Socio Economic Initiatives
Barrydale Farm Schools (donations and end of year party)
Springbok Atlas Tours & Safaris
Year: 2015
Springbok Atlas Tours and Safaris’ team and families headed to Barrydale to host the end of year party for 161 primary school pupils from disadvantaged community farm schools. Each child was given a gift consisting of a school bag filled with goodies, and a large and lively braai lunch party.
We also arranged a team visit and lunch at a community farm school. On this occasion we took winter jackets, scarves and beanies, supplied by donations from our guests. The warm clothing was distributed to all three schools.
Weltevrede Primary School, Akkerboom Primary School and Vleiplaas Primary School in Barrydale are community visits included in the long distance Guided Tours travelling between Cape Town and the Garden Route.
We also arranged a team visit and lunch at a community farm school. On this occasion we took winter jackets, scarves and beanies, supplied by donations from our guests. The warm clothing was distributed to all three schools.
Weltevrede Primary School, Akkerboom Primary School and Vleiplaas Primary School in Barrydale are community visits included in the long distance Guided Tours travelling between Cape Town and the Garden Route.
Sizabantwana - Indaba Donation
Springbok Atlas Tours & Safaris
Year: 2015
We have donated towards SizaBantwana Children Benefit Organisation, a non-profit organisation that works in rural communities. This year the funds were used to pay for uniforms for staff (child and youth care workers).
Mandela Day and our 67 Minutes
Springbok Atlas Tours & Safaris
Year: 2015
This year we joined with Cullinan Transport Division (Springbok Atlas Charter, Hylton Ross and iKapa) in helping provide lunch boxes for trainee nurses from the Robin Trust.
Donations
Springbok Atlas Tours & Safaris
Year: 2015
We are a Platinum Friend of the Tourism Community Development Trust (TCD Trust) giving an annual donation and 5% of our Cape Township Tour.
As a corporate member we ran blood donation clinics throughout the year.
We donated our old company stationery to the Amy Biehl Foundation and a township crèche.
We donated some office furniture to Fallen Angels Animal Shelter.
As a corporate member we ran blood donation clinics throughout the year.
We donated our old company stationery to the Amy Biehl Foundation and a township crèche.
We donated some office furniture to Fallen Angels Animal Shelter.
Charity Toy Run Trust
Glacier Enterprises
Year: 2015
15 000 Teddy bears that were distributed at the Toy Run as well as orphanages, shelters, homes and hospitals throughout the country’s community.
True North
Glacier Enterprises
Year: 2015
2000 Teddy bears to pre-school children needing early childhood development interventions.
Donations by Grosvenor Tours
Grosvenor Tours
Year: 2015
Grosvenor Tours each year contributes to a diverse number of community projects that are directly initiated through us on behalf of mostly our incentive customers originating from Australia and the USA (to leave some community value behind).
Henna Primary School
Grosvenor Tours
Year: 2015
Grosvenor Tours has contributed through its corporate support to Henna Primary School in the community of Huntington adjacent to the Sabi Sand Game Reserve. Since 2007 until present our valued customers have provided us the opportunity through their generous sponsorship to provide running water to this community, which in turn has improved quality of life beyond measure, improved hygiene, improved agriculture of garden to table living, has ensured these kids and nearby community have drinking water (subsequently we have also had a water reservoir erected) and have planted trees, laid new lawn, painted the school and so much more.
Gauteng - Orange babies Montessori pre-school
Pentravel
Year: 2015
Opened in 2009 within the grounds of the New Jerusalem Children’s home in Midrand. A Non-Profit Organisation currently accommodating 120 children, both orphans from the children’s home as well as children from the surrounding communities.
A group of between 5-8 staff (we rotate our visits using all 80 staff in the region) visit the school twice a month on pre-approved dates.
We buy groceries and make 120 hotdogs and juice for all children on these visits, spending time playing with them afterwards. We are there from 9am until 1pm on these visits.
Every Christmas we also buy a gift for every child which is delivered by Santa during the Christmas party that we put on for them, as well as replenishing some school equipment as needed. The principle will advise what is urgently required, and we deliver these gifts to the school on the day of the Christmas party.
We have been supporting these children for a few years now, and will always endeavour to do so. We have a very strong attachment to the school, children and staff that make this establishment possible.
