SASKO hands out big prizes to winning day care centres
The 285 participating day cares in Tembisa were being acknowledged and rewarded for collecting 900 000 SASKO bread bags
The top five winners of SASKO Siyasizana Day Care Project in Tembisa for August 2017 prize-giving were Future Creche and Pre-School, Tender Care D.C, Mosupatsela Creche, All Nation Day Care and Manini Day Care.
The SASKO Siyasizana Day Care Project awarded about 285 day care centres for collecting SASKO bread bags.
The awards were held at the Ivory Park North Hall on August 31.
The SASKO Siyasizana Day Care Project is an ongoing national programme assisting day cares with essential items for their centre.
It was launched in Tembisa in September 2015 and awards participating day cares every six months.
The 285 participating day cares in Tembisa were acknowledged and rewarded for collecting 900 000 SASKO bread bags in the past six months.
A total of 2 562 prizes will make their way into day cares and make life a bit easier for everyone working there and the children in their care.
Day care owners in Tembisa have collected a staggering 2 300 000 bags since September 2015 to date, making a sizeable contribution to the 3 003 566 bags collected across the country over the last two years.
Siyasizana – Zulu for “we are helping each other” – calls on community members and residents to come together in support of their local day cares by assisting with the collection of bags.
These bread bags are redeemed for items such as mattresses, backpacks, basins, carpets, chairs and even fridges or stoves for participating day cares.
Lungelwa Mnyamana, brand manager for Essential Foods Bakeries at SASKO, explains: “Having launched this project in Tembisa, the community has a very special place in our hearts. We always strive to give back to the communities who support us and at every prize-giving we are astounded by the number of bags that are collected to be recycled in this area. Handing out over 2 500 prizes today, we will be assisting the day care owners to make their centres more comfortable, ultimately benefiting the children in their care.”
To date, there is 2 256 participating day cares across the country, 3 003 566 bags have been collected to be redeemed for prizes and 10 146 prizes have been handed out.
“We will continue to roll the SASKO Siyasizana Day Care Project out nationally. Day cares in Tembisa, Soweto, Mitchells Plain, Khayelitsha and Mdantsane are currently collecting bags and we are constantly looking for new areas. As the project grows, we will also reassess the needs of the participating day cares and how SASKO can continue to support,” says Mnyamana.
Maria Zitha said she worked hard to win the first prize.
“Since last year, when I saw that the project was awarding crèche owners incredible big prizes, I went all out with my team to collect non-stop. I had a mission to be in this year’s top five but I never thought I will be the winner. I am proud of myself, teachers and the children,” added Zitha.
Zitha said she struggled to buy furniture and other items needed in the creche. “I thank God to have answered my prayers. I am overjoyed and thank Sasko Siyasizana Day Care Project for being there for us and taking away our burdens as creche owners,” added Zitha.
