In the week that the country was plunged in darkness following nationwide power outages, Sešego Cares' patrons refused to wallow in widespread misery. Instead, they trekked to the dusty township of Orange Farm south of Gauteng to extend their hand of goodwill in donating R1.6 million for the refurbishment and items donated to the Leseding Learning Academy.
Leseding is a Sesotho adjective for light.
Theresa Booysen, the spouse of Absa Chief Executive Steve Booysen and chairperson of Sešego Cares, led the contingent to this remarkable institution, which has managed to turn a corner and consistently achieve a matric pass rate of over 80% in the last three years under very trying circumstances.
Darker days
Before the Sešego Cares intervention, the school had no running water, electricity, classroom doors, desks and chairs, telephone lines, or security fencing. The floors of the classrooms were strewn with potholes, classroom ceilings were caving in and there were woefully inadequate ablution facilities.
The Sesego Cares entourage was accompanied by members of the Gauteng Provincial Leadership Forum, community representatives, Group service providers, Absa procurement, Absa REAM and suppliers who were instrumental in making this project a success.
Light ahead
Theresa explained that the donation will be used to revamp the eight classrooms that are in a state of disrepair. In addition, the school was given 400 desks and chairs, teachers' desks and cupboards, chalkboards, 1 200 stationary packs for learners and teachers, 1 400 pottery mugs, 1 400 lunch boxes, monthly cleaning materials and 500 suitcases.
Theresa said that Sešego Cares' participation in this project was motivated by the desire to get personally involved in making a sustainable contribution to the wellbeing of communities in the country and on the sub-continent.
"We believe in helping communities reach their full potential through collective action and joining hands and working in the spirit of Ubuntu. This is genuine empowerment, helping the learners of Leseding Learning Academy to be able to stand on their own and be masters of their own fate, just as the community of Orange Farm is a master of its own fate," she said.
She added that that investment in education is crucial to social development and economic growth. "When individuals are uplifted, communities flourish, entrepreneurs emerge and the nation becomes strong and development is sustainable. Therefore, our investment in people will reward us with a future that can live up to the dreams of all our citizens. In a nutshell, South Africa becomes a winning nation."
Joe Mphela, director of Leseding Learning Academy says Sešego Cares' contribution will make a huge difference in the school's academic performance. "We appreciate this gesture of goodwill and genuine empowerment. The facilities will enable us to further improve our performance, especially our matric results. Most importantly, we now have an environment that is conducive to the culture of effective learning," he said.
Going beyond
Absa Sešego Cares' contribution did not just end there - Joe Rosen, a staff member donated R20 000. The Orange Farm branch based in Palm Springs has committed itself to spend 48 hours of the Group's operating business hours to assist the school undertake any services required.
By expending these hours towards helping the development of Leseding, the school will qualify for a R10 000 donation from Absa Foundation Matching Fund.
Joey Govindasami, Provincial General Manager: Absa Retail Bank, Gauteng, expressed his delight that the community had taken ownership of this project and remain steadfast to see its success.
To encourage more community involvement in the project, Joey announced that a club account has been opened to encourage the Orange Farm community and interested stakeholders to donate whatever amount they can afford to assist in the daily running of the school.
"The Orange Farm branch, which is made up of 22 employees, has come together and decided that they will donate R20 every month from their own pockets towards this school account," Joey said to deafening applause from the pupils.
Joe Mphela, Director: Leseding Learning Academy, expressed his gratitude at the contribution, and said it will enhance the school's academic performance.
"We appreciate this gesture of goodwill and genuine empowerment. These facilities will enable us to further improve our performance, especially our matric results. Most importantly, we now have an environment that is conducive to the culture of effective learning," he said.
Members of the public who are interested in contributing to Leseding Learning Academy can do so by depositing money in this account:
Account holder: Leseding Learning Academy
Account number: 9195492715
Type of account: Club Account
Branch: Orange Farm
Branch code: 632005
Little Rainbow is a crèche in Eldorado Park; this little nest caters for underprivileged children in that community. To most of the members of the community Little Rainbow Crèche is a safe haven. Sešego Cares have been supporting this good cause for about three years. Sešego Cares donated supplies of formulae, nappies, food for the children. Sešego Cares together with Absa organised a surprise Christmas party and donated gifts for the children, over and above their continued support Sešego Cares donated two (20mx6m) haulage containers to the crèche to use convert into classrooms for the children. They will also fund the conversion of the containers.
