Acropolis News

New Acropolis South Africa organized a volunteer event aimed at restoring a touch of dignity to the lives of the homeless individuals living in the Johannesburg CBD.

A ‘pop-up’ restaurant was set up in the Maboneng district, and appeals went out to the community for donations of food, sanitary pads, and volunteers to staff the restaurant on this day.

The response of the community was overwhelming. The City of Johannesburg Social Development Department supported the initiative by capturing statistics, as there are an estimated 10 000 homeless people moving through Johannesburg monthly. The Department of Health set up a mobile clinic and distributed sanitary pads, provided basic health care services, and conducted HIV and TB screenings.

Many people collaborated on this event, with local performing artists providing live entertainment, and a local radio station broadcasted from the event. Tshwane Security Services generously provided security guards for the day – to make sure everyone was safe.

Achievements of the day included:

• Donations of food from local businesses and private individuals in the area to feed more than 200 homeless people on this day.
• Approximately 70 volunteers from within New Acropolis and the community stepped up to staff the restaurant, cook, and provide care for the homeless.
• Sorbet-Man provided haircuts & shaves for 120 homeless people.
• Approximately 160 homeless people received basic health care, screening and psycho-education for HIV and tuberculosis.
• Over 2000 sanitary pads were distributed to homeless ladies attending the event – this was a key win, as the cost of one pack of sanitary pads in Johannesburg is approximately equivalent to 4 nights accommodation in a homeless shelter.

New Acropolis South Africa set up a “store” in the street, in the heart of Johannesburg, for the most disadvantaged in an area affected by poverty, drug abuse and unemployment.

A school informed us about the place where people come to buy things in a free and dignified way and there we were.

New Acropolis South Africa organized a lecture on leadership and how to lead oneself for the university students of Braamfontein, Johannesburg.

The talk focused on philosophical thinking as a way of life and as a means of creating our own destiny.

Together with the students, the lecturer addressed the current crisis of leadership that surrounds us in everyday life, and the unavoidable responsibility of developing the necessary qualities to become true leaders.

The event was very well received and ended with a spontaneous recital by one of the students attending.

New Acropolis organized its annual Night of the Masks.  This activity awakens a lot of interest and all the participants enjoy a different perspective behind the mask.

New Acropolis organized a dinner with hot chocolate around the fireplace (pictured on the left), to talk about the paths that lead to the truth.

The event was open to the public and its purpose was to invite people for a nice meal in a cosy atmosphere to share their experiences of following a spiritual path throughout their life.

New Acropolis South Africa presented the Youth Leadership Program “Do What You Love” (DWYL). Currently, the program is offered in two Institutes, where students develop life skills and study philosophy and different cultures.

Young leaders also choose their own social improvement project which they then implement in full. Our motto is: “From doing nothing to social heroes”.