Cape Town – St Joseph’s Home
Pentravel
Year: 2015
St Josephs is located on the Cape Flats and serves the needs of children from impoverished communities and disadvantaged backgrounds that have been diagnosed with life threatening illnesses such as HIV/Aids, cancer, arthritis, diabetes, heart-lung-kidney failures, neurological impairments and congenital abnormalities. 31% of the children have HIV/Aids, 19% suffer from cancer, and 14% have diabetes. The remainder suffers from renal, cardiac, respiratory and neurological conditions and congenital abnormalities. Children diagnosed with life threatening illnesses in our care come from poverty stricken homes and in some cases are neglected by the adults who are responsible for taking care of them. Most home circumstances consist of living in a shack or rural village with no running water and electricity. These children need a safe place to undergo treatment and heal. Every year, St. Josephs Home gives nearly 300 children a second chance at childhood.
We visit them every week and play with the children, help the nurses to feed them and just help with general things they might need. We spend about 2 hours a time at the home.
We try and donate as many things throughout the year that we can, like socks, toys etc. We have a small Christmas party for them every year where all the girls contribute money and we buy Christmas presents for all the wards and hand them over to the home.
We visit them every week and play with the children, help the nurses to feed them and just help with general things they might need. We spend about 2 hours a time at the home.
We try and donate as many things throughout the year that we can, like socks, toys etc. We have a small Christmas party for them every year where all the girls contribute money and we buy Christmas presents for all the wards and hand them over to the home.
Kwa-Zulu Natal – Durban Children’s Home
Pentravel
Year: 2015
Pentravel KZN supports the Durban Children’s Home and has done so since January 2013. They are a non-government organisation that was established in 1905 and offers substitute care to orphans, destitute children and children with parents who are unable to care for them. The children come from all over KZN and usually there as a result of unemployment, poverty, crime, violence and abuse in the home. They are usually court-removed children who spend on average 2 years each at the home. DCH accommodates up to 60 children between the ages of 2 and 18 years.
Pentravel staff visit them every 2nd and 3rd Wednesday of each month from 3pm – 4pm where we hold an arts and crafts class for the kids aged 2 – 11yrs. They really enjoy our classes - we try and make it fun, doing things like painting, puzzles, getting them to make things from play dough or paper crafts – anything to stimulate them and have fun at the same time. Our KZN shops donate R100 per shop each month which we use towards the purchase of supplies. We hold a Christmas party for the kids in December where each child is given an individual present purchased by one of our staff and we provide them with lunch and a goodie bag of sweets and juice. At the end of the financial year, we usually spend the remaining budget on something big that the home needs, e.g. in 2013 we purchased 5 microwaves for each of the houses and in 2014 we purchased new bedding and pillows as well as 2 urns.
Pentravel staff visit them every 2nd and 3rd Wednesday of each month from 3pm – 4pm where we hold an arts and crafts class for the kids aged 2 – 11yrs. They really enjoy our classes - we try and make it fun, doing things like painting, puzzles, getting them to make things from play dough or paper crafts – anything to stimulate them and have fun at the same time. Our KZN shops donate R100 per shop each month which we use towards the purchase of supplies. We hold a Christmas party for the kids in December where each child is given an individual present purchased by one of our staff and we provide them with lunch and a goodie bag of sweets and juice. At the end of the financial year, we usually spend the remaining budget on something big that the home needs, e.g. in 2013 we purchased 5 microwaves for each of the houses and in 2014 we purchased new bedding and pillows as well as 2 urns.
Contributions by Thompsons Holidays
Thompsons Holidays
Year: 2015
- • Staff contributed and participated in the Cansa Shavathon, slipper day, casual and donor day.
- • We delivered blankets, towels and food to homeless street kids during winter.
- • A donation of 16 Thompsons travel bags was made to an orphanage.
- • An Easter egg donation was made to Ikholwa foster home and children shelter in Windsor.
- • Thompsons delivered a box full of stationary to an orphanage that appealed to us for assistance.
- • A collection was done for Co-Sanc home and the monies was donated from the staff. Jointly with Thompsons Leisure we made hot dogs and assisted with delivery to the homeless on the streets.
- • 20 old computers were donated to NPO training facility based in Barkley East in the Eastern Cape.
- • Jointly with Thompsons Leisure and Travel we collected shoes for the less fortunate just before winter, we held a fun walk around our building and handed these out.
- • In December we delivered 203 presents donated by the staff to Olivers House, our staff also participated in spending the day with them and handing our presents and sweets.
The Salvation Army
Thompsons Corporate Travel
Year: 2015
Various donations to The Salvation Army, Johannesburg Social Service throughout the year.
St Anne’s homes (Johannesburg)
Thompsons Corporate Travel
Year: 2015
St Anne’s Home supports pregnant, abused and homeless woman and their children by offering shelter, rehabilitation and assists in empowering these woman. Thompsons Travel volunteer time on a weekly basis at the crèche playing with the children, feeding the children and assist with maintenance.
