BTech Public Relations (PR) students have managed to secure a large donation as well as thousands of rands in goods for a local non-profit organisation.

Deidre Porthen, senior lecturer and head of the PR programme, said the students exceeded expectations by raising more than R60 000 and garnering valuable publicity for the Carel Du Toit Centre.

The Parow-based centre is primarily for children suffering from bilateral hearing loss or who are considered deaf.

As part of their curriculum, the students were tasked with an assignment to secure funds for the centre as well as raise awareness.

Their campaign efforts included a Comedy Market Day where comedians including, Yaseen Baker, Ambrose Uren, and Arlene Petersen availed their services for free.

The students also organised a collection drive for three weeks at Checkers, Canal Walk. During the drive, the students approached shoppers to donate items on the Centre’s wish list of non-perishables and successfully secured over 500 wish list items.

The students’ call for donations managed to reach the Office of the Mayor and they managed to secure a R50 000 donation for the charity.

All the proceeds that were raised will positively impact young learners from the centre who suffer hearing loss.

Student Jill Baaitjies said the experience was “incredibly rewarding”.

“In the beginning, we were focused on marks but eventually it was all about the cause.”

Written by Ilse Fredericks
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There were tears, presents, songs and party packs at the finale of the two month long #FeedADream project.

The project was a collaboration between CPUT BTech Public Relations students and the Peninsula School Feeding Scheme (PSFA) which saw the dreams of almost 200 learners from a Maitland School filled.

On Friday the students handed over a check for almost R38 000 to the PSFA which will help fill the tummies of the 26 000 hungry children the organisation feeds at 145 primary, secondary and special needs schools.   

The last few dreams were also filled with a handful of children handed pairs of Ratanga Junction vouchers and McDonald’s family meal vouchers.

For the past few months the learners of HJ Kroneberg have been ushered away on adventures including museum visits, helicopter experiences, princess parties with former Miss SA Cindy Nel and movies.

The school principal Yul Cupido says the experience brought tears to his eyes.

‘To see how these children have been embraced and loved really warmed my heart. Thank you so much,’ he says.

CPUT lecturer Deidre Porthen says the students have been blessed by the experience.

‘I never expected them to take the project to such an incredible level. They really bonded with the kids and wanted to go over and beyond to give them a good experience,’ she says.

Written by Lauren Kansley

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Liaises with the media and writes press releases about interesting developments at CPUT.