As part of the Telkom Foundation’s initiatives to give back to communities, Telkom executives are given the opportunity to adopt a project or organisation that is close to their hearts. Over 30 Telkom executives select a worthy cause and the Telkom Foundation provides support and funding to the organization.
Alfie Ngubo, Group Executive: Employee Relations, adopted the Luvuyo Orphanage Home in Soshanguve near Pretoria, as part of the Adopt-a-Project initiative. The home cares for 354 children who are infected and affected by HIV/Aids, abuse, abandonment, neglect and who are vulnerable. 22 children live there permanently. Some of the children living there were missing school because transport was unaffordable for their parents. Others were living in homes where their parents could not afford to feed them before school or over weekends. Luvuyo Orphanage Home provides a refuge where more than their basic needs are met. They receive emotional and psychological support and learn valuable life skills in a nurturing environment.
Explaining his choice, Alfie said protecting and nurturing the children of South Africa is a cause close to his heart as there are so many children who are vulnerable. “They are the future of South Africa, but their future lies in the hands of those that support them,” he says. “When you see the dedicated women putting their hearts and souls into caring for these children, one is inspired to do what one can and I am grateful to Telkom for the opportunity to help.”
As Group Executive: Employee Relations, Alfie understands volunteerism has benefits far beyond pure community development. Employee volunteerism boosts staff morale and company loyalty and helps position the company as an employer of choice.
Dirk Reyneke, Head Integration: BCX, chose the Baby Therapy Centre in Pretoria as his Adopt-a-Project beneficiary. The centre assists babies and toddlers with developmental delays or special needs. It has an outreach programme that offers regular screening and therapy at local clinics and NPOs in Mamelodi West and runs a project in Salvokop near Pretoria.
Dirk explains that as a father he understands the challenges of being a parent and is pleased he can contribute to an organization that is supporting parents, with few resources available, in addressing the challenges their children face. He recognizes the far-reaching effect of the therapist’s intervention at this stage of the children’s lives. Developmental delays in babies have a significant impact of school performance in the long-term. Cognitive and motor skills are crucial to understanding basic concepts and are the foundation on which all later learning is built. These are developed in the first five years. The therapists also offer teacher training to help facilitators enhance and improve their skills to offer an optimal early learning experience for each child.
Robin Coode, Group Executive: Finance, chose to support Walter Sisulu Primary School in Olievenhoutbosch for his Adopt-a-Project with the Telkom Foundation. The initiative was conducted in partnership with the Bright Smiles Bright Future, an organisation that serves and develops impoverished communities. The aim was to inspire and motivate children at a Centurion primary school by acknowledging the top students from Grade 1-7 and the five best-performing teachers. While honouring the students who achieved, Robin also took the opportunity to acknowledge the personal accomplishments of each child. As he said at the prize giving success is attainable for each child: “The real secret is to come to school, every day, ready to learn, to ask questions and to do our best. Looking at the attendance here today makes us all winners and achievers.” He also reminded the learners of the importance of their education, as future leaders of our country, quoting Nelson Mandela: “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.”
Telkom Executive | Organization | Purpose |
Alphonzo Samuels | Ditshego House of Laughter | House of safety for orphaned children – provided nutritional aid, educational support and training |
Alfie Ngubo | Luvuyo Orphanage Home | Cares for abandoned children with HIV and AIDS - provided food, clothing, transport and educational support |
Anton Klopper | Nuwe Hoop Skool | Caters for multi-cultural learners who experience barriers to learning such as cerebral palsy, various forms of physical disabilities and special learning disabilities |
Banie Van Vollenhoven | Lesedi La Batho | Early learning childhood development – provided nutritional aid and ICT exposure |
Nwabisa Piki | Norwood Junior Secondary School | Primary school - provided educational support, ICT exposure and integration as well as support of the school’s renovation |
Beauty Apleni | Norwood Junior Secondary School | Primary school - provided educational support, ICT exposure and integration as well as support of the school’s renovation |
Dirk Reyneke | Baby Therapy Centre | Assists children with medium to severe disabilities with therapy and various educational needs |
Ian Russel | St Vincent School For The Deaf | Facility for the deaf - provided support for technology needs such as tablets/tablets, established a training centre and provided assistive technology for the Deaf as well as a fulltime IT Specialist |
Jacqui O'Sullivan | Kirsty Watts Foundation | Renovating children’s wards and homes – contributed towards wheel chairs and raising funds for prosthetic limbs |
Len De Villiers | Society Impacting Development | Offers Skills development, education support, and poverty relief to disadvantaged and orphaned children |
Robin Coode | Bright Smiles Bright Future | A holistic, empowering learnership progamme that provides a bridge between High School and possible job opportunities |
Themba Khumalo | Ntinga Music & Arts Academy | Provides musical training – provided ICT skills development and connectivity |
Thokozani Mvelase | Central Gauteng Mental Health Society | Conducts and sustains protective workshops and hygienic aids |
Shafika Isaacs | Olico Foundation | Provided ICT equipment for education purposes, ICT skills development and connectivity and related operational costs |
Manelisa Mavuso | Uthandweni Children’s Home | Independent Living Program – provided hygienic cleaning and laundry items and supported educational and recreational activities items |
Brian Amstrong | Malamulela Onward | Provides therapy for rural children disabled by cerebral palsy and training for their parents. |
Marna Wilden | Thembani Primary School | Primary school – contributed to laying of artificial grass for sports and tarring and upgrading recreational facilities |
Siyabonga Mahlangu | Phumzile High School | ICT Equipment for educators basic skills development, research and to improve efficiency |
Loyiso Nongxa | Mhlanga Development Trust | Purchased and converted containers for community ICT Lab |
Linda Vilakazi | Oliver & Adelaide Tambo Foundation Trust | Sanitary Towels Project at Nkantolo Village |
Leatitia Rispel | South African Depression & Anxiety Group (SADAG) | Supported SADAG’s outreach programme, which assists high school learners and teachers with dealing with depression and reducing South Africa’s high rate of teen suicide. |
Leatitia Rispel | The Salvation Army | The Salvation Army takes care of children between the ages 3 – 18 years who are placed by the Children’s Court due to varying degrees of abuse, neglect, poverty and abandonment or incapacity of their caregivers |
Dion Fredericks | Kleinvlei Primary School | Educational Stimulation Programmes – provided nutritional aid and transportation |
Sarah Mthintso | Kgatlamping Primary School | Provided ICT equipment for educators, training in basic skills, research and improved efficiency |
Mervin Goliath | Olico Foundation NPC | Provided ICT equipment for education purposes, skills development, connectivity and related operational costs |
Johan Henning | Vuyo Primary School | Provided ICT equipment for education purposes, skills development, connectivity and related operational costs |
Sipho Maseko | Lesolang Primary School- Warm Up Garankuwa | The Telkom CEO and three of his colleagues clubbed together to support the school by providing ICT equipment for educational purposes, skills development, connectivity and related operational costs as well as security and transportation requirements |
Megan Nicholas | ||
Themba Gumbi | ||
Isaack Mophatlane |