Sun International’s two-day Festival of Giving, held in the week of Mandela Day at its Sandton Central Office and hotels and resorts across the country, reaffirms the company’s commitment to socio-economic upliftment.
Nelson Mandela once said: “It is in your hands to make a better world for all who live in it.”Sun International believes in the power of giving back and making a positive impact in our communities. The JSE-listed hospitality and entertainment heavyweight was proud to honour Madiba’s legacy via uplifting meaningful initiatives during Mandela Month.
At the company’s Sandton headquarters on 17 July, some 80 employees came together to pack 120 Jars of Hope (including rice, lentils and stock) for the Khensani Early Childhood Development Centre in Diepsloot, one of Johannesburg’s most impoverished areas. In addition, 50 Garden for Giving boxes with herbs such as coriander, parsley and mint for the Meals on Wheels welfare organisation, tasked with helping poverty-stricken communities with nutritious meals and food security.
Partnering for good
Sun International’s Festival of Giving extends beyond Mandela Day itself. The following day, around 30 staff attended an eco-brick workshop at Khensani’s premises in Diepsloot, using plastic waste to help build an eco-classroom and aid in the NGO mission to strive to give academically talented but economically disadvantaged youth an opportunity to reach their full potential.
Meals on Wheels Makeover Officer Pearl Mhlanga thanked Sun International for the support and said she hoped to build a strong relationship with the company – the initial link-up was facilitated by the ForGood platform, which connects causes and corporates.
“We value partnerships, as the more hands come together, the more we can reach out to poor communities. The biggest challenge is the numbers, with so much poverty out there that we are limited to the areas we serve. If we had the resources, we would serve everybody. We give thanks to Sun International and hope to do this on a bigger scale!” she said.
Lifelong struggle
Since 2009, the international Nelson Mandela Day, which marks Madiba’s lifelong struggle against apartheid and for the principles of democracy, equality, and freedom, has seen citizens dedicate 67 minutes of their time in service to the needy. Sun International encourages to celebrate the life of the great statesman not just by participating through its multi-day Festival of Giving, but in their own capacity throughout the year.
With studies showing numerous benefits associated with volunteerism, including physical and mental health perks, Sun International staff involved in the festival had the joys of charitable work written in their many smiles.
Lerato Songo from the Advanced Deposits team said it was “uplifting and encouraging to see people giving back, bringing the culture of giving to our workspace”, while financial reporting accountant Tshepang Digoamaje said the experience wasn’t about ticking off 67 minutes, but helping the next human being.
“It goes beyond big corporate’s CSI obligations to individual efforts, doing things out of the goodness of your heart. It’s one of the reasons I joined the company – I asked about CSI in my interview!” he smiled.
Charity challenge
Sun International Group SED Specialist Heidi Edson issued a challenge to other corporates and the company’s staff to “roll up their sleeves not just during Mandela Month but 365 days a year” as Sun International’s volunteerism programme continues to gather pace.
“This Mandela Day was especially significant as it coincided with 30 years of freedom and democracy in South Africa. We’ve expanded our efforts this year to include food-packing activities across all our properties. Sun International will continue to support the communities in which the company operates through its efforts across education, arts and culture, poverty alleviation and food security focus areas,” she explained.
