A letter to World Cup visitors from GreaterGood South Africa

Dear Visitor,

Between the economic crisis and the volcanic ash, we were worried that you might not make it. And then of course there was the fear-mongering in the tabloids – one British paper recently insisted that “packs of rampaging baboons” were “targeting tourists” in Cape Town!

But let’s not forget the many South African problems that don’t really make for interesting headlines. They are problems that you probably already know about without us trying to impress you with sensationalist headlines and statistics. Ours is a country with widespread unemployment and poverty, it is at the heart of the global AIDS pandemic and there is a crisis in education.

These are not really problems that affect most visitors. As a tourist, you are likely to arrive in South Africa at an airport that compares favourably with any you have seen. You are likely to stay in hotels that would not be out of place in the capitals of Europe. You will watch soccer in some of the most impressive sports stadiums anywhere in the world. You might have the chance to eat in great restaurants or sample some fine wines, and, if you venture a short distance from the major tourist hubs, you will find it all really affordable.

And if you are like most tourists, you will do a bit of sightseeing, perhaps visit a beach or a game park, and then hop on a plane back home.

At GreaterGood South Africa, we would like to ask you not to be like most tourists. We invite you not to ignore the harsh social realities that many portrayals of this country during the World Cup will gloss over. We ask you to take a moment to look at the beautiful, scarred, complex country that has welcomed you and ask: How could I make this place better?

We invite you to leave something good behind.

GreaterGood SA has a database of hundreds of worthy causes and manages donations of goods, services and time here on myggsa.co.za. This is where you can find out exactly what South African non profit organisations need, by category or location, or submit your own offer to donate goods, time or money.

Our tips for leaving some good behind

1. Don’t give money directly to people on the streets, particularly children. Seeing children living on the street is horrible, but giving cash can make the problem worse. Rather give to established organisations that have the experience and training to help get people off the street – and keep them off. If you must give, food or clothing is better than money.
2. Make sure the causes you support are registered. You want your donation to go where it is needed and be properly managed by a legitimate non-profit. In South Africa, organisations should either be registered Non Profit Organisations (with an NPO number) or registered Public Benefit Organisations (with a PBO number).
3. Sport is a great development tool. Sport can be used to build communities, promote education and keep people healthy. In South Africa, it is the great equaliser. There are plenty of innovative organisations that use sport to develop communities and you can find many of them on the GreaterGood database here.
4. Stay in touch. Building a long-term relationship with a South African non profit will help it survive long after the world’s biggest sports show is over. The internet makes it is easy to stay in contact from anywhere in the world, so you can see the progress that is being made when you get home.
5. Be a responsible consumer. While you are here, ask yourself who will benefit from your spending. Try to support sustainable, South African enterprises that create employment wherever you can. And come back soon! Bring your friends. Get them to bring their friends. The hopes of a nation rest on the potential for this event to boost the economy and improve lives, for good.