A novel way to build teams: volunteer

In celebration of more than a decade of making a difference, the Woolworths Trust is highlighting a selection of the innovative causes it has supported over the past decade.

Renovating ECD centres

One of the focus areas for the Woolworths Trust has been encouraging employees' long history of supporting social causes, schools and charities in their local communities.

In a recent venture, Woolworths Trust made it possible for Woolworths staff members to team up with an inspiring organisation called Newkidz, to renovate 10 facilities that care for children in Cape Town. Newkidz is a Cape Town based non-profit that helps to establish loving homes for orphaned, vulnerable and destitute children. They run a programme which facilitates the renovation and maintenance of children's homes, foster family homes and early childhood development (ECD) centres with the help of corporate sponsors.

"Employee volunteering and giving is an important part of our CSI strategy", said Zinzi Mgolodela, head of transformation. "Woolworths Trust matches funds raised by employees for projects they choose to support as well as provides opportunities for employees to actively get involved and volunteer to make a difference at a charity," she continued. "Together with our staff we joined Newkidz to make a contribution that will potentially change the lives of children," she added.

The 10 facilities that care for children were selected by Newkidz and represent a diverse cross-section of the communities in Cape Town.

An amazing statement of support

"ECD is an important phase in a child's life yet so many communities lack ECD centres to educate and equip kids during their foundation years. And strategic partnerships like these are what enable us to continue to do what we do and have an impact," said Hilda de Beer, spokesperson for Newkidz. "It is an amazing statement of support when a company frees up their staff for up to three days per project. The 10 children's homes that we're part of this project were incredibly thankful to Woolworths staff for their efforts," she added.

The investment has reached approximately 700 kids across the 10 organisations.

"We'd like to encourage individuals and organisations to consider how they can make a practical contribution like Woolworths did," Hilda de Beer continued. "We need strategic partnerships like these to extend the reach of our projects and transform the lives of kids that find themselves in trying socio-economic circumstances," de Beer concluded.