THE Isuzu Foundation, a partnership between Isuzu Motors South Africa and its dealer network, has contributed to the development of disadvantaged communities with a donation of school uniforms, backpacks, and stationery worth over R100 000 to assist schools in Komani in the Eastern Cape. A truckload of furniture also formed part of the donation.
The donation, which has been realised in partnership with the Gift of the Givers, forms part of the broader Isuzu corporate social responsibility strategy focused on education, community development, health and the environment.
“Isuzu and its dealer network understand the importance of education and the requirements needed to be able to pursue education. We know that school uniform costs are annually inflated which makes even the most basic supplies too expensive for many less fortunate families. The Isuzu Foundation has attempted to bridge the gap between economic times and disaster response by supplying learners with much-needed school uniforms and school supplies”, says Isuzu department executive – Dealer & Business Development South African Customs Union Markets (SACU), Marcia Mayaba.
The donation includes specialised uniforms, including tunics, blazers and jerseys. In addition to these and through the company’s employee volunteering programme, Isuzu employees collected stationery that has been donated to the four schools. The schools that have benefited from the initiative are Nonesi Full-Service School, Mpendulo Primary School, Nkwanca Public School and Van Coller Primary School. Furthermore, The Isuzu Foundation donated 86 blankets to the John Voster Old Age Home following the tragic floods that took place earlier this year.
”At Isuzu, we recognise the need to enable and empower learners to prepare for building a bold bright future. Learners need the necessary basic tools to efficiently work and study hard. I am proud to be part of an organisation that cares about its community, and I’m even more proud of our employees who care too and who personally contributed to all the stationery being donated to these four schools in Komani. We believe these donations will afford learners an opportunity to concentrate on their lessons while at the same time bringing hope to succeed in their education”, Isuzu senior vice president – Human Capital and Corporate Affairs (HCCA), Mongezi Hermans says.
“The spirit of ubuntu still lives and as an Isuzu dealer, it is part of our DNA to boldly do more in making a positive impact in our surrounding communities. We believe that the greatness of a community is most accurately measured by the compassionate actions of its members,” says Dealer Principal of Jacksons Isuzu, Patrick Casey.
The Isuzu Foundation remains grateful to its stakeholders for making the donation possible and is committed to continuing with its drive to make a positive impact within the communities within which it operates.
