CORPORATE RESPONSIBILITY PROJECTS

As part of every company’s portfolio there should be a responsibility to the less privileged in our communities. 

Our first project took place not in our province, but as far afield as KwaZulu Natal. Here we were introduced to the Thokomala home for children orphaned by HIV/AIDS. Thokomala, meaning ‘warmth’ or ‘care’ in isiZulu, is based on the simple yet effective model of community-based child care. Thokomala’s approach is holistic in that they not only provide shelter and food, but also the love and nurturing of a normal family environment. Placement of orphans in their community of origin ensures they do not lose touch with their roots and the support systems familiar to them. Thokomala sets up houses, which become homes to six children (preferably sibling groups) and a loving foster mother. Thokomala is designed to personalise and not to institutionalise orphans! Thokomala removes the stigma attached to HIV and AIDS and provides children with the love and warmth they need to grow into emotionally sound adults. Children are our future. If we don’t make sure the orphans of today are cared for, we will have far larger and infinitely more complex problems to deal with in a few years!  This project, in conjunction with Unilever, was the start of a partnership of giving back to worthy causes.

Click on the above picture to visit the website of this home for more information or if you wish to contribute to this cause.

Our second project, which was part of the 10/10/10 initiative, was held at Margaret’s House in Lansdowne, Cape Town. Unilever once again lent a helping hand and we sponsored a 150L “Sunlight” Solar system, which consists of the solar collectors being manufactured by SolarMAX and the geyser by Xstream Geysers. The press release from Unilever was as follows: “Unilever, through its Sunlight brand, is supporting the installation of a solar powered water geyser at a Cape Town-based care Centre for troubled children. Margaret’s House in Lansdowne will enjoy hot water without high electricity costs, thanks to the installation of the Sunlight solar system by Unilever and SolarMAX. Geraldine Engel, administration manager at Margaret’s House, said the organisation was most grateful to Unilever and SolarMAX for partnering with the 10/10/10 Global Work Party to install the solar-powered hot water system. She said while the home received half its funding from the state, it was forced to rely on independent donations to provide children from troubled families the chance to heal, grow, and flourish in conventional society.“

Click on the above picture to visit the website of this home for more information or if you wish to contribute to this cause.

Our third project, which is very close to our hearts, was Overstrand Child and Youth Care Centre. This centre is a registered residential home for the care, education and re-socialization for 26 children (18 boys and 8 girls) between the ages of six and fourteen years. These children have all been committed by children’s courts in the Overberg region.
The need for a facility for family “deprived“ and neglected children in the Overberg Region arose in 1988. The original “home” opened its doors to six children, but had to be vacated in 1991 due to unforeseen circumstances. In 1993 the Rotarians of the Claremont Club in Cape Town donated prefabricated units from the Mossgass offshore oil-drilling site in Mossel Bay, which was erected as a new “Home“.  The Youth Care Centre, being the only children’s home in the Overberg, not only serves the needy children in the area, but also allows the youngsters to remain fully integrated into their own community.

E-mail Theresa Els at boyshome@absamail.co.za for more information or if you wish to contribute to this cause.

At SolarMAX we believe that each one of us can make a positive contribution to our children’s future.