Shot in the arm for pupils at Mikateka
Building on its inaugural food security drive launched in honour of Mandela Day, Vodacom in partnership with the Nelson Mandela Foundation, donated 2 118 food parcels to needy families and pupils at Mikateka Primary School on Thursday last week.
Speaking during the event, the Vodacom executive head for stakeholder engagement and reputation management, Mr Tshepo Ramodibe, said with their focus on providing nutritious food items, Vodacom is confident that the food parcels will be well received.
“We partnered with the department of education. They identified 95 schools in the most needy areas around the country for us. These schools then received the 51 000 parcels packed by Vodacom employees. We hope the food parcels will supplement families with basic food supplies to sustain the children in the short term and to ensure that children do not go to school hungry,” he said.
Mr Ramodibe added that they joined the Nelson Mandela Foundation in urging South Africans to take part in giving service to humanity by feeding the hungry and helping the needy.
“Nelson Mandela Day has become important to the Vodacom family and is our little way of giving back to our customers and communities. At the heart of Vodacom is the belief that together we can make a difference in the lives of pupils. We are proud of the partnership we have established with our employees, the Nelson Mandela Foundation and the Department of Basic Education, which is aimed at making a difference in the lives of pupils,” he added.
Mikateka Primary School pupils and their families received the parcels. The parcels were packed with oats, a large bottle of peanut butter, two cans of pilchards, two cans of baked beans, packets of samp, packets of sugar beans, a peanut and raisin snack and a R2 Vodacom power bundle.
The chief executive of the Nelson Mandela Foundation, Mr Sello Hatang, said they focused on food security, literacy and shelter, and Vodacom has ensured a close alignment with these by focusing its volunteering initiative on food security.
“Vodacom continues to be a valued partner in driving the Mandela Day ethos and Tata’s legacy forward. Food security is a vital part of the development journey for pupils and we would like to challenge others to take a leaf out of Vodacom’s book to ensure the future of our youth,” he added.
Meanwhile, the school principal, Mr Mandla Sibanyoni, said they grateful and feel humbled.
“The donation will help the disadvantaged families and pupils. Vodacom, its family and the Nelson Mandela Foundation are always welcome in the community of Ivory Park. We hope they come again and donate to other schools,” he said.
