Momentum Metropolitan recently announced the winners of its seventh annual Lesedi Awards in a ceremony hosted at Katy’s Palace Bar in Kramerville, Johannesburg.
Employee volunteering is one of Momentum Metropolitan’s Corporate Social Investment’s (CSI) pillars of focus, with a dynamic staff volunteerism programme (SVP) that provides opportunities and resources for employees to support causes close to their hearts. The Lesedi Awards is an annual event held to acknowledge and honour the efforts and impact made by those volunteers.
Every year, those recognised as being the most dedicated and active volunteers within their communities walk away with prize money that is donated on their behalf towards the non-profit organisations (NPO) of their choice.
Tshego Bokaba, CSI Manager at Momentum Metropolitan, explains: “While our CSI mandate is primarily focused on youth upliftment, we recognise how important it is for people to feel that they are a part of something more meaningful than ‘just a job’; and we have created a platform that supports our employees in building this richness into their own lives.
“It is important to us that we offer plentiful opportunities for them to give back and support the causes that they care about, which we achieve through our volunteerism programmes, as well as other initiatives such as our official CSI leave day and of course, our annual Lesedi Awards. Our volunteers are committed to people, to change and to making an impactful or sustainable difference – and this is worthy of recognition.”
This year the Awards dovetail the release of the inaugural Momentum Metropolitan Volunteerism Report*; a new, comprehensive body of independent research commissioned by Momentum Metropolitan that aims to explore the state of volunteerism in a South Africa. The results uncovered key insights and learnings for the corporate and others to integrate into their volunteerism programmes. Findings in the report divulge who is volunteering and why, the types of causes being supported, as well as suggestions on how to get more people volunteering.
At this year’s Lesedi Awards, eight award categories were announced in front of a live audience. A wide range of causes were represented, including education initiatives, sports development, environmental projects, hunger and nutritional programmes, abused women and children support, crime prevention, literacy programmes, animal welfare, various relief interventions, community development and more.
Faeeza Marshman, Administration Manager at Momentum Corporate was announced as the winner of the 2022 Lesedi Spirit of Volunteering Award the top award of the night. This is a significant achievement as the individual in this category is chosen from the other winners across the seven Lesedi categories, representing the pinnacle of selfless service.
Says Bokaba: “Faeeza has been feeding the poor and caring for abused women, children and the elderly in the Bosmost and Riverlea areas for several years. She is currently focused on increasing awareness around self-funded crime prevention measures, and is looking into opening a safe house, soup kitchen and rehabilitation centre for abused individuals. She also recently registered her own non-profit organisation, the Marshman Foundation.
“Demonstrating real heart and selflessness – and given her extensive work in her community – Faaeza is the true embodiment of the spirit of volunteerism and a deserving winner of our most prestigious award.”
Marshman, who was also the winner of the Lesedi Individual Volunteer award, says: “It is not easy work – there are a lot of challenges I face daily. It is so rewarding and gives me courage to go out and do more, because I can see it is well appreciated – not only by my peers but in my community.
“Volunteering to me is giving back to the community, seeing smiles, and giving quality of life to people.”
Over and above the cash prizes awarded to finalists’ chosen charities, all winners walked away with a bespoke iconic 2022 Lesedi trophy sculpted by a rising star in creative craft and design, Sifiso Shange.
Concludes Bokaba: “To live a meaningful life is to make a unique difference or contribution to the world. This year’s annual Lesedi Awards serves to celebrate those who stood up this year and said, ‘I am here’; helping South Africa’s communities to thrive and leaving them better off than they were before.”
Full list of the Momentum Metropolitan Lesedi Awards winners:
Lesedi Spirit of Volunteering
Faeeza Marshman, Momentum Corporate
Championing community challenges, including caring for the poor, elderly and abused women and children, with her own NPO, the Marshman Foundation.
Lesedi Individual Volunteer
Faeeza Marshman, Momentum Corporate
Lesedi Volunteer Business Leader
Natasha Goliath, Metropolitan Life
Doing community work, feeding the hungry and training hairdressers in Blikkiesdorp, one of Cape Town’s poorest settlements.
Lesedi Team Volunteer
Metropolitan Life Human Capital team (led by Natasha Goliath)
As above
Lesedi International Volunteer
Petronela Namushinga, Metropolitan Life Namibia
Supporting the Booming Empowerment Project, which educates over 260 youth about health issues, HIV prevention, GBV awareness and essential life skills.
Lesedi Exceptional Volunteer Champion
Seema Singh, Momentum
Providing meals and food security to impoverished communities and volunteering for the Food for Life organisation
Lesedi Most Consistent Payroll Giver
Two winners announced, who prefer to remain anonymous
Lesedi Most Active Volunteer on Forgood website
Clinton van Boomen, Momentum Health Solutions
