Anthem Sing-a-long, Video Premiere and Charity Walk

At noon, on Friday 19th June the South African Chamber of Commerce will once again be inviting people to come together virtually to sing the national anthem. If you'd like to join us, please follow this link:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85440071467?pwd=RzRoa2p3cnJGL1FCMVNsMFF6dzRjQT09
Password: 915185
Meeting ID: 854 4007 1467

There is no need to register, please just come along and, if possible, have a flag, a scarf or something with the South African colours in view.

The professional West End voices of the Lion King singer Nic Vani and his wife Pearl, together with Idols SA contestant Siyakha Tshayela have already helped to lead previous 'sing-a-longs' with Chamber members together with South African nationals and friends of the 'Rainbow Nation' right around the globe. Building on the success of the previous online 'sing-a-longs' the SA Chamber has invited an exciting line-up of professional singers to blend their voices in a special version of 'Nkosi Sikelel' iAfrika.

While the SA Chamber's online singing has played a valuable role of bringing people together during this period of lock-down, Sharon Constançon (SA Chamber Chairman) will introduce an initiative to blend this with our support for the Solidarity Fund so that we can express solidarity with each other and the people back home in a way that really 'makes a difference'.

Video Premiere

Behind the scenes, Chamber members have worked tirelessly with Jazzworx in South Africa on a special video, which will be premiered at the event. A number of artists, based both in the UK and in South Africa have donated their time and talent, each singing the anthem independently so that all their voices could be blended into the final production.

The hope, Sharon explains, "is that if you are moved by what we've worked so hard to create we encourage everyone to make a small donation to the Solidarity Fund in South Africa to help support those most vulnerable across our nation."

Music legend PJ Powers sings on the track, and is one of the stars endorsing the charitable initiative: "I feel very honoured to be one of the people chosen to be part of the South African Chamber of Commerce's new international fundraising initiative."

Another singer in the video is South Africa's 'Queen of Rock', talk show host and 'The Voice' judge Karen Zoid, who added her support saying: "I am proud and happy to be part of this campaign to raise funds by South Africans in the UK and globally in support of those most in need."

Featuring: in order of appearanceKaren Zoid, PJ Powers, Roxi Abbott, Nic Vani, Christian Heath, Russell Spence, Pearl Vani, Siyakha Tshayela, Queen Patience, Connie Mcguiness, Thandi Banjwa, Mick Burns.

Charity Walk

On Friday, the SA Chamber will also launch 'The Chairman's Challenge' which will take place over Nelson Mandela's birthday weekend of July 18th, and will feature a collective effort to walk a total of 2414 km - the distance from Cape Town to Beitbridge on the Zimbabwe border and back again!

Members, fellow nationals and friends of South Africa will be welcome to participate wherever they are in the world, walking as many or as few miles as they wish, as a sign of solidarity with the country. Participants will be encouraged to either donate to the Solidarity Fund or raise sponsorship for each mile they contribute to the total. Details will follow on how we plan to log the miles walked, and allow all of us to monitor the total achieved in real time via an app on a mobile phone, fitbit, or other device.

Sharon goes on to say, "We hope this will be a fun and fitting way to unite our community within social distancing limits to mark the Nelson Mandela's birthday. The whole family can get involved, people can invite their friends and colleagues too, in fact we're hoping to rally as much of the South African community in the UK as possible, and others around the world, to stand together and show how much we care. The walking, the fun and the solidarity comes first, but if we can in the process raise a substantial amount we'd be delighted, because we understand that our people back home really need our help right now."

International fundraising partner Chapel and York are contributing their services to support the SA Chamber effort. South African-born Adrienne Hall (Fundraising, UK & Africa) and the team have arranged for the UK donations process to take advantage of Gift Aid and region appropriate tax benefits for giving in the USA, Netherlands, Hong Kong and Singapore. Anyone wishing to donate via their website should kindly select the SOLIDARITY FUND as the recipient option in the dropdown box (this is essential!). You may donate any of the fixed sums available, or enter your own amount by selecting the "OTHER" option at the top of the form.

Links to the donation pages are below:

UK Foundation Donate Link: https://chapel-yorkukfoundation.org/donate/
US Foundation Donate Link: https://www.chapel-yorkfoundation.org/donate/
Hong Kong Foundation Donate Link: https://www.hongkongfoundationforcharities.org/donate-to-hkfc/
Singapore Foundation Donate Link: https://chapel-yorksingapore.org/donate/
Netherlands Foundation Donate Link: https://www.chapel-yorknetherlands.org/donate/

We look forward to seeing you on Friday!