On Saturday, 20 September, 160 Volkswagen Group Africa employees based at the National Sales Organisation in Sandton and the Group Parts facility in Centurion, along with their loved-ones, came together to make a meaningful social impact at the Leap Maths and Science Centre in Diepsloot.
This initiative was part of the VWGA Show of Hands Programme, hosted by Volkswagen for Good in collaboration with Ladles of Love.
Ladles of Love is a charity organisation founded by Danny Diliberto in Cape Town 11 years ago. Since its establishment, the organisation has grown significantly, now operating warehouses in both the Western Cape and Gauteng and providing food relief to more than 200 beneficiary organisations across the country.
During the initiative, volunteers participated in four specially curated activities designed to address both immediate needs and long-term sustainability. Through the Buckets of Hope activity, food parcels were packed into buckets, each bucket providing enough meals to feed 12 children. A total of 40 000 meals were prepared.
In the Arts and Crafts activity, employees created 150 colouring books to inspire creativity and learning among children. The Pairs of Kindness initiative saw volunteers painting and decorating sneakers for children at a local Early Childhood Development centre, adding a personal touch of care and joy. In addition, through the Food Gardening activity, staff planted vegetables and prepared 20 sustainable mini-gardens, leaving behind a long-term legacy of nutrition.
For this initiative, LEAP 4 Maths and Science Centre was the proud beneficiary. LEAP Science and Maths Schools are a network of low-fee secondary schools providing world-class education in mathematics, physical science, and English to learners from underserved communities. LEAP 4 in Diepsloot, established in 2011, continues to demonstrate the power of education to transform lives. Despite operating under challenging conditions, the school has consistently achieved exceptional results, including multiple years of 100% matric pass rates. LEAP 4 equips young people with the skills and confidence to succeed in higher education and beyond.
“Through the Show of Hands programme, we are proud to live our commitment to making a difference in the lives of the communities where we operate,” said Nonkqubela Maliza, Director for Corporate and Government Affairs at Volkswagen Group Africa. “We are happy that the mini-gardens that we have planted will grow to feed children even long after we have left, and to me, that is the impact and sustainability that we continuously talk about,” Maliza added.
Through collaborative partnerships and employee volunteerism, Volkswagen Group Africa continues to empower and uplift communities, making a lasting difference.
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National Budget: According to the 2017 Open Budget Index, South Africa was ranked joint first with New Zealand for having the most transparent budget in the world, with both countries scoring 89 out of a possible 100 points. The United States and Brazil are tied 7th with 77 points, while China is near the bottom of the list with 13 points. This level of transparency provides a positive business environment for investors and will attract either local or Foreign Direct Investment into the country to invest in new ventures.