The Witkoppen Health and Welfare Centre is a comprehensive primary health and welfare provider of essential services, which offers a service of excellence utilising best medical practises in a professional and dedicated manner to that sector of the population who are unable to afford private medical fees living within a 30 km radius of the clinic. The centre strives to ensure that those indigent communities surrounding our clinic have access to high quality comprehensive medical care facilities and in addition their social needs are addressed. The centre has limited cash flow which it uses to cater for its basic needs. Sešego Cares looked for ways to help the centre and make their daily operations easier. R10 000 and stationery give time with filing
Sešego Cares with the help of Absa Group Sourcing helped to donated proper cupboards for their administrative office to keep medical records safe. View gallery
The Walter Sisulu Paediatric Cardiac Centre for Africa (WSPCCA), situated within Netcare's Sunninghill Hospital, is a 16 bedded dedicated paediatric cardiac intensive care unit and was established in 2003 by Dr Robin Kinsley. Dr Kinsley was struck by the fact that paediatric cardiac surgery in Africa has long been a luxury available only to the privileged few, which meant that, for all intents and purposes, entire populations have been excluded from treatment for a correctable medical condition. Fewer than 30% of South African children and less than 1% of children throughout Africa benefit from these life saving operations. The rest die.
Ironically, 95% of heart defects in babies and young children can be successfully treated. The WSPCCA came into being to address this inequality and to give hope to the cardiac children in both SA and Africa at large. Sešego Cares donated R10 000 to this worthy cause, over and above which they have donated 500 toiletry bags to the centre for the parents and children. View gallery
Conversion of old containers into science centres, classrooms & libraries for learning support in schools in Tembisa, Eldorado Park, and Alexandra.
Sešego Cares rallied behind Sparrow Village by giving them support where it was needed. Sešego Cares facilitated an irrigation system in the village. Sešego Cares together with Rotary Club helped erect a borehole within the facility. Sešego Cares donated a piano, organised a Christmas party for the children and coordinated training for the learners in the centre.
Sešego Cares donated toys to the children of Dorah's Ark, for a Christmas party that was arranged for them as the Johannesburg Zoo by Mail & Guardian. Sešego Cares over and above that donated clothes and books to the home. With facilitation from Mail & Guardian Sešego Cares further donated uniform for the children of Dorah's Ark.
Resthaven - Sešego Cares donated 200 blankets to an Old Age Home, in Yeoville.
Guild Cottage
The harmony of a normal family life started by Martin & Audrey Peter was disrupted in a way that would change their lives as well as those of their two children forever.
In August 1989, their only son, Robert at age 3, was suddenly struck by uncontrollable seizures. He emerged from this ordeal with severe brain damage, which was aggravated by a sudden loss of ability to walk and talk.
A year later, the second child, Claire at age 2, was struck by this same condition. Their conditions remained undiagnosed. Thus began their quest to seek out a cure. Their initial journey took them to numerous hospitals in South Africa. It was during this quest that they have identified, on a first-hand basis, the lack of facilities and the ever-growing needs amongst the disabled.
Today's official launch of the Aid Centre by Sešego Cares and its partners, marks another milestone in our endeavour to alleviate the plight of the Disabled people. We are further reminded of the role we are to play through practical action in order to sensitise our people about the international norms and standards which guide processes aimed at improving the quality of life of people with disabilities.
"The dignity of the Disabled should be respected by all, especially their able-bodied counterparts. There are far too many disabled people within the poorer, unemployed sectors of our communities. Most of them do not even have access to physical aid," says Joanne Von Zeuner, Sešego Cares Chairperson.
Changing the attitudes of people to accommodate the needs of the physically challenged remains a serious concern. Our society has been distorted by stigmatizing "The state of being challenged" in so many respects. It is common knowledge that not all disabled people were born with physical deficiencies; a significant number of them were disabled as a result of unforeseen tragedies.
"We acknowledge that there are many challenges facing children and persons with disability that require an appropriate political vehicle for them to be addressed. The United Nations Convention, states parties to the convention must take appropriate measures to ensure persons with disabilities have access, on an equal basis with others, to the physical environment, transportation, information and communications and to other facilities and services open or provided to the public. Our department has always appealed to the private sector in particular; to make available one percent of their net profit after tax, for projects that support socioeconomic development of the vulnerable groups in our society. This contribution should support government's social programmes and make a lasting difference in improving the lives of marginalised women, vulnerable children and person with disabilities," says Minister Mayende-Sibiya, the Minister of Women, Children and People with Disabilities.
