The annual ICCA Congress & Exhibition held in Cape Town, South Africa less than a month ago, has left a small mark in some disadvantaged local Townships…
The annual ICCA Congress & Exhibition held in Cape Town, South Africa less than a month ago, has left a small mark in some disadvantaged local Townships near the city.
In an initiative with Dirk Elzinga, Managing Director of the Cape Town International Convention Centre, ICCA asked delegates to hand in their congress bags at the end of the congress. All bags were then donated to the township schools to be used by their students as school bags. In addition, the bright orange t-shirts worn by ICCA staff and the local PCO staff during the congress were also donated to the townships, enabling the children to have a uniform for their soccer teams. The photo below shows the Gcuwa City Football Club team that received the ICCA t-shirts on Sunday 14 November in the Nyanga township.
During the Congress, delegates were wearing lanyards sponsored by the Mexican Tourist Board, but were made by Mothers-to-Mothers-to-be”. This is a mentorship programme in Cape Town for HIV infected pregnant women. HIV infected mothers who have recently had babies return to ante-natal clinics as mentors to educate, counsel and support HIV infected pregnant women. This gives hope to women and their children.
For the closing keynote speech, Archbishop Desmond Tutu mesmerized an attentive ICCA audience with his observations on the progress of South Africa and anecdotes about his experiences as Chairperson of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. Tutu, refusing any payment for his appearance, was presented with a cheque of 40,000 Rand from ICCA Board Member, Lars Christensen of ICS A/S to give to the charity of his choice, the Trauma Centre.
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