Friday, 18 June 2010

VW INJECTS R20 MILLION INTO DISADVANTAGED UITENHAGE YOUTH


The Chairman of Volkswagen AG, Prof. Dr. Martin Winterkorn, today announced a R20 million investment by Volkswagen AG into a new Love Life Youth Centre in Uitenhage.

Prof. Dr. Winterkorn was speaking at the launch of three new Volkswagen Corporate Social Responsibility initiatives in KwaLanga, just outside Uitenhage – home to Volkswagen Group South Africa.

Prof. Dr. Winterkorn was accompanied by other Volkswagen AG Board of Management members, including the Chairman of Volkswagen Group South Africa, Prof. Dr. Jochem Heizmann, Volkswagen AG Board member responsible for Human Resources and Organisation, Dr. Horst Neumann and Chairman of the Works Council, Bernd Osterloh.

Also in attendance were Volkswagen Group South Africa Managing Director, David Powels, members of the Volkswagen of South Africa Shop Steward Council, Nelson Mandela Bay executive mayor, Zanuxolo Wayile, Love Life officials, local Ward Councillors and community representatives from Uitenhage.

Speaking at the event, Prof. Dr. Winterkorn congratulated South Africans on the way in which they have embraced the Soccer World Cup.

 “The Volkswagen Group has been deliberating over how we could leave a Legacy in South Africa during this all-important year. We have decided to invest in the community of Uitenhage – the home of Volkswagen Group South Africa for the past 59 years,” said Prof. Dr. Winterkorn.

“Love Life – South Africa’s national HIV prevention initiative for young people, became an obvious choice,” said Prof. Dr. Winterkorn.  He announced that Volkswagen AG would establish the 20th Love Life Youth Centre in South Africa.

“This R20 million Love Life Youth Centre will be situated here in the Uitenhage area and will include facilities such as a computer room, clinic, counselling rooms, library, sporting and recreational facilities and a community radio station. As soon as a suitable site for the new Youth Centre is identified and agreed upon by all stakeholders, design and planning will commence,” he announced.

The R20 million investment will cover both the construction and the running costs of the Love Life Youth Centre for a period of four years.  “We hope by then that the project will be well established and sustainable into the future.  More importantly, we hope it will provide the youth of the Uitenhage area a much-needed facility to ensure their well-being and personal growth,” concluded Winterkorn.


STORY BY VW

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