"When we work together, the results are so much better than when we work alone - and nowhere is it more visible than in this instance. Under the Absa Pledge we have committed to providing support to our communities across South Africa. Our goal is to take what communities and South Africans at large have initiated and supplement their efforts with Absa's resources, know-how, and networks in strong and solid partnership," says Absa Chief Corporate Affairs and Sustainability Officer, Venete Klein.
"Disability concerns the whole society, in terms of legislation, education and services which should be promoted if the disabled people are fully integrated, the environment should be adaptable to their needs whenever necessary," concludes Von Zeuner.
Sešego Cares believes that disability should not be a hindrance but a stepping stone to encourage people to reach majestic heights of self fulfillment. As a result, their partnership with its key strategic partners; Absa, AFGO Workshop, Johnson Controls and The Rotary Club of Northcliff will certainly go a long way towards raising awareness, aiding the disabled and changing the attitudes of our society about the disabled.
Helping Hand functions within the Solidarity movement, but stands as an independent Section 21 company that generates its own funds. Helping Hand operates an Afrikaans Bursary Institute, a Career Guidance Institute, and an Institute for Communities that Care. The organisation drives upliftment projects for communities in need and mainly focuses on five large projects, namely: National School-case Project, National Lunchbox Project, career guidance and community bursaries, National Day for Taking a Child's Hand, and job creation.
Helping Hand has set up a Crime Relief Fund to assist an 11-year-old girl who was raped during a farm attack in North West in February. Following the attack, the family was informed by a religious welfare organisation that no funds were available to send the girl for specialised trauma counselling. In order to provide aid to the girl and her family, as well as to similar victims of crime that do not receive help from welfare organisations, Helping Hand decided to establish a Crime Relief Fund. This fund will enable victims of crime, such as the grade 6 girl and her family, to get immediate access to specialist help.
Helping Hand is in the process of appointing social workers to address this need. To appoint one social worker will cost R240 000 per year. The R50 000 donated by Sesego Cares will be spent to help children such as this 11-year-old girl and similar victims of crime that do not receive help from other organisations.
Caption: (from left to right): Annemarie Mostert, Joanne van Zeuner, Johan Jacobs (Helping Hand), Dinah Theron (HH) en SW Calitz (HH).
In commemoration of Human Rights Day, the Rotary Club of Northcliff and Rushmoor celebrated their great 11 year partnership with a gala event at Randclub in Johannesburg on Saturday, 20th March 2010, where the handover of the 20 000th wheelchair was witnessed by the Minister of Women, Children and People with Disabilities, Ms Noluthando Mayende-Sibiya N.
Various wheelchairs hand-over events were also arranged in Soweto and Eldorado park on Friday,19 March 2009. Seven members and two wives from the Rotary Club of Rushmoor in United Kingdom travelled to South Africa to be part of the celebrations.
Through its partnership with the Rotary Club Northcliff, Sešego Cares was able to reach over 3000 disabled people over the past 3 years throughout Southern Africa, helping them to become happily mobile beneficiaries, who can now be able to be integrated into society. Used wheelchairs are collected and shipped by the Rotary Club of Rushmoor in United Kingdom to Northcliff. At AFGO workshop, these are repaired by Rotarians and then donated to the identified beneficiaries in Southern Region. Sešego Cares has donated R325 000 to date to this partnership.
It is a sad fact that there is a tremendous need of wheelchairs in Southern Africa and this is particularly true within our previously disadvantaged population.
Beneficiaries were reached in many cities and towns ranging from Cape Town, Richards Bay, White River, Naboomspruit, Port Elizabeth, Umtata and even across our borders to villages such as Angola, Botswana, Lesotho, Swaziland and Zambia.
But wheelchairs are not the only commodities distributed, many other ancillary items have been received and dispersed; hundreds of crutches, walking aids and the like, of which one very important aspect of the project is that all items are donated at no cost whatsoever to the end user.
