SIOC-CDT has expanded its existing Kanako Social Responsibility Programme to ensure that the hygiene needs of both underprivileged young boys and girls are taken care of across its beneficiary community schools.
Launched in early 2023, the ‘Dignity Pack Programme’ sees the distribution of ‘Dignity Packs’ to learners of both genders. Each ‘Dignity Pack’ comprises of bath soaps, roll on deodorant, body spray, face cloth, body lotion and Vaseline, a toothbrush, toothpaste, shoe polish and a brush. The goal – to ensure that, at a minimum, the basic hygiene needs of learners across our beneficiary communities are taken care of so that they, in turn, can focus on their studies and education.
Piloted this year, this project will initially cater for 26 schools in 2023 distributed evenly across all beneficiary municipality (five schools per municipal area). The process of identifying the recipient schools is done in collaboration with both the Department of Basic Education and Social Development to ensure that the schools and learners that are in most need are included. Whilst some items will be distributed on a once-off basis, others will be distributed quarterly.
So far, the first quarter Dignity Packs have been distributed to schools in Ga-Segonyana, Tsantsabane, Thabazimbi, Gamagara and Joe Morolong. These distributions will be done quarterly to identified kids for the four quarters in 2023.
A full list of recipient schools is as follows:
- Joe Morolong: Bogare Primary School (Logaganeng Village), Maduo Primary (Ganap), Gahohuwe Primary (Dithakong), Kegomoditswe High School (Kganwane), Mamasilo Middle School (Madibeng), Gakgatsana Primary (Kamden).
- Gamagara: Maikaelelo Primary School (Olifantshoek), Deben Primary (Deben), Noord-Kaap Primêre Skool (Olifantshoek), Sishen Intermediate (Sishen), Sishen Primary School (Kathu)
- Ga-Segonyana: Iketleletso Middle School (Mothibistad), Rearata Primary School (Vergenoeg), Sedibeng Primary School (Sedibeng, Batlharos), Mapoteng Primary School (Mapoteng), Wrenchville Primary School (Wrenchville).
- Tsantsabane: HTT Bidi Memorial School (Boichoko), Postdene Primary School (Postdene), Refentse Primary School (Groenwater), Khosis Primary School (Jenn Haven), Agang Thuto Primary (Skyfontein).
- Thabazimbi: Thabakhibidu Primary School (Rooiberg), Naletsana Combined School (Koedoeskop), Krause Primary (Northam), Northam Comprehensive (Northam), Laerskool Leeupoort (Leeupoort).
“This initiative enables us to provide vital support to learners across our beneficiary communities. It is our sincere wish that by taking care of these basic needs, our learners will be able to focus their attention and efforts towards continuing to build their future.” – VUSANI MALIE, CEO, SIOC-CDT
ENDS
About SIOC-CDT
SIOC Community Development Trust (SIOC-CDT) was established in 2006 by Sishen Iron Ore Company (SIOC) (Pty) Ltd to invest in the uplifting of the communities in which the mining company operates in the Northern Cape and Limpopo. We invest significantly in community development projects aimed at ensuring sustainability beyond mining operations.
SIOC-CDT has substantiated its stated intention of “defining ourselves through actions, not our words” by investing over R1 billion in socio-economic and community development projects in its beneficiary communities; Gamagara, Tsantsabane, Ga-Segonyana and Joe Morolong in the Northern Cape, as well as Thabazimbi in Limpopo.
SIOC-CDT’s Enterprise Development strategy is based on three fundamental approaches to supporting businesses across its beneficiary communities – to provide access to funding, access to markets and provision to business development support to ensure development and sustainability.