Update
KNYSNA NEWS - It was a homecoming with a difference when two former Oakhill School learners-turned-vloggers returned to Knysna recently to hand over the substantial sum they had raised for fire victims.
Caspar Lee and Josh Pieters, who have been friends for years and now live in London, used their influence as YouTube video bloggers, to garner financial support for families and individuals affected by the fires of June last year.
According to Leslie Pieters, Josh’s father, Caspar has been a YouTuber since his schooldays and is known all over the world, while Josh went to the UK as a professional cricketer and became a YouTuber about two years ago.
Caspar currently has over 10-million followers on all social media platforms, while Josh is sitting at about 1.5-million.
"When the Knysna fires broke out, the boys posted a video on YouTube and managed to crowdfund R275 000 by appealing to their viewers and subscribers. R20 000 was donated to the staff of Thesen Island Homeowners Association (TIHOA) who were affected by the fire.
"The remaining balance, R255 000, was handed over to the Rotary Club of Knysna on 8 January. The money is specifically donated to benefit community members who were and are still affected by the fire," said Pieters (Leslie).
TIHOA disaster relief fund chair Rob McCall said in a thank-you letter to the two influencers how appreciative members were for the generous contribution towards the fund.
Peter Klews (Rotary), Josh Pieters, Caspar Lee and Doug Emanuel (President Rotary Knysna)
According to McCall the mandate of the fund was, firstly, to assist those staff employed by the TIHOA who were affected by the fires and high winds.
"Any surplus funds would then be donated to institutions or associations that in some way assisted, or continue to assist, those negatively impacted," he said, adding that the money has already helped restore the dignity and quality of some of the people affected by disaster.
Rotary Knysna president Doug Emanuel said that the money will be used to extend Rotary's fire relief initiative to more relief applicants, especially some of the applicants on their waiting list.
Josh Pieters (left), Caspar Lee and president of Rotary Knysna Doug Emanuel (right). Photo: Supplied
"To date we have assisted around 300 families and 22 businesses," he added.
* The Knysna-Plett Herald wanted to include Caspar and Josh's input into the article, but as they are currently back in the UK it has made it difficult.
Read a related article: Millions of followers for students
ARTICLE: STEFAN GOOSEN, KNYSNA-PLETT HERALD JOURNALIST
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