Joanne Von Zeuner, Sešego Cares Chairman added that: "The dignity of the less able should be respected by all, especially by their more able-bodied counterparts. In reality, the situation is quite different. There are far too many disabled people within the poorer, unemployed sectors of the community who do not have a basic human right, namely mobility. The 20 000th wheelchairs will make this (mobility) possible to such individuals. Let us go on building the bonds of friendship and Ubuntu through cooperation and mutual respect".
We are now in the heart of winter and The Wool Project has gained momentum with a weekly distribution of warm jerseys and scarves to children in need in Gauteng. Our volunteer ladies - "Angles" are daily keeping their hands busy knitting, while our Absa staff is collecting the wool and through Sešego Cares and volunteers the jerseys and scarves are distributed, to the many children in need, throughout the province.
Schools that have benefitted from the project include the Mapetla Day Care Centre in Soweto, where the school is taking care of children whose parents are terminally ill, had more than 50 children receive jerseys for the winter. In Springs, the children of Phelang School for children with disabilities received scarves when they were visited by the Absa Gauteng provincial leadership. In the south of Gauteng, the Lebone High School also received scarves, through the Wool Project, and they indicated that these will keep the learners warm during the long nights studying for the exams.
Iris Feyt from Northcliff started the project 10 years ago, when she went on retirement, and has now grown this support group of volunteers through Elsie Emrich from Triomf, Doreen Smith from Rooseveldpark, and Sandra Calverley in Fairland who are knitting jerseys for children daily. Some of the wool donated was collected from Iris's home and distributed to a group of ladies in Parys and Klerkdorp who are now also part of Iri's knitters.
The Wool project has also received support from members from the Retail Bank, Exco and through their donations more wool will be bought to continue the good work throughout the winter.View gallery
Sešego Cares hosted a graduation ceremony for Early Child Development practitioners in Absa Campus on 06 February 2010. The graduation ceremony was attended by more than 400 hundreds practitioners, COJ, Absa and Sešego Cares representatives. The excitement and the atmosphere was incredible.
In October last year, Sešego Cares in partnership with Absa and Joburg City conducted training in the Joburg City region. The purpose of this joint initiative is to uplift crèches to meet the basic health requirements, get registered and become independent. Once crèches are registered they can get monthly grants from City of Joburg for a year, when that period elapse they have to find means to generate funds.
Joanne Von Zeuner, Sešego Cares had the following to say: Early Childhood Development is a critical first step in building the foundation for a child's ongoing learning and development. The focus is on the holistic development of the child and how the processes of learning are facilitated by children, parents, caregivers and teachers. Knowledge of early childhood development is foundational to anyone who chooses to broaden their knowledge of educational practices with young children. It is key for those wanting to work with children in an early education setting.
It is for this reason that we as Sešego Cares heeded the call by the City of Johannesburg to partner with them in ensuring that our 500 graduates are properly trained in carrying out one of the most important role in every child's phase. View gallery
Sešego Cares, Absa and City of Joburg have formed partnership to empower crèches, they are conducting workshops in the Joburg city Region. The purpose is to uplift crèches to meet the basic health requirements, get registered and become independent. Once crèches are registered they can get monthly grants from City of Joburg for a year, when that period elapse they have to find means to generate funds. This project headed by Wendy Klein, Raakhee Sighn, Tertia de Klerk, Nico Goosen and Annemarie Mostert. The ECD workshop offers modules that covers all relevant aspect. Workshops have been conducted in the following areas:
Klipfontein: 40 practitioners attended. Westbury/TDC :44 practitioners attended. Bram Fischerville: 49 practitioners attended. Lenasia: 62 practitioners attended. ABSA Towers: 149 practitioners attended. SOWETO: 254 practitioners benefitted from the workshop.
(Photo: practitioners at Absa Auditorium)
Over the last fifteen years the Rotary Club of Northcliff and Rotary Club Rushmoor in the United Kingdom have collaborated in sourcing over 20,000 used wheelchairs, shipping them to South Africa and distributing them free of charge to beneficiaries who are unable to buy a wheelchair. In partnership with the Rotary Club of Northcliff, Sešego Cares has donated over 3,000 wheelchairs over the past 3 years.
This great partnership will hopefully assist many more needy citizens in our community to become mobile. The Rotary Club of Northcliff is organising a celebratory dinner to mark the arrival of the 20 000th wheelchair. This celebration will be held on Saturday, 20 March 2010 in Rand Club.
The wheelchair project is changing the lives of disabled individuals. One of our success stories for 2010 is Seegoban Bisnath Singh.
