East London Charity Event to Support Local Children's Home

A fundraising gala is being held at the East London Golf Club on November 13 to support Guardians of Hope, a child and youth care centre in East London. The event aims to raise vital funds for the centre, which accommodates up to 30 abandoned or vulnerable children from birth to age four. The centre provides a safe and loving home, food, shelter, and round-the-clock care, as well as medical, emotional, and developmental support.

Sonnette Stander, a KuGompo City resident, is set to climb Mount Kilimanjaro in December to raise funds for Guardians of Hope. The centre has faced financial distress, leading to staff cutbacks, and is receiving up to 15 placement calls daily. Stander's climb is an effort to support the centre, which works with social services to reunite children with their families or assists with foster care and adoption processes.

The gala will feature guest speakers Laura Wagner-Meyer and Louis Carstens, who will share stories of personal resilience. Wagner-Meyer will share her experience of being given just 48 hours to live, while Carstens will speak about his ambition to conquer seven of the world's highest peaks. The event promises an evening of inspiring stories, good food, and socializing.

Guardians of Hope was established in 2017 and provides specialized care for children who require medical attention or palliative care. The centre's founder, Elaine Brenkman, said the idea for the gala grew out of Stander's wish to share her Kilimanjaro challenge and encourage others to support the home. The event aims to bring the community together to make a difference in the lives of children.

The financial crisis faced by Guardians of Hope earlier this year forced the organisation to reduce its workforce and consider cutting the number of children it could accommodate. The centre's growing demand for services makes fundraising initiatives like Stander's Kilimanjaro climb crucial. The gala is an opportunity for supporters to come together and make a difference.

The Guardians of Hope Black Tie Gala will take place in the Albatross Room at East London Golf Club on November 13 at 7pm. Tickets cost R500 and are available through Quicket. A cash bar will be available, and the event is open to adults aged 18 and older. Organisers hope the speakers' stories will encourage guests to think about the challenges they face and the difference they can make.

For Stander, Kilimanjaro may be the mountain waiting to be conquered, but for the children at Guardians of Hope, the support generated by her adventure could make a difference much closer to home. The event is a chance for the community to come together and support a worthy cause, and Stander's climb is a testament to her determination to make a difference in the lives of vulnerable children.

Key points

• The gala aims to raise vital funds for Guardians of Hope, a local child and youth care centre that accommodates up to 30 abandoned or vulnerable children.
• Sonnette Stander is set to climb Mount Kilimanjaro in December to raise funds for the centre.
• The event features guest speakers Laura Wagner-Meyer and Louis Carstens, who will share stories of personal resilience.