#MandelaMonth: Volkswagen gets hands-on in Uitenhage

From left: Vernon Naidoo, VW Community Trust; Remmington Zokufa, trustee of VW Community Trust; Percy Smith, director: HR at Volkswagen Group South Africa; Thomas Schaefer, chairman and MD: Volkswagen Group South Africa; Nonkqubela Maliza, director: corporate and government affairs at Volkswagen Group South Africa and Alice Nkqayi, principal at Ntlemeza Primary School.

This volunteer action marks the 16th community volunteer project initiated by Volkswagen since 2011 in its Show of Hands employee volunteerism campaign. More than 1,500 employees have participated in the campaign to date.

Ntlemeza Primary School has 350 learners from Grade R to Grade 7 and the school buildings were in a serious state of disrepair before VWSA intervened. Basic conditions such as working toilets with doors, classrooms with smooth floors were non-existent and in dire need of repair. The Show of Hands initiative focused on the Grade R Block and the Ablution Block at the school. Contractors assisted the Show of Hands team prior to the event by repairing walls, ceilings and floors, new doors were installed and toilets were repaired.

“Mr Mandela said that education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world and we know that for a child to learn they also need to have an environment that is safe, warm and encouraging. We have been able to do this for the Grade R learners at Ntlemeza Primary School by repairing things that were broken and creating a stimulating environment in which to learn,” said Thomas Schaefer, chairman and managing director: Volkswagen Group South Africa.

The Show of Hands Volunteer Programme is an ongoing initiative under the Volkswagen for Good campaign which is managed by the VW Community Trust.