From Kwazulu-Natal in Umkhomazi. He was transported around in a wheelbarrow for a long time. He could not afford a wheelchair. Devan Pillay (Chairman ABSA Disability Forum KZN) was contacted by Maya (concerned community member) about Seegoban Bisnath Singh's living conditions and his desire to get a wheelchair. Sešego Cares was very happy to assist with this donation.
Njabulo Children's home has been in operation since July 2008. Currently there are 12 school going children ranging from grade 3-10. The home has live in house parents, an overseer and a helper to monitor the proper functioning of the home. The children are guided by a timetable which includes chores, prayer time, supervised homework times, outdoor play, meal times and recreation. They enjoy three balanced meals and they are exposed to other stimulation programmes to enhance proper development. The home is funded by sponsors and donors, either through cash or by goods donations.
Sešego Cares has been supporting Njabulo's Children Home since January. We donated groceries, toiletry bags, furniture and help them to start a vegetable garden. Claire Russon and Tertia de Clerk, Sešego Cares directors have volunteered their time to offer support to the kids at Njabulo by assisting with their homework, setting up formal counselling sessions, as well as arranging activities such as ice skating and a trip to the Johannesburg Zoo. Sešego Cares has recently donated R30 000 to provide a fence around the Njabulo Children's home in order to secure the home. After a recent visit by the Management of Absa's Rewards Programme, it was also agreed by both parties to work closely together during 2010 in making a difference to the needs of the kids.
On the 5th December, Sešego Cares surprised the kids with a Christmas party.
Sešego Cares hosted a cocktail auction in Sandston at Absa Capital on 12 November from 6pm-9pm. The guests were welcomed by Absa Group chief Executive Maria Ramos. The following items were auctioned: (1) flights and accommodation to London. (2 )Signed national teams sport jerseys. (3) Jewellery. (4) weekend away at Sibuya Game Camp. (5) Accommodation at 15 on Orange with flights and car hire. (6) Two FIFA world Cup suite tickets for the opening game. (7)Artwork by Walter Mathebula. (8) Dinner at Val de Vie Estate for 10. (9) A dinner which includes décor, food and organisation for 30 at you own house. Absa Group Chief Executive Maria Ramos was announced as the Sešego Cares patron. Sešego Cares is getting bigger and better!
(Photo: Absa Chief Executive Maria Ramos and Sešego Cares Chairman Joanne von Zeuner holds Ramos' My School Card. My School cards will ensure a sustainable income for Sešego Cares when card holders swipe it at Woolworth stores.)
Sešego Cares built two houses in Orange Farm as part of MAD programme. The 100 houses were built by volunteers from Absa and skilled labourers, between 19 October and 23 October. Each house needed 20 volunteers, a NHBRC certified builder and a team leader. The volunteers normally took on the non-skill required tasks such as mixing cement, carrying bricks, erecting scaffolding and pushing wheel barrows amongst others. The structures of the houses were completed on time as scheduled. Plumbing and electricity wiring were completed at a later stage. The hand over took place on Friday 23 October 2009 at Drieziek Extension 5. The Deputy Minister of Human Settlements, Mrs Z Kota-Fredericks, Absa Group CE Maria Ramos, Joburg city Mayor, Amos Masondo and City of Johannesburg MMC Housing Strike Ralegoma officialy handed over the 100 keys to the selected beneficiaries.
(Photo from left to right: Judith Chinkumbi, Mihloti Mathye , Charlotte Rahlaga at the back and Annemarie Mostert)
Batong Village - Sešego Cares donated 50 desks and 100 chairs to Johane Mokolobetsi Middle School in the Batong Village. The chairs and desks will house students in 3 classrooms to the value of R50 000.00. Sešego Cares also donated musical instruments to the school, to further cultural development. On the day of the handover Sešego Cares together with a local Absa branch feed over +/- 900 students and 25 teachers. View gallery
Sešego Cares donated school fees for about 18 learners, 2000 blankets, computers and printers to Obanjaneni school in the Drankensburg area all to the value of R55 000. View gallery
Sešego Cares in partnership with Absa CSI and Absa's Give As You Earn Programme erected a borehole for irrigation. The Residents of Bethesda in Hammanskraal and the Bethesda Outreach Ministry will benefit from a new community borehole, providing them access to water for growing and maintaining their vegetable gardens. View gallery