12 July 2010

- Learners in Mdantsane, East London, enjoy special learning experience at a place of safety during the school holiday

East London – Recognising the challenges faced by vulnerable communities such as those in Mdantsane, the second largest township in South Africa after Soweto, a special school holiday programme was put in place by a number of business partners, including Mercedes-Benz South Africa (Pty) Ltd (MBSA).

Johann Evertse, Vice-President responsible for Human Resources at MBSA, explains, “Appropriately called Camp I Am, because we wanted the children to imagine all the possibilities of what they can be, the programme was a platform for experiential learning, youth development and fun. It was also an opportunity to support a community where many parents and caregivers would have been unable to take extended leave during the long school holiday break for the 2010 World Cup. The programme provided a safe environment with fun educational activities.”

Mdantsane children from the host school Dickson Dyani Senior Primary were joined by learners from Thembeka Junior Primary and Inkginkgubla Junior Primary schools. The multi-disciplinary programme included academic work; athletics; creative work; and social and life skills education, including HIV/AIDS prevention.

At a special event today to conclude the programme the children gave a presentation to the sponsors, expressing their thoughts, perspectives and reactions to the programme. “They were all so excited and energised with all the new things they’d learnt. Something like this should be considered again in future,“ says Evertse.

Running from 14 June to 9 July, the main organisers, the South African Business Council on HIV & Aids (SABCOHA) hosted day camps for children in Mdantsane, Eastern Cape; Mitchell's Plain, Western Cape; Chaneng Village, North West; Chesterville, Kwa-Zulu Natal; and Soweto, Gauteng. The camps catered for about 1 500 children from the age of 6 years to 13 years in these under-resourced communities.

In Mdantsane well-known youth organisations - Soul City, PlaySoccer, dance4Life, loveLife, Operation Hope and the South African Rugby Legends Association - all partnered with SABCOHA and MBSA to deliver a top-class activity programme for Mdantsane's children. Each day, the camp not only provided financial literacy activity games for the children but, also presented adult financial literacy training, soccer clinics, special events and celebrations for the broader community.

“As a company we are proud to have sponsored this programme during the historic 2010 Soccer World Cup. Our philosophy at Mercedes-Benz South Africa goes beyond being a leader in building world-class vehicles. We are committed to building a leading nation through partnerships with communities to help them be healthy, educated and economically self-sustaining. Our social responsibility investments seek to ensure that we build a vibrant and prosperous future particularly for the most vulnerable in our society,“ says Evertse.