The Annual GRKC Charity Drive: 2025
- Zoe Jagger-Hinis
- Jun 17
- 3 min read
I have many favourite karate quotes, but chief amongst them is "Karate stands on the side of justice" by Gichin Funakoshi. In The Twenty Guiding Principles of Karate, Funakoshi elaborates:
Justice is that which is right - to bring righteousness to fruition requires true strength and ability...Karate practitioners must stand on the side of justice at all times, and only in situations where there is no other choice, should their power find expression through the use of their hands and feet as weapons.
In an unjust world, where there is so much unnecessary cruelty and suffering, we must have the courage to take action. After all, these problems might not be our fault, but they are our responsibility. We truly believe that karate must create better citizens, and by encouraging our students to support others, and be part of the change, we are creating a better, more just generation.
As part of this worldview, every year we run a charity drive for our local charities, all of which are underfunded and always in desperate need of supplies. We encourage families to go through their cupboards and share gently used clothing, toys and shoes to help those in great need.
Last year we raised/gathered the following just in food alone:
Lentils/dry beans - 7.5kg
Rice - 28kg
Baked beans - 17.6kg
Pap - 64.5kg
Flour - 4kg
Stock/soup - 19
Noodles - 47
Sugar - 10kg
Tins - 121
Plus salt, peanut butter, jam Which makes for a total of 131.6kg just of dry food, and more than 100 tins. On top of this, we also gathered supplies for the local baby shelter, the now defunct Sparrows home, as well as the SPCA.
Here's a little more detail about each charity we are supporting:
Dorcas’ objective is to alleviate poverty through sustainable means without ignoring immediate needs. Therefore we respond by providing short term social care (food, clothing and material goods); and rendering emergency aid in areas of natural disaster and man-made hostility. We also work in partnerships with local “social care partners” who implement and deliver care to orphans and vulnerable children, the aged, people living with HIV and AIDS, the abandoned, the homeless, the terminally ill and the disabled.
Just in Time Baby Sanctuary
A temporary and semi permanent place of love and safety for neglected and abandoned babies. We are home to the only baby saver in Johannesburg West - Roodepoort. We promote safe anonymous relinquishment. We DO NOT encourage unsafe abandonment. We offer support to Moms in crisis and strive always to keep families together. We work closely with Child Protection Organizations and subscribe to the Children's Act.
SPCA Roodepoort
We all know the SPCA - for years they've been providing shelter, offering sterilisations and neutering, rehoming pets to new families, and doing educational visits. They also have a shop where they can sell things to raise funds.
FHS is a dedicated nonprofit organization committed to providing comprehensive support for homeless women in Yeoville, Johannesburg, who are victims of abuse, vulnerable, and living in poverty.
Martial Heart
Martial Heart facilitates the collection and donation of karate suits, equipment and protective gear to small dojos in under-served communities in South Africa as well as Zimbabwe. Through supporting dojos based in under-served communities, we can change lives.
Disclaimer: this is Sensei Zoë's passion and brain child. Click here to find out more.
Mr. Rogers said once: "When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, "Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping." Action is the greatest antidote to despair, and we look forward to making a marked difference in our community.
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