Humanity is Our Life, an organisation helping disadvantaged youth and elderly in the city, is ending its charity concert the year with a bang with its Cape Town’s Legends in Concert, at the City Hall later this year.
Tickets are already on sale for the concert, which will feature Cape Town artists including Neesa Abrahams, Cole Adams, Madeegah Anders, Gakiem Roman, Fagrie Isaacs and Emo Adams.
The production is to raise funds for the organisation’s annual pensioners’ lunch.
The non-profit organisation is run by Armeen and Lemiez Gallant with the help of their children.
It was started 10 years ago when Mr Gallant decided that he wanted to give back to the community full-time.
“I was one of the founding members of 169 nightclub in Long Street, and was working in the club scene my whole life, but in 2013 I fell ill.”
He said thereafter, he started working in show business, as he is a musician himself – he sings and plays the percussion.
“I started in a band called Fever, but I was involved in many aspects of show business, including fashion shows, beauty pageants and concerts.”
Humanity is Our Life followed soon after, and was registered as a non-profit organisation two years ago.
The organisation offers youth skills and does motivational talks at schools in disadvantaged areas.
It also offers them voice training, arts and crafts, as well as computer literacy training.
They also arrange outings, high teas, eat and treats and offers to help the elderly find alternative accommodation.
“Sometimes people leave their mothers or grandmothers at old age homes and they get lonely, so we take them out to events and we entertain them and give them food,” said Mr Gallant.
While the organisation mainly deals with youth and the elderly, Mr Gallant said they were there for everyone who needed their assistance.
“Sometimes community members ask us to reach out to their children who are on drugs and we try to talk to them.
“We also try to find new talent and help them get into the industry.”
Also, three times a week, they take pots of food into the communities and provide meals to the children, elderly and people who cannot afford a meal.
The meals are sometimes donated, and sometimes Ms Gallant cooks the food herself. They also distribute loaves of bread, and in winter, soup and bread are handed out in communities.
Ms Gallant is the backbone of the organisation.
She ensures that everything is organised and that the events run smoothly.”
Mr Gallant is also part of an organisation called Ghostbusters, which helps people who are drug addicts get into rehabilitation programmes.
While the organisation receives no government funding, Mr Gallant said they had sponsors who helped them to meet their goals.
“When we have a fund-raiser, our sponsors help us pay for the event by contributing to a portion of the expenses. We are very grateful to everyone who has helped us get through 2018.”
He said there were 1 000 tickets available for the show, which is almost sold out.
The concert will take place on Saturday December 22 at the City Hall. Doors open at 7.30pm. To buy tickets, or to donate to the organisation, call Mr Gallant at 082 213 9057 or Ms Gallant at 082 706 0369.