Bring a smile to a child's face with a visit and a gift this festive season in Cape Town. Photo courtesy of Cape Town Tourism

Cape Town is an inclusive, caring city and with the festive season now upon us, responsible tourism through the assistance of the less fortunate is at the top of our list of priorities.

Having won the Best Destination category in the 2009 Virgin Holidays Responsible Tourism Awards, the Mother City knows a thing or two about caring, and provides a variety of options for both her visitors and residents to be do-gooders all year long.

Help us lend a helping hand this festive season in one of the following ways:

Let your fingers do the walking and donate

The Cape Town Central Improvement District (CCID) has been hard at work all year, keeping locals and visitors alike safe in the bustling CBD. Now, through its Giving Responsibly campaign, it is leading the cause to help break the cycle of homelessness on the Mother City’s streets.

Keep an eye out for the campaign’s yellow Smiley icon painted on walls in and around the city centre. Then send an SMS (at a cost of R10 each) to 38088, using the keywords "Give", "Success", "Dreams" or "Dignity".

Your R10 SMS donation will contribute to the efforts of the CCID’s six non-governmental organisation partners, including Straatwerk, Ons Plek, the Carpenter’s Shop, the Homestead, Salesian Institute Youth Projects and The Haven.

Follow the campaign on Facebook and on Twitter, using the hashtags #isawsmiley and #giveresponsibly.

Bring a smile to a child’s face with a visit (and a toy)

Share the joy of discovering the wonders of a brand-new toy with a child at Nazareth House Cape Town, a non-profit organisation in Vredehoek, this Christmas morning.

Nazareth House provides a home for abandoned, orphaned and terminally ill youngsters. For more information, please visit www.nazhouse.org.za.

Spend a few hours doing something good

Whether it’s distributing hot Christmas meals at your local church, providing transport to elderly relatives or helping to maintain a public area, take a few hours out of your day this festive season to help someone in need.

For more tips on being a responsible tourist, visit our Responsible Tourism page.