The season of giving has arrived in Cape Town’s Deep South – and with it, one of the region’s most heartfelt festive traditions. The Rotary Club South Peninsula Cape Town has launched its annual Christmas Giving Tree Project, transforming Long Beach Mall into a hub of community generosity and holiday magic.
Now in full swing, the project supports children from townships and informal settlements across the Deep South. It begins in local classrooms, where students from eight participating schools each complete an ‘Angel’ card – a small, loving decorated tag listing their first name, age and a few modest Christmas wishes.
These could be anything from books and art supplies to toys, stationery or clothing (phones, TVs, bicycles or any big-ticket items are intentionally excluded).
Once completed, the Rotary Club collects the Angels and hangs them on beautifully decorated Giving Trees at Long Beach Mall, the project’s primary public home. There, shoppers can choose an Angel, purchase a gift and return it to the drop-off point – creating a direct line of kindness between donors and the children who will unwrap these presents before school closes in December.
It’s simple. It’s joyful. And it brings the community together in the most meaningful way.
How the project works, and why it matters
The Christmas Giving Tree isn’t just about gifts. It’s a coordinated and thoughtful process that builds creativity, hope and connection:
- Schools guide learners through creating their Angels, helping ensure gift requests are age-appropriate and reasonable.
- Rotary Club members manage the entire operation: collecting Angels, decorating trees, staffing the display, wrapping gifts and delivering them to schools before the December break.
- Long Beach Mall provides the space, visibility and festive spirit that help the project thrive.
The timeline rolls out across late October and November – from printing materials and delivering tree kits to schools, to hanging the final Angels on the mall tree by the second Friday of November, and wrapping up just before the last day of school.
Over the weeks leading up to Christmas, Rotary Club volunteers check the tree, speak to shoppers, collect donations and make sure every Angel finds a match. If any remain unclaimed, the club steps in to sponsor the gifts or calls on donors to help close the gap.
A gift that goes beyond Christmas
Every year, the Giving Tree touches hundreds of lives – not only the children who receive gifts, but also shoppers, teachers, parents and the volunteers behind the scenes. The Rotary Club documents the impact through stories and photos from participating schools, later sharing a January report that celebrates the community’s generosity.
Although additional malls may host similar initiatives, the official Christmas Giving Tree branding belongs exclusively to the Long Beach Mall collaboration – and it has become a beloved seasonal feature for many in the Deep South.
This year, you’re invited to be part of the magic.
How to participate
- Visit the Christmas Giving Tree at Long Beach Mall
- Choose an Angel card
- Purchase the gift listed
- Return the unwrapped gift to the collection point
One small gift can mean the world to a child – and one simple act can spark a season of kindness across the community.
Cape Town shines brightest when we show up for one another. This Christmas, The Rotary Club’s Giving Tree is where that light begins.