One of the things I appreciate about the company that I work for is that they have an active Social Responsibility program. It’s all about investing in our nation, giving something back and helping people develop sustainable incomes. And the PR doesn’t hurt. It’s the first company that I have worked for that encourages its staff as much to get involved in these activities.

Once a year we hold an event called Festive Tree. This year we took around 500 kids from poor areas, many of them affected by HIV/AIDS, out for a day of fun and learning, and gave them some useful gifts like school shoes and stationary. While the kids were off having fun (hosted by members of staff that volunteered to help) some of the other staff, including myself, went to their community centre and put some DIY efforts into the centre.

This year our DIY team visited an Educational Foundation east of Mamelodi called Berakah. They are involved in a number of projects including HIV/AIDS and Orphan Care, Preschool supervision and education through a crèche and after school care centre programs. This link will take you to the location of our efforts on the weekend.

Spouses and anyone else you can rope in to help are more than welcome, and Hunny & I along with 20 or so other people arrived at Berakah at 7:30 AM. We quickly set about doing what we could to patch the place up. Our efforts included planting trees and shrubs, tightening the ties that hold up the marquee that serves as their main hall, patching the concrete floor in the hall, painting several outbuildings and putting us shelves, floor mats, storage containers and packing the many donated toys for the crèche. Most of the equipment used and donated to the centre was sponsored by contacts, friends and family of the staff, or the staff themselves.

I arrived at least a little hungover from too much wine drinking the night before, but I had worked out my hangover by 10:00 AM. By about 2:30 PM when we left most of us were totally exhausted, but feeling great. It’s a little self-righteous, but it felt really good to be doing something for someone else who really needs it. I am still glowing today.

If your company offers you an opportunity like this to get involved in your community and give something back, and you haven’t helped out yet, I strongly recommend it. You’ll be helping yourself as equally as much.

Some pics taken on the day can be found here.