SA's dedicated volunteers honoured at the 2021 Momentum Metropolitan Lesedi Awards

Lesedi, Sesotho for ‘light’, is the group’s staff volunteerism programme that serves to recognise employees who undertake volunteer work in support of their chosen cause, and is regarded as one of the largest employer-driven volunteer recognition programmes in the country. Lesedi’s annual awards ceremony recognises those employees who go above and beyond in their charitable efforts, and are a way for the company to demonstrably show its appreciation and support.

The broadcast gave all nominees and their respective NPOs and communities a chance to tune in and share the celebrations. All winners, runners-up and nominees received prize money, which is donated towards their chosen non-profit organisation (NPO) by Momentum Metropolitan.

Recognising volunteerism

This year’s winner of Lesedi’s highly-coveted Spirit of Volunteering award was Reagan Meyer, a management accountant at Metropolitan Health. Meyer is a founding director of training4changeS - a Stellenbosch-based organisation that transforms communities through sporting programmes. Meyer explains that the NPO equips young people with essential life skills and values. “During the pandemic, we helped students with financial and food relief, as well as academic support,” he says.

Meyer, who was also awarded the Individual Volunteer award, is one of eight winners across Lesedi’s various categories. The Spirit of Volunteering award is a significant achievement as the winner is chosen from the winners of all the other Lesedi categories, and represents the pinnacle of selfless service. Meyer also established the ‘Reggie Meyer Education Fund’, which helps disadvantaged learners from training4changeS’ Futsal Academy attend top schools. In addition, he facilitates financial literacy workshops for unemployed young people, helping them gain a better understanding of important financial concepts and thus reach their full potential.

“Volunteerism should be an important part of a business’ CSI programme”

Dan Moyane, chairman of the Momentum Metropolitan Foundation, which is the seat of the group’s CSI mandate, says that volunteerism should be an important part of a business’ CSI programme as “it supports the company’s purpose and thereby gives meaning to employees; helping them feel connected to their own purpose”.

“It helps to raise funds and awareness for those who are in real need. It also attracts talent, because people want to work for a company that does good, which in turn, encourages employee engagement,” Moyane says, adding that people want to know that the products, solutions and services they are getting are coming from a company that cares.

“The 2021 Lesedi Awards is about honouring those who, despite these challenges, have continued to stay connected with their communities, bringing light to places where there might be hopelessness and showing us that ‘we’ is stronger than ‘me’,” Moyane concludes.

The 2021 Lesedi Awards winners are:

- Individual Volunteer - Reagan Meyer (winner), Marileze Johannes (first runner-up) and Mologadi Mathosa (second runner-up)
- Team Volunteer - Momentum Legacy Solutions team, led by Monowarah Gallie (winner)
- Volunteer Business Leader - Lyn Muzondo (winner)
1st runner-up - Seeshin Naidoo
- International Volunteer - Kennedy Kwaku Antwi (winner) and Archibald Ayiteyadjin (first runner-up)
- Exceptional Volunteer Champion - Seema Singh (winner) and Thelma Scholtz (first runner-up)
- Most Consistent Payroll Giver - Lance Raftesath (winner)
- Most Active Volunteer on Forgood - Karin du Toit (winner)
- Spirit of Volunteering - Reagan Meyer (winner)