Various members of the Society are involved in activities aimed at assisting less privileged individuals and communities. The Society cannot sponsor all these initiatives. Instead, members are invited to contact Mallony Jansen or Wim Els to have activities listed on this page. Of course, those who do not have activities listed are encourage to support these!
Vrygrond Development
Tony van Ryneveld is involved in developments in the area of Vrygrond, a very poor area near Muizenberg on the Cape Flats, and in nearby Village Heights, an informally developed shack area bordering on the bush. Vrygrond has all the nasty elements of poverty, unemployment, gangs, drugs, alcohol abuse, crowded living (often in very basic circumstances) and some racial tensions. But, amongst all that, there are local people who are doing positive things that improve the lot of the community, and they are worth helping. The Van Rynevelds’ involvement has entailed upgrading libraries and getting them organised and provided with books, contributing to the establishment of a primary school, encouraging soccer by providing kit and some general finance for 2 clubs (whose U 15 and U 17 teams faced each other in the finals of their competition leagues recently!), helping some people with housing, and helping a Foundation giving some education, training and care for youngsters, some of whom have been abused by their drugged or alcoholic parents. New projects include contributing to, and finding finance for, a small hall for the Foundation activities, and an attempt to get a soccer field developed for the area. If anybody would be interested in seeing such areas at first hand, to learn something about life for relatively poor people, and to be stimulated by the positives, Tony will very happily take you there. And if anybody would like to contribute to the costs of the hall, that would be greatly appreciated, too. Please contact Tony at tonyvr@kingsley.co.za.
Change a Life Trust
The Society has used IML’s interactive equipment during seminars before. IML is now part of the Computershare Group. Computershare, together with the late Mike Thomson’s family, set up the Change a Life Trust in his honour to help fight the causes and symptoms of crime. Improving crime detection through DNA sampling, trauma counselling for victims of crime and sexual abuse, helping to rehabilitate youngsters in conflict with the law and inspiring disadvantaged youths to become positive role models in their communities, are the areas that the Trust funds supports. For more information, click here. Should you want to contribute to the Trust, please contact wim@actuarialsociety.org.za .
St Luke's Tree of Light
St Luke’s Hospice provides Palliative Care to about 760 patients on any given day, ensuring that they are comfortable and as pain free as possible. More than a quarter of their patients are aged between 20 and 35; and as a whole 40% have AIDS and 60% have cancer. This year, their 5-storey high Norfolk Pine in Kenilworth will be lit up every night over the festive season in celebration of life and in honour of those who have passed away. If you wish to support their Tree of Lights Campaign this year by sponsoring lights, please contact wim@actuarialsociety.org.za .