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| Children from the YEC gather around FCBian and CSO committee member, Vicky Rae, at their recent visit to the Johannesburg Zoo. |
YEC is one of the few nursery, aftercare and pre-school facilities for 70 children who all come from financially and socially disadvantaged backgrounds. It is one of three children's care organisations chosen by the FCB South Africa group to receive support from its advertising agencies by way of cash grants and 'sweat capital' - activities that address upkeep of the premises and teaching the children. The other two organisations are Nazareth House in Cape Town and Sethani Baby Care Centre, which forms part of the Sethani Star Centre, in KwaZulu-Natal.
The zoo outing organised by FCB Johannesburg included bussing the children to and from the YEC; packed lunches; a tractor trailer ride around the zoo to visit the elephants, the lions, the polar bears, the chimps and the snake house; and refreshing ice lollies at the end of the day.
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| Children from the YEC and the FCBians who looked after them on their recent visit to the Johannesburg Zoo pose for photographer, Greg Gordon. |
Businessman, photographer and IT journalist Greg Gordon joined the children on the day and praised FCB Johannesburg for its YEC initiative: "I'm so pleased to see a CSO project that works and corporate money being put to good use. I've shot pictures for National Geographic, covered serious conflict, seen people die and communities devastated. I've been pretty close to the edges of despair.
"The FCB's kids' day at the Johannesburg Zoo was the exact opposite of that - it was all about hope. The things we take for granted like sunshine and unconditional love from our families, even the things we tend to disregard like food, a day at the zoo, a ride on a tractor, an ice-cream.......these things are a source of serious joy for these kids who have absolutely nothing.
"It costs so little spread some joy and the good fortune we all take for granted. I'm thankful for being able to share the day. Well done, FCB Johannesburg."
As part of its corporate social outreach programme, FCBians from the FCB South Africa group's Johannesburg agency took 50 children from the Yeoville Educare Centre (YEC) to the Johannesburg Zoo for the afternoon.
 to the Johannesburg Zoo for the afternoon.)
