Miss Universities SA finalist aids homeless
AS PART of her efforts to help create a better community, a Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT) student collects blankets, food and clothing for distribution to poor people.
Pauline Marere, 23, studies Electrical Engineering. Originally from Zimbabwe, she came to South Africa and attended Umyezo High School in Grabouw.
Marere spends her Saturday mornings cooking for homeless people. “Most of the people on the streets have a story to tell, worth listening to and sharing.
“Some of them are out there because of family circumstances.
“It is not always about crime, but to have an ear that listens helps,” Marere said yesterday.
The impact of her work also led to her becoming a finalist for Miss Universities South Africa 2017.
Miss Universities South Africa has monthly initiatives aimed at improving someone’s life, including distributing food, clothing, sanitary pads, blankets and stationery.
Miss Universities South Africa director Maynard Chizavare said: “The main goal is to use the finalists to go and inspire kids in primary and high schools, to show them the benefits of education by using tertiary as an example.”
Transport was one of the challenges the initiative faced and the programme appealed to potential sponsorships from people, students, retailers and agencies, he said.
Their Blanket a Child drive is currently running until June 5 and aimed at areas such as Imizamo Yethu in Hout Bay. To assist, Marere can be reached at: 076 716 4074.