GMSA brings Christmas cheer to Missionvale community

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Mongezi Mtati

A group of employee volunteers from General Motors South Africa (GMSA) recently visited the Missionvale Care Centre Academy centre in the impoverished Missionvale community near Port Elizabeth to give the children a Christmas party to remember.

PR Officer Thanusha Pillay playing on the jumping castle with some of the children from the Missionvale Care Centre.

They were spoiled for choice with game stations set up for them. They had jumping castles, watched a balloon show, made Christmas presents for their families at the craft centre and also had their faces painted. At the end of the party each child received a Christmas gift from father Christmas with many of the gifts being personal donations from GMSA employees.

Positive impact

"On behalf of these children thank you very much for this great and generous contribution because this positive impact on their young lives is going to sow great seeds in their future, so to GM South Africa thank you very much" said Russell Viljoen, principal at the Missionvale Care Centre Academy.

"As part of our commitment to support the community in which we operate, we are very happy we were able to share the spirit of giving and provide a little something for each child," said Thanusha Pillay, public relations officer at GMSA.

The Missionvale Care Centre was founded by Sister Ethel Normoyle 21 years ago, and today provides nutrition, health, child development and other services to the surrounding community. GMSA has a long relationship with the Centre, providing Sister Ethel with a vehicle for home visits and also supporting the carpentry centre, purchasing sports equipment and donating computers.