Vivat Bacchus, a prominent South African restaurant in London, has embarked on an exciting collaboration with the Africa College Foundation to positively impact the lives of underprivileged youth in South Africa.
This partnership will launch with a charity dinner and auction on World Education Day, set for Friday, January 24, 2025, at the restaurant’s Farringdon location.
This initiative will support the Africa College Foundation’s Education Town project in Johannesburg, which is dedicated to providing life-changing educational opportunities for some of the most vulnerable young people in the country. This includes orphans, refugees, and those who have endured violence.
To raise funds for this program, Vivat Bacchus plans to add a £1 donation to every bill across its restaurants.
The goal is to accumulate £25,000 over the coming year, a sum that would enable the sponsorship of at least ten students in the Education Town program.
James Dawson, CEO of Vivat Bacchus, voiced their excitement about collaborating with the Africa College Foundation, noting that South Africa holds a significant place in their hearts.
He described the £1-per-bill initiative as a foundational step.
This effort reflects their ongoing commitment to empowering South African youth.
The Africa College Foundation is instrumental in supporting the Maharishi Invincibility Institute (MII), which offers education, food, counseling, and mentorship to young adults from disadvantaged backgrounds. For context, sponsoring a student for an entire year costs £2,500, while £400 can provide meals for four students over the same period.
The impact of the MII program is notable; nearly 95% of its graduates secure employment, a remarkable achievement when contrasted with the staggering 60% unemployment rate among 18- to 24-year-olds in South Africa.
Since its inception, the MII model has transformed the lives of over 20,000 students, helping them step into the middle class within five years of graduation, and uplifting more than 150,000 family members in the process.
Dawson highlighted the broader implications of enjoying South African wine, pointing out its role in community support through deep-rooted traditions.
He emphasized how vital South African wineries are as sources of employment, engaging people in various roles from grape-picking and winemaking to logistics and export.
Vivat Bacchus aims to celebrate these wines while also investing in the next generation to ensure this legacy endures.
Attendees of the charity dinner and auction at Vivat Bacchus can expect a delightful three-course South African braai feast, featuring options for vegetarians and vegans alike. The meal will be paired with a South African wine tasting and coupled with a charity auction, all in honor of this impactful partnership.
Tickets are now available, and every penny raised will go directly towards funding the Education Town project, making a tangible difference in the lives of young people in South Africa.
Source: Decanter
