MyPE

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I Admit I am Only Publishing This Because …..

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Earlier this week I was called out as being a Twitter Spammer and ‘not active’ and then, as part of my ‘not active’ function on Twitter I read a plea from Ramon Thomas (see Tweet below) to please use some of MyPE’s influence to help a project called the SmilingOne out to raise a bit of cash.

Reading the SmilingOne’s Tweets I was not quite apprised of what the cash was needed for so asked for more detail, hence this introductory missive from Karina Andersen, the Founder of The SmilingOne Foundation:

“SOS – Today we have 9 days to raise a minimum of R150,000. It is really urgent as I have paid most of the SmilingOne projects out of my own pocket (bridged funding) and now my coffers are empty! So many people rely on our programmes. Need URGENT donations to keep us going for the next couple of months (until one of our big long-term funding proposals come through). Can you help?”

Essentially the SmilingOne People and Community Building Programmes are geared to make positive impact on the lives of the downtrodden and misunderstood people who have lost the ability to become forces for good. The SmilingOne Foundation, established in January 2008 has been working extensively in South African Prisons, Townships and throughout the Western Cape.

The SmilingOne Team of Guides (Responsibility CoachesTM) inspire change and responsible living by availing themselves as Students and Explorers of Life and inviting their programme participants to explore/learn alongside them… unlocking potential! (Okay, I admit that sentence is a bit ‘Cape Town’ but, what the hey if it works it works!)

The SmilingOne community initiative took place in Brandvlei Maximum Prison during January 2008 has grown to 7 prisons, 120 inmate graduates, 22 inmate coach students and several hundred inmates active in the process. The SmilingOne Foundation has now been given special access to all 42 prisons in the Western Cape and is being broadcast twice a week via Basic Radio reaching 2,000 inmates.

This programme has expanded beyond the prison walls and since beginning of 2010 the foundation has begun to assist with re-integration, youth and community development with up to 100 youth and young adults in their personal taking part in the programme calle ‘The Responsible Individual’.

If you would like to find out more mosy on over the SmilingOne Foundation website or Facebook page. You can also contact Karina Andersen at karina@smilingone.com or 083 235 6555 or on Twitter – Karina Anderson.

Ramon’s Public Service Tweet:

[blackbirdpie url=”https://twitter.com/#!/ramonthomas/status/93950763717505024″]

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Alan Straton

Chief Cook, Bottle Washer and Broom Mechanic at MyPE
Passionate about Port Elizabeth and definitely NOT packing for Perth. Alan's ethos is epitomised in the words of Nelson Mandela; "I have fought against white domination and I have fought against black domination. I have cherished the idea of a democratic and free society. If need be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die." See more articles by Alan.