South Africa

The generosity of the employees at Aspen South African Operations in Port Elizabeth touched the lives of more than 1000 people. They chose to support four beneficiaries: Masilakhe Day Care Centre, BASA Homes, Buhle beNkosi Playschool and the local Children’s Haematology Oncology Clinic (CHOC).

Masilakhe cares for about 50 children and is run out of a shack in Veeplaas on the outskirts of Port Elizabeth. They also run a soup kitchen, which feeds some 150 local residents. A team from Aspen was happy to improve the environment for the children by sealing the centre’s roof, which was leaking. They also supplied 12 months’ worth of electricity and grocery vouchers. A few of the many other donations included educational materials, clothing, 20 mattresses, a gas cylinder, bar fridge, microwave and kettle.

BASA Homes cares for 487 elderly and disabled residents. This NGO benefitted from improvements to the communal areas (microwave; toaster; gas stove and cylinder; electric stove; urn; fridge-freezer; heaters; and televisions) and donations of groceries and gift packs for the elderly folk. As an additional random act of kindness, Aspen prepared soup and bread for the residents on Mandela Day.

Buhle beNkosi is a playschool with 17 children to whom they feed 3 meals a day. They have meager facilities and Aspen supplied them with a Wendy house (including the foundations), built-in cupboards, a bar fridge, microwave, children’s furniture and 20 mattresses. Other donations included groceries, educational materials, and plastic crockery and cutlery for the children.

Most of the cancer-affected children and parents supported by CHOC in Port Elizabeth come from disadvantaged and poor backgrounds and they have no medical aid. A range of donations was made to CHOC to further assist these families in Port Elizabeth and the surrounding areas.