What started off as a ‘random act of kindness’ has led to a monthly payroll contribution which helps to make a difference in South African communities. Last year, Momentum Metropolitan Holdings staff members managed to raise R260 000 through staff payroll contributions. These funds will also be used for the development and printing of learner material, tutor and teacher stipends, chalks and other material needed in the classroom.
Momentum Metropolitan identified two NPOs to share the contributions with, Limpopo Maths & Science Academy which received R160 000 and Youth Potential South Africa in the Eastern Cape which received R100 000. The two NPOs were selected as beneficiaries because they are on a mission to uplift young South Africans through education.
Limpopo Maths and Science Academy focuses on improving the level of mathematics and science in the province by providing quality education and career development programmes to learners. It currently helps about 300 learners from villages surrounding Mokopane through extra lessons, support over WhatsApp, educational camps and Saturday classes.
“The past year was a particularly challenging one, with the impact of a global pandemic and associated lockdown taking a heavy toll on people mentally, physically, socially and financially – but somehow, even in the midst of these obstacles, our people opened up their hearts and wallets because they could see people that were worse off and wanted to help in whichever way they could,” said Patronella Sono, Staff Volunteer Specialist at Momentum Metropolitan.
“Monthly payroll contributions are one of the initiatives under the staff volunteering programme at Momentum Metropolitan Holdings. The staff volunteer programme (SVP) encourages employees to choose the form of volunteering – from payroll giving to face-to-face and virtual volunteering – that best suits and enables them to give back to communities,” explained Sono.
“With this donation, MASA will not only be able to reach out to more students and continue to operate for the 10 months but will also feed more than five families who rely on a weekly stipend they get from the after classes,” said Thabo Makwela, General Manager of MASA.
Youth Potential South Africa (YOUPSA) aims to uplift the young people of the Gamtoos Valley in an effort to help them find their purpose and contribute to the broader wellbeing of their community. They offer five programmes: Creative Youth Empowerment, Creative Teacher Empowerment, Leadership and Team-Building for Students, Teachers and School Governing Bodies, ‘Words Can Change Worlds’ Literacy Programme, and Creating Health with Community Gardens.
“Rural children and youth are the vast majority in our country, but the least supported and most forgotten. Momentum Metropolitan’s support means that disadvantaged Primary School children can attend YOUPSA’s After-School Enrichment Programme in 2021,” said Ray Schöne, Co-Founder and Director at YOUPSA. The funds will be used for the necessary programme resources, healthy snacks, transportation costs, facilitation and educational outings.
“The overall increase in payroll giving shows the willingness of people to play their part and do their most to help others – and is an important step in equipping South Africa’s youth with the skills they need to grow into successful adults. We would like to thank our employees for continuing to give so generously even when they were facing their own challenges and encourage them to maintain the momentum to create a wave of positive change,” concluded Sono.
