“There can be no greater gift than that of giving one’s time and energy to helping others without expecting anything in return.” – Nelson Mandela
Friday, 17th July 2020 | On the eve of Mandela Day, The Val de Vie Foundation handed out 300 reusable cotton face masks to the team of resident employees working across Val de Vie Estate. In time to catch their early morning start at the Val de Vie Gatehouses, men and women were gifted masks to ensure their health and safety at all times.
Saturday, 18th July 2020 | This Mandela Day finds South Africa and the entire world in the grip of a pandemic of epic proportions. Knowing that there were many obstacles in terms of keeping our community and NGOs safe, the Val de Vie Foundation worked with long-time partner Hope Through Action at their centres in Mbekweni and Groendal. In an effort to keep young members of the community warm, safe and healthy during the winter months, 1000 children from the Paarl-Franschhoek Valley received blankets, hygiene packs and celebratory Madiba Day party packs. The on-the-ground organization was brilliantly coordinated by Score and Gift of the Givers. The combined sponsorship of The Val de Vie Foundation, The Foschini Group and Gift of the Givers Foundation amounted to R220,000 worth of blankets, hygiene packs and celebratory Madiba Day party packs in donations.
The donated blankets came from the ‘Sew Good Initiative’ which forms part of The Foschini Group’s initiative to promote the skill development of previously unemployed women. Since its launch in 2015 the ‘Sew Good Initiative’ has helped train over 350 women and donated nearly 200 000 warm blankets to South Africans in need. These purple blankets truly ‘spread warmth through action’ and continue to change the lives of both those making and receiving them.
Through the entire period of the lockdown, the Khula Development Group, situated in Paarl East, has continued to mentor 430 of their most vulnerable learners at risk of dropping out of junior school. They adapted their school program to ensure these learners were supported and safe during the difficult period. Each Paarl East Khula child received a purple blanket and the amazing psycho-social workers were supported with rain boots and umbrellas to enable them to safely travel to work.
The Gift of the Givers Foundation is the largest disaster response, non-governmental organisation of African origin on the continent and works to unite people with a common vision. The Gift of the Givers Foundation along with Neutra-Fog helped ensure the venue, all surfaces and handouts were sanitized and fully met the hygiene requirements of the COVID-19 regulations. Gift of the Givers restores the hope and dignity of the most vulnerable in their time of need, rebuilding prosperous communities and empowering leaders of tomorrow.
