Engen helps unrest affected families with food relief
The food parcels were distributed to two children’s homes, several child-headed households, and vulnerable families.
ABOUT 400 food hampers were distributed to help communities affected by the recent unrest in the province recently.
In bridging the hunger gap, Engen stepped up to provide food relief to those impacted in South Durban as well as in the Midlands.
The petroleum company partnered with the Imbumba Foundation to distribute the hampers during the month.
The food parcels were distributed through selected organisations based in the areas identified, with recipients of the aid including two children’s homes, several child-headed households, and vulnerable families.
The general manager of the South Durban-based refinery, Sykry Hassim, attributed the company’s caring spirit as the driver for it to step up and take proactive measures to assist vulnerable families and children who were impacted by the unrest.
“We truly care for those impacted and we hope our gesture brings some relief to vulnerable households. As a significant employer in KZN, as well as being a catalyst for many other downstream industries, Engen is ever mindful of its role as an agent of positive change,” he said.
Founder of Wentworth Angels, Tracey Williams, thanked the company for making a positive difference in the community.
“The hampers were distributed to our senior citizens within ward 68. We appreciate the donation and we know our pensioners do as well,” she said.
Speaking on behalf of the Merewent Community Crime Prevention Association, Pastor David Usher, praised the company for showing humanity.
“The content of the hampers was substantial and well received by the community. They were distributed to NGOs, places of safety, homes for the vulnerable and to the general public,” he said.
Community representative, Zane Scullard, said the request was made at a time when our community was very volatile with the unrest from the looting. “Many people in the community had lost jobs and it was kind of Engen to step in,” he said.
The petroleum company also offers a learnership and apprenticeship programme at the refinery largely to young people from South Durban, with over R20 million allocated to programme over the past three years. Last year, they committed R1 million to the Caring4Girls feminine hygiene initiative.
Hassim added that they are both proud and humbled to play a role in changing lives in South Durban and further afield.
“With poverty and unemployment rife in South Africa, Engen is cognisant of the fact that the government cannot be relied on to provide solutions alone. As such, we are committed to stepping up and doing the right thing, starting with paying special attention to the people in the communities in which we operate,” he added.
