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PE Village Benefits from a Show of Hands

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In celebration of the SOS Children’s Villages South Africa turning 30, Volkswagen of South Africa (VWSA) has chosen the Port Elizabeth Village as the recipient for its “Great Show of Hands” corporate social investment campaign.

“We are thrilled beyond belief about the fantastic show of support by the dedicated employees of VWSA. The employee volunteers came out en masse to renovate the AUDI/VW Family House as their gift to the SOS Children’s Village Port Elizabeth, in celebration of our 30th anniversary in SA. The VW Community Trust is the longest serving donor at our village,” says Mandy Spies, Corporate Fundraiser, SOS Children’s Village Port Elizabeth.

The renovations which took place today, Saturday 26 May saw more than 100 VWSA employees upgrade the Audi/VW Family House.

The following renovations were done:

  • Interior walls were repainted;
  • The children’s  bedrooms were renovated and re-decorated;
  • New kitchen cupboards and counters were fitted;
  • A homework station was installed in the dining room;
  • A wall unit was installed in the lounge; and
  • New carpets were installed in the bedrooms, entrance hall, lounge and dining room.

“Volkswagen is proud to be a good Corporate Citizen of South Africa. It is more than a way of doing business. It is a way of life. It is the Volkswagen Way. It is our road map for developing better people’s cars. It is the route to growing a better workforce and a highway to a healthy economic and social environment. We are pioneering travelers on this road, and we are constantly striving to carry as many people on the journey with us as we can,” says David Powels, Managing Director of Volkswagen Group South Africa

“We are all so touched by the quality and care taken in renovating the family house for the children that live in it and call it ‘home’. Thank you to Volkswagen for supporting our philosophy of creating a loving home for every child!” concluded Mandy Spies.

In South Africa, the SOS Children’s Villages concept was established and registered in 1982, with the first village built in 1983 in Ennerdale, south of Johannesburg. The first village was based on the original model founded by Hermann Gmeiner, the founding father of the SOS Children’s Villages. At present there are more than 7300 children, 127 mothers and trainee mothers and 47 aunts in 11 villages around the country.

VWSA have been involved with the SOS Children’s Village in Port Elizabeth since it was built in 1989. Since then VWSA has sponsored House 10, also known as the Audi/VW Family House. VWSA is dedicated to the upliftment of the children in their house and in the village at large.

Great Show of Hands Volunteer Programme is an employee volunteerism campaign that was established in 2011, in response to VWSA employees asking for the opportunity to play a hands-on role in Volkswagen’s investment into the development of local communities.

VWSA SOS Show of Hands
Getting their hands dirty are from left to right: Sithembile Madonda, Hazel Mjadu, Babalwa Lamani, Japie van Schalkwyk and Simon Lelaka.
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Alan Straton

Chief Cook, Bottle Washer and Broom Mechanic at MyPE
Passionate about Port Elizabeth and definitely NOT packing for Perth. Alan's ethos is epitomised in the words of Nelson Mandela; "I have fought against white domination and I have fought against black domination. I have cherished the idea of a democratic and free society. If need be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die." See more articles by Alan.