Mensch Network launches in Cape Town

MOIRA SCHNEIDER

PHOTOGRAPH BY MOIRA SCHNEIDER

CAPE TOWN

Pictured: Kayli Levitan and Max Pazak whose project dedicated to clothing the homeless, was showcased at the launch of The Mensch Network.

 Kayli Levitan and Max Pazak, with the support of M & C Saatchi Abel Cape Town, created The Street Store, the world’s first rent-free, premises-free, free “pop-up clothing store” for the homeless in January this year. Their client, The Haven Night Shelter for the homeless, had briefed them to generate awareness and donations, off a R5 000 budget.

“We needed to bring the ‘haves’ and ‘have-nots’ together to break through deep-set stereotypes, while making donating easy and receiving dignified,” Levitan recalls. Found entirely on the street and stocked by donations – which are dropped off and hung up by donors – it gives the homeless a dignified shopping experience, allowing them to choose clothing they actually like – many for the first time.

“We’ve clothed over 3 500 homeless in South Africa alone,” says Levitan, “but since homelessness is universal, we went open-source. To date, 1 800+ people have downloaded our translated posters to host a street store in their communities and 112 stores have popped up around the world.”

Atlantic Hope provides safe, emergency care for vulnerable babies. Founded in 2010 by Marilyn May, it provides basic developmental, physical and mental care in her home for up to five babies at a time. Dani Jankelowitz is the organisation’s administrator and fundraiser.

These were some of the exhibitors showcased at the launch of The Mensch Network, an initiative of the Cape Board and vision of Gina Flash who described it as “part of a strategy of becoming more active citizens of our country”. An opportunity to recognise the work being done by Jewish individuals committed to creating social change in South Africa, the idea is also to promote networking opportunities for them.

Describing the project as “a perfect fit” with the Board’s social change endeavours, chairman Eric Marx commented that these initiatives were “of crucial importance” and increased the credibility and reach of the Board and the community.

DA MP Michael Bagraim noted that a society was judged by the way it treated its weakest members. “As the Jewish people, we know that it’s the cornerstone of our psyche.”

Suzanne Ackerman Berman, director of transformation at Pick n Pay, who gave the keynote address, pronounced herself “totally inspired and invigorated” by what she had seen at the exhibition. Business had a strategic role to play in helping with access to the market and assisting “these phenomenal projects take flight”.

* The launch expo is on at the South African Jewish Museum until December 7.