The VWSA Global Workers Council, Ubuntu Education Fund, Terres des Hommes Partnership, Siyanqoba Community Sports Development and Bicycle Empowerment Network are all part of an initiative that saw 15 pupils from the Ubuntu Education Fund receive bicycles to be used in pursuance of the sport of cycling on Friday 21 August 2015.
The Ubuntu Education Fund continues to receive accolades and growing support for their mission in Port Elizabeth – Ubuntu is guided by a simple, all-encompassing, yet radical mission: to help raise Port Elizabeth’s orphaned and vulnerable children by giving them what all children deserve – everything.
Ubuntu has spent over a decade professionalizing the grassroots service delivery model, which provides cradle to career care to township children. Redefining the theory of “going to scale,” Ubuntu targets comprehensive household stability, health, and educational services to a community of 400,000 people, focusing on the depth rather than the breadth of their impact.
The VWSA Global Workers Council One Hour for the Future campaign was initiated by the workforce of the international Volkswagen Group to raise funds for Aids orphans and vulnerable children in countries home to Volkswagen factories across the globe.
The campaign involves the donation of one hour of every employee’s salary per year. South African employees started participating in the One Hour campaign in June 2005. Over R7 million has been donated to local projects since the campaign’s inception in 1999.
Terres des Hommes is an internationally renowned organization working for children’s rights and partner to VWSA in managing and implementing CSI programmes from the money raised by the workers.
Siyanqoba Community Sports Development is run by former local football star Zamuxolo “Yster” Xatasi and is an organisation that seeks to empower underprivileged young people in Nelson Mandela Bay (Port Elizabeth, Uitenhage and Despatch) through recreational and competitive sports.
The Bicycle Empowerment Network (BEN) is Cape Town based and has been tasked with teaching the students about bicycle mechanics and safety. BEN will also return after eight months to provide a refresher and check the bicycles.
The 15 students had to earn the privilege to receive the bikes and take part in the cycling programme via written tests and submissions.
They were accompanied by their parents to receive their machines – and great was the excitement.
Alan Straton
Latest posts by Alan Straton (see all)
- Embroidery or Print? EMB Designs in Durban North Checks the Artwork and Runs a Sample Before a Full Staff, School or Club Order Is Stitched - 4 November 2026
- PrintAcademy 3D in Stellenbosch Trains Teachers First, Then Learners, so School 3D Printers Get Used Beyond the First Term - 4 November 2026
- From Estate Agency Posters to Museum Panels: Laminator in Kya Sand Lists Which Jobs Call for Cold or Hot Roll Wide-Format Laminating - 4 November 2026
- Spice Jars, Sauce Bottles and Pharma Packs: Bottle Sealers in Jacobs Matches Induction Sealers and Foil Liners to the Product on the Line - 4 November 2026
- Before You Sign an ERP Quote: Bizmatics in Centurion Publishes Plain Guides on Budgets, Data Clean-up and Go-Live Week for SA SMEs - 4 November 2026
