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Delivering Happiness to Diepsloot marks its tenth anniversary

corporate-social-investment

December 3, 2021

The end of November is always a special time of the year for us, as it marks a time to spread joy with Delivering Happiness to Diepsloot a flagship initiative by the Steyn City Foundation that Auto & General has supported over the years. This year promises to be even more memorable, as the initiative celebrates its tenth anniversary.

 

The initiative has evolved to answer the most pressing needs of families in the area, while also making sure that the special spirit of Christmas is part of their lives at this time. This year’s project is no different: bearing in mind that 2020 and 2021 have been especially challenging for most from a financial point of view, the Steyn City Foundation took care to discuss learners’ needs with principals from participating schools. In line with their recommendations, learners in Grades 1 to 3 will receive flip files, colouring books and crayons, while those Grades 3 to 7 will receive maths instruments and calculators. These goodies will be placed inside school bags with other treats.

 

Learners will also receive food packages to be shared with their families over Christmas. These parcels have been made possible through a donation of R4 million by Auto & General Insurance.

 

Ricardo Coetzee, Head of Auto & General Insurance said: “We have a number of impactful programmes in place to enhance the livelihoods of individuals in our neighbouring community of Diepsloot and have supported Delivering Happiness to Diepsloot for the past decade.  Covid-19 as well as the July unrest has caused drastic increases in household and child hunger, as well as food insecurity. We continue to play our part to assist those in need.”

 

Of course, the festive season should also be just that – festive – and, with this in mind, the Steyn City Foundation has ordered a massive cake, so that the learners can join in the Delivering Happiness to Diepsloot tenth anniversary celebrations. Meanwhile, much-loved Idols presenter ProVerb will be adding a dash of celebrity flair to the proceedings.

 

Not only are the learners and their families benefitting from Delivering Happiness to Diepsloot – the project has an important job creation element too. The bags for learners in the foundation phase (Grades 1-3) were manufactured by a small entity called Just Bags. Their participation in the project gives us a chance to support local small business and stimulate the local economy. Meanwhile, bags for Grades 3 to 7 were made by the women of Uzwelo, creating vital employment for this community in Kwa-Zulu Natal.

 

This holiday season spread some festive cheer; your one act of kindness can change someone’s life.

 

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