Shipping containers to be used for Early Childhood Development Centre in Woodlane Village.

On Mandela Day, teams from different companies will join forces to paint eight shipping containers, which will become a much-needed crèche in the informal settlement, Woodlane Village – commonly referred to as Plastic View – in Moreleta Park, Pretoria.

Big Box Containers, a South African company that specialises in container sales, rentals and conversions, is partnering with SA Cares for Life, GROOTfm and other sponsors to help build this Early Development Centre for pre-schoolers.

The settlement began in 2007, when a group of people living in a nearby field came together to build on the land. Despite on-going legal battles over occupation of the land, the settlement continued to grow. By 2016, it included 3000 registered residents and 865 shacks – and today, it’s estimated that more than 7000 residents are living on the eight hectares of land.

The community includes hundreds of children below the ages of six. Due to poverty and lack of formal infrastructure, many of these children lack proper nutrition, healthcare, schooling and even access to basic sanitation.

Sanet Fagan, managing director of SA Cares for Life, says the activities on Mandela Day will mark the beginning of a school that will provide the children of Plastic View with education, food, safety, water and sanitation. Crime is a major concern for people living in the village and the surrounding communities, she says. “Studies have shown that children who don’t receive an education between three and four are more likely to be involved in criminal activity. By giving these children an education, we empower them to make better moral decisions.”

With ongoing discussion about possible relocation of the village, using containers to build the school makes sense. If a final decision to move the people of Woodlane Village is made, the school can be moved too, says GROOTfm project manager, Lindie Strydom.

Willie Mouton, a director of Big Box Containers, says the company got involved after he was approached by GROOTfm’s marketing manager, Luané Janse Van Rensburg. “I was driving in a Big Box branded bakkie and this woman came running after me. I was quite concerned as I thought she’d been injured, so I immediately stopped. It was then that she handed me a business card and told me they needed a sponsor for the containers.”

The eight containers, valued at R282 000, have already been converted by Big Box Containers. To be suitable for use as a school, however, they need to be insulated, which is expensive. Two other sponsors, SSG Consulting and ATTBuild, have donated R100 000 each to cover the costs.

Other companies have also joined the initiative, with sponsorship from Nancefield Auto Paints, Ecsponent Limited, VDT Attorneys and SPAR Northrand. Altogether, eight teams will meet on Mandela Day to colour in outlined drawings on the containers, kicking off an initiative in keeping with this year’s Mandela Day theme, #ActionAgainstPoverty.

However, this is only the first phase.

“We still need to equip the school with furniture, as well as items such as mattresses, cups, plates and educational material,” says Fagan. Sufficient funding to cover operational costs, including salaries for teachers, is also needed.

The project aims to create several jobs for women living in Plastic View. SA Cares for Life has prepared a shortlist of women it would like to train as educators and care-givers. “This way the project changes the destiny of not only the children, but the women who are employed at the school,” says Fagan.

The aim is to deliver the containers to Plastic View by August, with official set-up of the school in September or October. Training for the women workers is planned for November to December.

However, reaching these targets depends on whether all building and operational budget requirements are met, says Fagan.

Companies that want to help with donations can contact Fagan at SA Cares for Life.

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ABOUT BIG BOX CONTAINERS
Big Box Containers is one of the biggest privately owned container rental, sales and conversion companies in Africa, with operations in the Western Cape and Gauteng. The company has two decades of experience in converting shipping containers into functional work, living and event spaces. It’s also an active supporter of community, charitable and sporting events across South Africa.

Media contact
Taryn Nightingale; Gnu World Media
021 448 9280
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

EDITOR’S NOTES:
For more information on:

• Big Box Containers, visit https://www.bigboxcontainers.co.za/about
• SA Cares for Life, visit https://www.sacares.website/
• GROOTfm, visit http://grootfm.co.za/
• the BOUPlasticCity project, visit http://grootfm.co.za/bou/
• and Mandela Day visit https://www.mandeladay.com/.

On 25th November 2015, Edcon, in partnership with UN Women, the Gauteng Departments of Social Development and Community Safety, and the South African Fashion Council, launched the Edgars UNiTE Orange Day Campaign to #BreaktheSilence and say NO to violence against women and girls.

This flagship initiative seeks to support survivors of gender-based violence by developing their skills in the world of fashion design and sewing through workshops and accredited training courses. This will result in tangible opportunities for job creation in the local manufacturing market, financial independence and enterprise development, and will ultimately allow the survivors to reclaim their dignity and lives, and become self-sufficient. Since the inception of the Edgars UNiTE Orange Day Campaign in 2015, Edcon has successfully launched the campaign in KwaZulu Natal and Western Cape, empowering over 100 women by providing them with the skills and knowledge in fashion design and product development.

“The Edgar’s UNiTE Campaign is more than just a programme. A programme has a start and finish date. This is a process.” explains Mr Bernie Brookes; CEO & Managing Director of Edcon. “The Orange Campaign features a multitude of events and functions that all raise the profile of the significant problem of abuse we have in our country.”As part of creating awareness around the 16 days of activism, which commences on 25th November, Edgars invites you to take part in the 6km Orange Run, which will take place at Mushroom Park, Sandton on Saturday, 2nd December 2017.

From the organisers of the Neon Run and the Spar Women’s Race, The Orange Run - Empowered by Edgars UNiTE promises to be an event to remember. Tickets are R120 per person, every participant will receive a goodie bag and the first 8000 entries will receive the official Edgars UNiTE Orange Run T-shirt. Orange Run - Empowered by Edgars UNiTE is a day out the whole family, kids between 10 - 12 run for free and there will be a dedicated play area for the little ones to enjoy. There are tons of things to do for everyone, so bring the whole family along to enjoy a fun-filled day.

Join us as we run for a purpose, raise awareness and #BreaktheSilence. Tickets are open and available at www.orangerun.co.za or in-store at your nearest Edgars.

Follow the Edgars UNiTE Orange Day Campaign on Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/EdgarsUNiTE/
Join the Orange Run - Empowered by Edgars UNiTE Facebook Event: https://www.facebook.com/events/885270144957189/

Tuesday, 18 July 201712h00 – 16h00

Fives Futbol, Century City 

Corporates line up for the 4th Mandela Day Have a Ball Charity Soccer Tournament, hosted by Adverb 

It’s time to boot up again for the 4th edition of Adverb’s Mandela Day Have a Ball charity soccer tournament taking place at Fives Futbol, Century City on Mandela Day, Tuesday, 18 July 2017 from 12h00 in support of the children from My Dunoon. 

Forty children from the project will team up with members of the participating corporate teams in a 5-a-side round-robin soccer tournament.  This day of giving will be topped off with a handout of takkies, soccer balls, beanies and bags to each child - purchased with the funds donated by corporate sponsors and suppliers, who are: 

Adverb, Ankerdata, BON Hotels, Concept Lounge, Diesel Digital, Fives Futbol, Gemini Solutions, Hobbs Sinclair, Innovation Projects, IOL, OneFM, Orlichem, Pyrad International, Sir Juice. 

Participants and spectators can look forward to a fun day of football, food, refreshments, laughter and happiness, a live broadcast from OneFM, with a few surprises in store including celebrity appearances. All the players will receive a medal and there are great give-aways throughout the day for best save, biggest smile, team spirit, sportsmanship and ball skills.   

If you are interested in entering a corporate team, please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. - or just pop by and cheer from the sidelines.  

Order of the day is to HAVE A BALL!