Mandela Day: Sappi spreads goodwill across South Africa
In the company’s areas of operation across South Africa, staff from Sappi offices, mills and plantations keenly volunteered 67 minutes and more to make a practical difference among the frail and elderly, the ill and destitute, the mentally handicapped, as well as abused, abandoned and underprivileged children.
Acts of goodwill ranged from cooking and serving lunch to fixing dilapidated crèches, old age homes and school buildings, painting walls, fences and sheds, cutting grass, planting vegetable gardens, handing out blankets, female hygiene packs, toys and school supplies, and hosting several kiddies parties at local schools and crèches.
In some areas, even the environment benefited from the voluntary goodwill of Sappi’s employees. A river clean-up, in collaboration with government stakeholders, took place at Nels Stream in Nelspruit. And in response to a call from the Wild Horse Fund, staff worked hard to clear wires and rubbish at the picturesque Kaapsehoop in Mpumalanga.
As a multinational, diversified woodfibre group, Sappi is well aware of its corporate responsibility towards the social upliftment of the communities in which it operates. Many of these areas are situated in rural parts of our country, where poverty and poor access to resources present a myriad of opportunities to make a positive difference.
“Mandela Day is one of the many ways in which Sappi reaches out to these communities,” says Group Head Corporate Affairs, André Oberholzer. “Investing in these areas and improving the quality of life in these communities, is our way of helping to build a better South Africa and contribute towards economic growth.”
Sappi is a major employer in many of these areas. The company also runs several health- and environment-related, HIV/AIDS awareness, job creation and educational upliftment programmes in its surrounding communities.
Highlights of Sappi outreach activities on Mandela Day:












For more about Sappi’s social investment activities and commitment to the environment, visit www.sappi.com.
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