief under extraordinary circumstances, and in locations that cannot be accessed by traditional rescue services. When you break your leg halfway down a mountain, 60 kms from nowhere, you'll thank your lucky stars for the AMS.
Cape Union Mart thought it appropriate to sponsor the AMS with gear suited to their occupation - strong, durable and technical. We hope that the K-Way shell jackets, waterproof trousers, hiking backpacks and beanies provide the Cape Town branch of the AMS with ample foul-weather protection!
RED CROSS CHILDREN'S TRUST
The Red Cross Children's Hospital is at the cutting edge of paediatric health care in Africa. We want to make sure that they stay there, which is why Cape Union Mart made donations aimed at helping them construct a new children's ward.
CAPE TOWN HOLOCAUST CENTRE
The Cape Town Holocaust Centre, situated in Hatfield Street, serves as a memorial to the injustices suffered by the Jewish Community during World War II. It is dedicated towards creating a more just and caring society in which human rights are respected and valued.
Cape Union Mart is proud to be associated with this noble cause.
HABITAT FOR HUMANITY
Habitat for Humanity South Africa works with communities that invite us to partner with them to help address their housing needs. A process of mutual evaluation determines whether a partnership is viable.
Habitat considers such factors as the level of need for housing in the community, support of local leadership and community stability. A build will traditionally compose of members of the Habitat team and local community, working together towards the common goal of creating housing.
Cape Union Mart considers Habitat South Africa an extremely worthy cause, and is proud to be involved.
IKAMVA LABANTU
In the late 1960's at the height of South African Apartheid, Helen Lieberman and other community social activists responded to the unjust conditions by setting up survival initiatives in the Western Cape.
In 1992, Ikamva Labantu (The Future of our Nation) was launched as a non-governmental and non-profit organisation.
Ikamva Labantu works with and assists affiliated Community Based Organisations serving various sections of the population: children, youth, adults, families, seniors and the disabled. These programmes interlink to ensure that critical needs of the communities served are comprehensively and effectively met.
Cape Union Mart is proud to be an ally of Ikamva Labantu.
