Second Hand September Helps People with Intellectual Disabilities

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Second Hand September is using sustainable fashion choices to support people with intellectual disabilities, one pre-loved purchase at a time!

Cape Town, South Africa (27 September 2024) — This month, leading Cape Town-based charity, The Oasis Association, has called on sustainable fashion lovers to do what they do best—shop and sift through clothes as part of Second Hand September—an initiative that’s supporting people with intellectual disabilities.

For the past 7 decades, The Oasis Association has played a huge role improving the lives of people with intellectual disabilities. Through various projects and programmes, they help people reach their full potential and have even helped secure a Special Olympics Gold Medal for South Africa!

But, like any charity, funding is essential to keep the good work going. One way Oasis does this is through its Charity Shops; all of which are Cape Town-based.

As part of Second Hand September, they have invited sustainable shoppers to pop into any of the charity shops to cop new, pre-loved finds, or to donate the remnants of any spring cleans to these spaces.

You can find the shops here.

How Second Hand September Helps People and the Planet

The shopping and donating initiative will help finance Oasis’ Day Centres, specialised Workshops, and Group Homes that provide affordable and safe housing for up to 500 intellectually disabled individuals!

Beyond the exceptional cause, Second Hand September is also a fantastic way for shoppers to embrace a circular economy and support second-hand shopping as a way to reduce one’s carbon footprint, extend the lifecycle of clothing, and minimize waste.

Executive Director of the The Oasis Association, Gail Bester says, “We are hoping that the Second Hand September campaign, which was launched by Oxfam in the UK in 2019, can have a positive impact by making people more aware of the role fashion plays in the environment and encouraging the public to buy only second hand clothes for the month and support sustainable fashion. When you shop at any one of our charity shops in Claremont, Fish Hoek, or Elsies River your purchases play a direct role in changing the lives of our beneficiaries, for good.”
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“When you shop pre-loved fashion, you play a vital part in extending the lifecycle of items that could’ve ended up in a landfill. Oasis Charity Shops offer a win-win experience for our customers as they guarantee affordability, sustainability, and style, providing an alternative to mass-produced fashion while helping to change lives.

“The profit generated from donated items provide employment opportunities for our beneficiaries, allowing them to develop to their full potential in a supportive environment,” concludes Gail.

Proceeds from Oasis Charity shops go directly back into the organisation’s various programmes, helping to provide social work, physiotherapy, occupational therapy, sports and recreational support to the organisation’s many beneficiaries.

In fact, 100% of the proceeds from Oasis Charity shops go back to supporting Oasis projects for their beneficiaries. So, every cent spent on a thrift fashion or home item makes a positive impact in someone’s life. A difference that can be seen and experienced when you visit Oasis Charity Shops.

To donate pre-loved or unwanted goods to The Oasis Association you can also drop off these items at the Oasis Charity Shop in Claremont on the corner of Lee Road and Imam Haron Road.