Nelson Mandela Day
At GMI we’re also committed with giving back for the annual Nelson Mandela Day. The firm participates in supporting a children’s home each year in a variety of ways and our involvement stemmed from supporting the Child Welfare in Tshwane for the past 20 years.
Nelson Mandela Day 2019
It is with great pleasure to once again shine the spotlight on our Mandela Day achievements in 2019. We once again sponsored Phumlani Orphanage situated in Soshanguve for the second year running. This being due to the dire living conditions of the children being housed at this orphanage. We set out to complete the work we started in 2018 when we installed a solar system, built toilets for the centre and fitted the kitchen with built-in cupboards. What was still outstanding from the 2018 project are:
- Sleeping arrangements;
- Educational equipment for the crèche;
- Playground equipment;
- Vegetable garden;
- Training for pre-school teachers;
- Sleeping arrangements:
In collaboration with the Pretoria Society of Advocates, we were able to procure 20 bunk beds for the orphanage, including bedding and pillows.
- Educational equipment for the crèche:
Educational toys and books were bought and donated by the staff of GMI.
- Playground equipment:
Menlyn mall also donated second hand playground equipment.
- Vegetable garden:
We enlisted the services of Garden For Life Irrigation program to assist us with starting a vegetable garden for the orphanage, this in an effort to alleviate the food shortage scourge currently experienced by the orphanage. We are still looking for a sustainable solution to the food problem as it is an on-going problem.
- Training for pre-school teachers:
This project is still in progress and on-going.
This year we set out to complete the above issues and we did. To add on to the above list, we also did the following:
- Installed flooring for the bedrooms:
- Clothes for the children, shoes, toiletries, backpacks for school and food items:
- Painting and curtains:
- Lunch:
We would like to take this moment to thank the staff who took up the challenge and donated to the Mandela Day project. For us Mandela Day should be every day and not only on 18 July.
The A-team:
Prepared by:
Jones Ditsela
Nelson Mandela Day Project Director
Nelson Mandela Day 2018
GMI Assists the Phumlani Orphanage in Soshanguve
As the Mandela Day Project manager and coordinator for 2018, Jones Ditsela of GMI, together with his team set out to make an impact where it mattered and counted the most. They set out looking for charities in desperate need of assistance, and to make a meaningful contribution there. In their search, they came across an orphanage called Phumlani in Soshanguve, Block S.
The center accommodates 17 children, ranging from age 2 – 13 years; 10 girls and 7 boys. Over and above these 17 kids, other kids from the community visit the center on a daily basis after school for lunch, and others for aftercare. The center is being run by an elderly couple and has a crèche with two teachers. The living conditions and administration of the center were very poor and in need of improvement.
The GMI team identified many issues that needed to be sorted out at the center in order for it to run effectively and smoothly. The following issues were noted:
No electricity
No sanitation
No kitchen
No food
No proper sleeping arrangements
No educational equipment for the crèche
No playground
No garden
GMI “adopted” the orphanage and came up with a five-year plan to try and address their challenges. This year, GMI assisted them with electricity, sanitation, kitchen, clothes, food, and donations from GMI staff. The City of Tshwane was contacted for assistance with electricity but this has proven to be a more complicated process than imagined and the process is still on-going. As an alternative, a solar system was installed to assist with lights and geysers.
Solar panels installed on the roof
Kitchen (Before & after):
Toilets (Before & after):
Over and above the solutions mentioned above, GMI is assisting the orphanage with legal advice on issues they are struggling with.
Mr. Ditsela gave the following statement on GMIs efforts to assist the Phumlani Orphanage:
“As Nelson Mandela said, ‘there can be no greater gift than that of giving one’s time and energy to help others without expecting anything in return’, so I always encourage people to take time out of their busy schedules and, not only on Mandela day but as often as is practically possible, to care. Caring means making an effort for another person to alleviate or help carry whatever weight they are carrying.”
If you would like to assist Phumlani Orphanage, contact their representative at this address:
Phumlani Orphanage, 527 Block S, Soshanguve, 0152 (near the Kondelelani High School)
Mr. Lukhele: 072 559 0659
Nelson Mandela Day 2017
In 2017, we supported the Excellence Day and Night Care Facility in Mamelodi, Pretoria. The EDNCF schools 60 children between 3 months and 6 years of age. Besides upgrading facilities, we’ve also pledged to provide bedding, cots, educational toys and books. Our pledge included training for caregivers to enable them to become qualified and provide best-in-class care.