Princess Alice Adoption Home (Johannesburg)
Thompsons Corporate Travel
Year: 2015
A temporary place of safety which provides care to babies who have been consented for adoption, abandoned or occasionally removed from family care. They care for 30 babies and toddlers (aged newborn to two years old) in a healthy and loving nursery environment. The home is also a safe haven for up to four pregnant girls who are destitute or in crisis. While at the home, the birth moms are counselled and helped to decide whether to keep their baby or consent for adoption. They ensure that they receive antenatal care and are supported throughout the birth experience.
Thompsons Travel volunteer time on a weekly basis.
Thompsons Travel volunteer time on a weekly basis.
Durban Child and Youth Care Centre
Thompsons Corporate Travel
Year: 2015
The Centre has programs in place for youth with substance abuse, a developmental child care services program to child-headed homes and also provides a haven for children with HIV infections.
Thompsons Travel donated duvets, pillows, sheets and urns.
Thompsons Travel donated duvets, pillows, sheets and urns.
South African ASB Samaritan Organisation (Oliver’s House)
Edusport Travel
Year: 2015
Oliver’s House is a non-profit organisation founded in 2001 which started out running a soup kitchen on the Johannesburg East Rand. A partnership was founded with Nomthandazo Children’s Care Centre who are based in the Zenzele informal settlement in Daveyton and in 2004 an education and computer training centre was opened. In 2006 the first step was taken towards creating a socially self-sustaining project (Oliver’s Village). Today they manage five social projects being; Nomthandazo Children’s Care Centre, Educational Learning Centre, Computer Training Centre, Zenele Community Development Project and Olivers Village.
In November 2013 Edusport donated towards the Velaphi Charity Classic Golf Day.
In November 2013 Edusport donated towards the Velaphi Charity Classic Golf Day.
Edusport Donations
Edusport Travel
Year: 2015
Phaphamani Children’s Crèche
The crèche is located in Kwa-Zulu Natal and provides adoption services, child development centers, foster care and includes infant care centres and nurseries.
Edith Benson Babies Home
Purchased essential supplies for the home.
Ethelbert Children’s Home
Arranged an Easter party for the home.
St Vincent’s Crèche
Purchased sports equipment and arranged a Christmas party including gifts and food.
Phapamani Children’s Crèche
Purchased food parcels for the crèche.
Open Air School
Made a donation to the school.
Phakamisa
Thompsons Africa
Year: 2015
Phakamisa is a ministry of Pinetown Methodist Church who strives to offer a hand up to people from impoverished communities, reaching out to those whose lives have been affected by the impact of HIV/AIDS with the beneficiaries of their work being the marginalised children. The staff at Phakamisa provide educational training, resourcing and support to those in need providing them with skills to seek employment. Thompsons Africa has been supporting Phakamisa for over ten years.
December 2014 – Christmas function: all employees were invited to donate toys which were distributed to children.
May 2015 - Mandela Day: Employees invited to donate blankets, children clothing, and seedlings. These were donated to Phakamisa for distribution and the seedlings for use for their vegetable garden project.
December 2014 – Christmas function: all employees were invited to donate toys which were distributed to children.
May 2015 - Mandela Day: Employees invited to donate blankets, children clothing, and seedlings. These were donated to Phakamisa for distribution and the seedlings for use for their vegetable garden project.
Bread Tags Project
Thompsons Africa
Year: 2015
Founded in 2006 by Mary Honeybun to raise funds for wheelchairs by collecting the tags used to keep plastic bags tied around a loaf of bread. These bread tags are sold for recycling. With the assistance of the Wheelchair Foundation for every one million bread tags collected three wheelchairs are distributed to the disabled. Recipients are predominantly those who have lost limbs through diabetes or the ability to walk as a result of a stroke.
June 2015 - World Environment Day: a total of 2062 bread tags were donated.
June 2015 - World Environment Day: a total of 2062 bread tags were donated.
Jes Foord Foundation
Thompsons Africa
Year: 2015
Formed by rape survivor Jes Foord whose vision is to create centres that will assist in reducing the debilitating effect that rape has on victims and their families. Through trauma counselling the foundation aims to empower victims and promote awareness through educating communities.
August 2015 - For Woman’s Day: R5 000.00 was donated to the foundation.
August 2015 - For Woman’s Day: R5 000.00 was donated to the foundation.
KZN Society for the Blind
Thompsons Africa
Year: 2015
The KwaZulu-Natal Society for the Blind seeks to enhance the quality of life of people who are blind or partially sighted, their families and where possible, people with other disabilities. The Society provides skills training, employment, education, accommodation and recreation through the provision of rehabilitation services, the operation of business units and the development of economic independence.
September 2015 - Casual Day: R350.00 donated from the sale of stickers to employees.
September 2015 - Casual Day: R350.00 donated from the sale of stickers to employees.