Every story, every way walked, needs a motivation. This video clip tells the story of such a motivation for the organisation HOPE Cape Town in South Africa.
Celebrating life and sustaining this celebration in sharing wealth. Inviting others to do the same is also important. This is what the HOPE Gala in Dresden is all about.
And this is not only done because it is the right thing to do. It is done because giving is receiving. Receiving not only in an altruistic sense, but in understanding the deep-rooted changes our world and societies are going through.
How we act now, will decide the lives and future of the next generations. Never before had human mankind the capacity of understanding this statement so loud and clear. And it seems that instead of listening, people act diametrically. They try to keep what they have, hold, and know now. Anxiety and doomsday prophets, populists and self-proclaimed leaders are in overdrive in our days.
The challenges of today can only be overcome when we think and act globally. The problems we face as human species can only be solved when we understand, how we depend on each other. And that no money of this world and no island creating politics will change this fact.
Solidarity and synergies are needed, compassion and bravery, dedication and determination. And all those we celebrate when joining the HOPE Gala. Because those are the ingredients of a life well lived.
The HOPE Gala is about supporting the work of an NGO. It’s about doing good. It’s about Africa. But it is so much more. It is about being part of people believing in a better tomorrow for all, which only can be achieved together – starting today.
Who does not want to leave a legacy and be remembered for being a force for good? How fascinating will it be if your deeds are bearing fruit still in a hundred years time. Seeing the bigger picture and being a hero driven by hope and the imagination, how the world could be; and not only imagining it but putting your money where your mouth is….
We invite you to do exactly this – walk with us while scrolling down…
Thank you for walking with us until this point. You have certainly done the first steps. The question, which remains, and only you can answer: Do you want to go one step further and become a hope hero in-deed?
If you do, please feel free to contact trust@hopecapetown.org
It is a ringfenced email address and all correspondence remains confidential.
Tax receipts can be issued by HOPE Cape Town in Germany, Austria, South Africa and the USA if the donation to capital is received in the respective local HOPE Cape Town related bank account.
Next to HOPE Cape Town Trust and HOPE Cape Town Association in South Africa, you might have heard about “HOPE Kapstadt Stiftung”.
This sounds very German, and indeed it is an organisation based in Germany. Since a long time the German Aids Foundation, the only national foundation in Germany addressing HIV, is a partner of the HOPE Cape Town Trust in South Africa. A partner in terms of content and strategy, but also a sponsor for certain work portfolios within the South African organisations.
In 2007 both entities decided that it would be good to create what is called in Germany “abhängige Stiftung”, translated: dependent foundation. It describes a foundation whose administration and oversight lies with a full-fledged German foundation. It has its own reporting and accountability, but remains in this case in the framework of the German Aids Foundation in Germany.
The dependent foundation fundraises for the work in South Africa; it took over the legal responsibility for the HOPE Gala in Dresden. A management team, consisting of representatives of the German Aids Foundation and HOPE Cape Town Association & Trust, is overseeing its business. All funds received are transferred without deduction to the HOPE Cape Town Trust in South Africa.
HOPE Kapstadt Stiftung has all necessary credentials in Germany as an NGO and NPO and is an essential tool to foster relationship with the big donor base and circle of friends of HOPE in Germany.
The biggest fundraising event is the HOPE Gala in Dresden, launched in 2006 by Mrs Viola Klein, who is also the Chairperson of the management board of the German entity.
HOPE Kapstadt Stiftung is called a sister organisation of the two HOPE Cape Town entities in South Africa. Besides the financial relationship, there is an emphasis on knowledge transfer in both directions.
Focusing on marketing and fundraising for the organisation HOPE Cape Town in South Africa, I had the pleasure – if it is a pleasure – to travel between three continents this year again, trying to find, reach and convince people in the USA, South Africa and European countries to support our holistic approach.
It is generally not an easy task, but the world is currently so much up-side-down, that the challenges seem to grow every day. It becomes a minefield, not only, because of money being diverted for current affairs but also as ideology, insecurity and anxiety are more than ever factors of life.
Gaza and Israel, it seems that you have to put every word on the golden scale to not offend but toe the line to stand on the right side – whatever that may be. Looking at the human factor without politics, as NGO’s do, is a difficult option as you’re directly under general suspicion of supporting terror.
The war in Ukraine means fundraising for people in a country, in which the leadership without any shame stands with the aggressor and pretends to be neutral.
South Africa’s grey listing and constant corruption on the highest levels are often points of debates with funders. They believe that South Africa has enough resources if and when the elite stops stealing money.
The USA is currently in an epic battle when it comes to democracy and a hotbed for the attempt to mix white superior religion, clearly visible in proclaiming a certain candidate a Godsend. Not to forget, a leader of the House who has direct conversations with God and is not the new Moses. In some states, history is rewritten and books are banned again. Not really an ideal environment to discuss support for people in South Africa.
Generally, Covid and the restrictions seem to have a profound effect on people, who felt that the security and safety their life was build on, was gone in seconds. It shows still today in actions, reactions and behaviour.
Business people in Germany, but generally in Europe, are more than worried about the current economic situation in the country and the direction, they are taken by those politically in charge.
All this impacts the world of fundraising a great deal, it makes it perfectly clear, that depending on donations alone is not sufficient for the long run. NGO’s like companies have to build up and maintain a reserve like any other companies if they want to survive long term and meaningfully.
It also makes it necessary to speak with people face to face – not FaceTime, not zoom or teams. Those can be interim measures to keep contact, but the person encounter is in times like ours the most essential part of fundraising.
The need to navigate between the world of possible funders and the reality of the recipients becomes more tricky as sensitivities and anxieties looking at the future reign high.
All this makes the work of NGOs like HOPE Cape Town even more important, because the victims of all the political, social and economic turbulence are those anyhow at the bottom of society. Those who lost out by birth are loosing again. NGOs are the lifeline to survive and even to grow under these circumstances.
We as NGOs need, besides the normal donation also people who want their support working for years to come. We need people investing in the future of others long-term, and so becoming role models for the next generation they helped to form and sustain.
Not only that, but we need this support to be able to stand firm in our support for human dignity and human rights declared for everybody. There are shifts of proportion happening now when it comes to demography, political influence, economic powers. NGOs are essential in those times, balancing what often is overlooked in daily struggles on the world stage. A reason more to support, sustain and to invest in the non-governmental sphere of society.
God, AIDS, Africa & HOPE 