Kaap Agri’s branches, corporate departments, employees and some of their family members joined hands to support the children being cared for by the Durbanville Children’s Home (DCH).
Inspired by youth month and the DCH’s long history of protecting vulnerable young people, Kaap Agri donated essentials and care packs worth more than R54,000.
The donation included:
- 145 blankets
- 145 towels
- toiletries, including shampoo, soap, toothbrush, toothpaste, sanitary pads, deodorant, and body lotion
- snack packs with sweets, cookies, and soft drinks
- ready-made meals including instant noodles and soup
Kaap Agri made the donation on 22 June in line with National Youth Month which was celebrated this year with the theme “Promoting sustainable livelihood and resilience of young people for a better tomorrow.” The children were surprised and extremely grateful for the care packs filled with treats.
Children are important to Kaap Agri and its employees, and the company’s CSI efforts focus on empowering young people from an early age, according to Barend Sulvester, Kaap Agri’s Senior Manager for Sustainability.
“Many of us are parents and will do everything in our power to ensure that our children reach their full potential and are successful. Kaap Agri’s CARE philosophy is embraced by all its employees and I’m proud to work alongside colleagues who, even during difficult times, continue to care and to look for ways to contribute,” says Barend.
Yolandi Swart, a Buyer in Kaap Agri’s Procurement Department who initiated the project, sold Friday meals to colleagues for 4 weeks to help raise funds. Even Yolandi’s mom got into the spirit of Youth Day and donated four bulk bins filled to the brim with soft citrus!
Agrimark branches in Durbanville, Paarl, Simondium, Bredasdorp and Wellington also supported the initiative and provided funds or products for the care packs.
“Children are close to my heart. They cannot speak for themselves, and we need to give as much as we can to warm their hearts and bring them joy. The children at DCH did not choose their environment and we are merely trying to ease the challenges they face,” says Yolandi.
DCH was established in 1883 by two Sunday school teachers and was first known as the Kinderzendinghuis, caring for children orphaned because of plagues such as smallpox and the flu epidemic. Thanks to successful management and community support, it is one of the oldest children’s homes in South Africa.
The home currently takes care of 144 children aged between 2 and 18 years, many of whom have been removed from parental care by the courts due to various social conditions such as negligence, abuse, violence and gangsterism.
DCH is inspired by the belief that every child deserves a happy childhood. The focus is on empowering children to make a smooth transition from care to independent living in order for them to provide not only for their own basic needs but also to make a valuable contribution to the broader community.
“Core to our CARE philosophy is the value of empowering people. We understand the important role that children’s homes play in empowering young people by providing children access to a safe, nurturing environment through education and therapeutic support,” says Barend.
“We would like to give a big thank you to Agrimark for donating blankets, toiletries and goodie bags to our children. We sincerely appreciate your donation and thank you for keeping our children warm this chilly winter,” says Johanna Strauss, Manager of Durbanville
Children’s Home.