The Minister of Women in the Presidency, Susan Shabangu, invited The Philanthropic Collection to move the date of The SheEO SleepOut™ Event to Tuesday 8 August 2017, the eve of Women’s Day in South Africa.
Her invite was supported by Adv. Thuli Madonsela, Yusuf Abramjee, and Professor Justice Yvonne Mokgoro as well as CNBC Africa.
In 2017, The CEO SleepOut™, showcased by The Philanthropic Collection, is empowering an exciting Special Chapter; The SheEO SleepOut™.
This year, we’re calling on female business leaders to Rise To The Challenge, and spend a night sleeping outdoors at The Union Buildings. The objective of the Project this year is to create awareness, encourage participation and galvanize the nation to support and empower vulnerable communities.
We will also raise funds for Door of Hope, an NGO that works tirelessly to care for abandoned babies. The Event chose to focus on women this year, to offer a platform for current female business leaders, and future female business leaders, to come together for change.
“I support the SheEO SleepOut™. I am also excited to see female business leaders in South Africa and influencers come together to discuss solutions for change. In light of the recent violence against women in the country, I believe this Event is even more important at the moment,” Minister Shabangu said, before inviting The SheEO SleepOut™ to move the date of the event to August.
In a series of tweets she said, “In light of the attacks on women, it’s important to get female leaders together at The SheEO SleepOut™. Why not during Women’s Month? I would like to invite you to change the date of your Event to 8 August, the eve of Women’s Day. I will host you at the Union Buildings. I believe this is an apt date for the Event.”
She also highlighted the fact that Women’s Day is a tribute to the more than 20 000 women who marched on 9 August 1956, to the Union Buildings, the venue for this year’s The SheEO SleepOut™.
The Philanthropic Collection – the social enterprise that showcases the Event – has accepted the invitation and the SheEO SleepOut™ will now be held on Tuesday 8 August 2017.
“The Women’s March happened 61 years ago this year – and it is fitting that there are now 61 days to go to the new Event date!” says Pioneering Philanthropist and founder of The Philanthropic Collection, Ali Gregg.
“The attacks on women in South Africa that have been highlighted recently have shown us that the SheEO SleepOut™ is more important than ever. While abuse of women is a problem for both men and women, this Event can become a space for women influencers to discuss change for their sisters, mothers and daughters” says Gregg.
“It also emphasises why the work of our Primary Beneficiary, Door of Hope, is so necessary.”
“Their mission is to care for babies who have been abandoned, which is very often a result of crisis pregnancies and domestic violence. “The challenge is we often do not know the reasons behind abandonment. What we do seem sure of is that men abandon the women before women abandon their children. Often these women are also abandoned by their family, and are left with no support,” says Luke Lamprecht, CEO SleepOut™ Beneficiary Consultant and Child Protection Specialist.
The decision to move the date of the Event has been supported by The SheEO SleepOut™ Brand Ambassadors, Adv. Thuli Madonsela and Professor Justice Yvonne Mokgoro.
“The timing of the Event is excellent,” said Ms Madonsela, referencing the recent attacks on women, “Often we think government needs to solve all the problems… but we all need to play a role. And when it comes to issues of troubled families and communities, we are closer as community members to these problems, and we can do something…”
Professor Justice Yvonne Mokgoro supports the Event because, “The stats will show you that there are not nearly enough women business leaders doing and playing the role they should be in South Africa, despite all the equality we have guaranteed in the constitution, and I think we are missing out on the capacity women have to be change agents.”
The date change has also been supported by the Event’s valued media partners, CNBC Africa and SABC, who will remain dedicated to spreading the message of change.
“The collaboration with the SheEO SleepOut™ was a natural fit for CNBC Africa as both brands share the same vision, not only from the philanthropic stance that the cause represents but also the future, empowerment and acknowledgement of women in business in South Africa and the rest of the continent,” says Roberta Naicker, Managing Director for ABN group.
“We are excited to partner with The SheEO SleepOut™, and call on the country’s current and future businesswomen to stand together on the eve of Women’s Day, to show their solidarity with all South African women at this time,” says Iris Cupido, CEO of the SABC Foundation.
The SheEO SleepOut™ will officially be moved to Tuesday 8 August 2017.
For more information, visit: www.theceosleepoutza.co.za or email: media@theceosleepoutza.co.za
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