FORD SAYS: Thousands of Ford Motor Company employees from around the globe joined arms in September for the fourth annual Ford Global Week of Caring. From 5 to 12 September 190 employees of Ford Motor Company of Southern Africa (FMCSA) worked an accumulated 1 016 hours helping different charities and projects in South Africa.
Volunteers from both the Silverton Plant in Pretoria and the Struandale Plant in Port Elizabeth ventured into their communities to renovate shelters, feed the hungry and offer their support.
This is the fourth annual instalment of this worldwide event, which is aimed at building Ford employee participation, involvement and support of the communities in which they live and work.
This year’s week long campaign started off with the sale of Casual Day stickers to the staff on Friday 4 September. A total of 200 stickers were sold with the proceeds from the sale going to the Medicos Special School based in Soshanguve, a school for children with mental disabilities.
While donations provided a much needed boost for the various charities it was the volunteer work undertaken by the Ford employees that really had an impact on the communities.
Maintenance work was carried out at the Eesterust Secondary School in Eesterust; the Le Amogetswe Safe Home in Atteridgeville and the L’Phumilanga AIDS Haven in Port Elizabeth.
The Le Amogetse Safe Home in Atteridgeville is a safe harbour for abandoned children. Ford volunteers fixed cupboards in the children’s bedroom and installed bathroom and shower doors they also painted the main entrance ensuring the children have a safe and well maintained environment to reside.
A team of 19 Ford volunteers from the Struandale Engine Plant visited the Laphum’ilanga AIDS Haven in Port Elizabeth. As the home to some 27 children abandoned or orphaned as a result of HIV and AIDS the facility provides an important social service and relies purely on donations for survival.
The Ford staff tackled an exhaustive makeover that saw them fixing broken windows, replacing ceiling boards, painting and mending damaged beds. While the renovations were taking place the children were relocated to the Engine Plant communications centre. There they were treated to fun and games, along with a delightful plate of eats and treats under the care of the Struandale Engine Plant Wellness Team – an effort that brought an incredible amount of joy and excitement to their otherwise strained existence.
