In the spirit of celebrating former South Africa president Nelson Mandela’s 103rd birthday, diversified mining company Exxaro Resources said it is dedicated to alleviating some of the pressures that are faced by charity organisations of goodwill.
The company’s operations marked the different initiatives by donating essentials and providing necessary support to its communities.
Exxaro’s Belfast operation donated educational toys to two Early Childhood Development centres in Dullstroom.
The toys are designed to help develop children’s problem-solving skills and motor skills and the aim is to nurture creativity and imagination. The educational toy drive started in November 2020 and has seen a donation of over 1.4 million toys to over 10 centres across the Emakhazeni Local Municipality.
“Education is a great engine of personal development. A daughter of a peasant can become a doctor, a son of a mine worker can become the head of a mine, that a child of a farm worker can become the President of a country”
Nelson Mandela
“Early Childhood Development centres are key and play a crucial role in ensuring that children are equipped with the necessary tools and skills to navigate during their schooling years,” Vanisha Balgobind, Chairman of the Exxaro People Development Initiative said in a media release. “At these centres children are exposed to different forms of learning, laying a foundation for a child’s future educational career and growth.”
In addition, the team also donated beds, bedding, and bedroom items worth over R80 000 to Epilepsy South Africa, a Non-profit that focuses on rendering specialised and comprehensive services to over 77 adults between the ages of 18 – 60 years living with epilepsy and other disabilities.
Exxaro’s Leeuwpan operation, in collaboration with their contractor Kaltire and Moon & Earth, collected and donated 100 dignity packs, inclusive of sanitary pads, soaps, and toothpaste, to name a few, to the children of the Phaphamani Secondary School in Botleng, Delmas.
“Nelson Mandela said: ‘Education is a great engine of personal development. A daughter of a peasant can become a doctor, a son of a mine worker can become the head of a mine, that a child of a farm worker can become the President of a country.’ This dream can only be achieved when we dedicate ourselves to powering better lives in Africa and beyond,” Balgobind said.