Johannesburg, 26 Jun 2015
UCS Technology Services CEO, Saul Gorin, and over 240 other CEOs braved the freezing night, sleeping outside to raise funds for Girls and Boys Town, and awareness for the homeless. Started in Australia 10 years ago, the inaugural South African CEO SleepOut was held on 18 June 2015 in Sandton.
With temperatures close to zero in Gwen Lane, CEOs experienced the daily reality of many South Africans sleeping on the streets - biting cold, discomfort and hunger. The willing participants, issued with only a sleeping bag and cardboard box with which to ward off the winter chill, endured the 12 hours from 6pm to 6am, on the coldest night in Johannesburg.
Gorin explained: "The time spent awake was fascinating. We were all equals and companions, suffering and enduring this foreign experience together. Barriers and attitudes melted away in the cold and I was able to engage and associate with the most powerful leaders in SA."
"The time spent trying to sleep was one of my most unpleasant life experiences. I realised that you can't sleep without a pillow and had to remove one layer of clothing to create a head rest. I also discovered that the sleeping bag didn't keep out the biting wind, plus that cardboard doesn't insulate you from cold or hard ground. I gave up after two hours, having slept for maybe half that time. I was cold, tired and miserable.
"I returned to sit around one of the fires and spent the rest of the time bonding.
"Even though it was merely one night, I was humbled by this time on the street and recognise that we need to do all we can to help those in need."
And, in taking it to the streets, Gorin met with Lee Loynes, CEO of Girls and Boys Town. Gorin offered for UCS TS to interview pupils who showed potential in IT, with a view towards future employment.
UCS TS's donation of R100 000 contributed to the total of R24 million raised: the single largest amount ever raised in SA in one event. More importantly, the participation of an extremely powerful group of business people has elevated awareness of homelessness and the need to take people off the street, and inspired these leaders to look "beyond profits to purpose".
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