Tiger Brands kicked off Mandela Month in June 2015 with the distribution of 12,000 food parcels in Western Cape and Free State in partnership with the Department of Basic Education. In response to the needs of our society, the Tiger Brands team partnered with their Western Cape units namely: Jam unit in Paarl, Albany unit in Bellville and HPCB Baby unit in Ndabeni. The employees initiated their participation process by nominating 13 schools from vulnerable communities close to their facilities, and the other six beneficiary schools are part of the Tiger Brands Foundation breakfast programme.
Moreover, on Friday, 24 July, Tigers rallied as a team to refurbish and give hope to Ebenezer Hannah Home in Orange Farm, a home for the destitute and abandoned children and elderly people. The activities covered all four of the Mandela Day themes namely food security, education & literacy, shelter & infrastructure and service & volunteerism, leaving a lasting footprint in the hearts of those that stay at the home and to the community of Orange Farm. The volunteers painted seven orphanage houses; refurbished the play area by repairing and painting a new jungle gym and swing; fixed the vegetable garden shade; weeded the garden and planted trees; painted murals at the front entrance and soccer field area; cleaned and organised the library and built book shelves; laid grass and planted vegetables.
"I thank God for you. Helping an orphan is touching God; whatever good you do to an orphan, you do to God and today Tiger Brands has done well to the orphaned," says Mama Shirley, founder and caretaker of Ebenezer Hannah home. The home was established by her and her husband, Pastor Thomas, in 1992. Both Mama Shirley and Pastor Thomas are orphans and they have made it their life work to ensure that those in a position similar to theirs whilst growing up don't go through the same hardships. Mama Shirley has shown heartfelt gratitude to Tiger Brands employees who took the time to volunteer in bringing change and the makeover for Ebenezer Hannah home.
"Initiatives such as Mandela Day provide an opportunity for our staff to unite towards a good cause in serving our communities. We cherish our employees' commitment to serving others as ambassadors and advocates for Tiger Brands," says Jabu Ntsele, CSI Manager.
Tiger Brands demonstrated one of their core values, "Our World", by helping to bring change and advancement to those in need and responding to the call to give back. CEO Peter Matlare's statement, "Where we have been, people want us to return. Where we are, people want us to stay and where we are going, people cannot wait," is most felt by people like Mama Shirley at Ebenezer Hannah home and their communities.
