"A crucial part of SWIFT's community ethos is to make sure that our global CSR programme supports local organisations in countries where our events take place," said Hugo Smit, Head of sub-Sahara Africa, SWIFT. "This year, the African Regional Conference takes place in Cape Town in May and we will be supporting NORSA Community Care in the Western Cape. NORSA does outstanding work supporting children and families in South Africa who are facing enormous difficulties in their day to day life. SWIFT is delighted to be able to help with its project to build a new infant unit."
NORSA Community Care was set up in 2006 to change the destiny of children and families in South Africa who are affected or infected with HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and extreme poverty. The non-governmental association takes a practical approach, focused on community-based projects such as daycare centres for preschool children in need, and weekday meals for school children and their sick or elderly parents. NORSA also plays a critical role in finding families for homeless children and is urgently in need of new facilities for its work with very young infants.
Marietjie Bezuidenhout, a spokesperson for NORSA, says: "We have a baby room where we provide care for babies in need. Most of the babies have been signed off for adoption and need to be cared for somewhere from the day they are discharged from hospital until they can be placed with adoptive parents.
"Currently, the baby room is actually NORSA's meeting room which has been adapted because we couldn't find a suitable place. We are in dire need of a proper facility as the babies stay between two to six months depending on the health situation of the child and the legal procedures regarding the adoption process.
"SWIFT's donation will enable us to build a brand new, dedicated babies dormitory with all the right facilities to support their needs. This will help to give them the start in life they deserve," adds, Bezeuidenhout.
In previous years alongside the African Regional Conference, the SWIFT CSR programme has included support for the SOS Children's Villages in Morocco and Botswana, and the Kampala Children's Centre in Uganda.
