South Africa

For the second year, Aspen Nutritionals pledged support to the Bulamahlo Home and Day Care Centre, situated in Tembisa.

The Centre offers a home to 33 children aged between 4 months and 17 years. Of these, 18 children live on the premises as they are either abandoned or orphaned, while an additional 15 children attend Bulamahlo on a daily basis before returning home in the evenings. Rachel Sekhobela manages the centre with the help of four volunteers who receive no reward for their efforts as no funds are provided by parents or the government for the majority of the children.

A team of some 100 Aspen employees made a substantial difference to Bulamahlo when they created a vegetable garden, upgraded the classroom by installing shelving, blinds, curtains, a carpet and sleeping mats and also attended to the needs of the bedrooms by providing the little residents with bedding and curtains.

Some members of the Aspen team upgraded the library by installing shelves, tables and chairs while others cleaned the kitchen and living areas.

Donations of cleaning equipment, educational toys, over 200 books and gift packs were also made in a bid to create an environment in which the children can thrive, learn and develop balanced lives.