01 November 2018, Cape Town – It was a proud morning for African Equity Empowerments Limited (AEEI), a diversified black economic empowerment investment Group, when members of the Group officially handed over a brand-new classroom to the learners attending “Where Rainbows Meet Training and Development Foundation” in Vrygrond today.
As part of Mandela Day/Month, the Company decided to leave a legacy and its footprint and formally presented the plans for building of a brand new classroom for early childhood development with the emphasis on Grade R learners to the management and staff at the Foundation. The director, principal and management were overwhelmed and excited by AEEI’s gesture.
Sponsors AEEI, Premier Fishing and Brands Limited, Mr Anwar Solomons, Cool Maintenance and Ms Cherie Hendricks, were all present when they proudly cut the ceremonial ribbon to signify the handover of the R400 000 classroom to Ms Mymoena Scholtz, director of the Foundation.
Where Rainbows Meet – Training and Development Foundation, is based in the community
of Vrygrond, the oldest informal settlement in the Western Cape.
During the handover Mr Khalid Abdulla, Group CEO of AEEI, said, “AEEI runs several corporate social responsibility programmes at the Foundation and throughout the country, with special emphasis on the communities in which our employees reside. There has been a scourge of violence and abuse against women and children in the Western Cape, and by providing the Foundation with an additional classroom, we can assist some parents to keep their children off the streets and out of harm’s way.”
“Early childhood development and education forms the foundation of the growth and development of all people and we are here to facilitate access to educational opportunities by providing the Foundation with structures, stationery, and teachers to our little ones,” added Abdulla.
A very appreciative Scholtz said, “Our mission is to economically and socially empower the women, men, and youth of informal settlement communities through skills and development training, and without the support of various organisations and the generous people of the Western Cape, the Foundation would not have been able to make a difference in the lives of the community of Vrygrond, Lavender Hill.
The classroom is specifically for the use of Grade R learners, as there are insufficient Grade R classes or cheche’s in the area, and most parents struggle to place their children in schools if they have not completed the Grade R year in the prior year.
The AEEI Group (which includes one of the other sponsors, Premier Fishing and Brands Limited) runs several Corporate Social Responsibility programmes at the “Where Rainbows Meet” Training and Development Foundation. Of great importance is the Group’s payment of salaries to qualified ECD teachers on a monthly basis for the last 3 years to ensure that these young learners are provided with the best foundation phase education.
The Group has been supporting the Foundation for the last 6 years and this year decided to leave its footprint and a legacy for generations to come which is unlike the other support we provide such as the Back to School programme, financial and in-kind support. More than 750 children befitted from the Back to School stationery driver this year.
Other sponsorships by the Group include: an Easter programme, Christmas parties, Mandela Day initiatives and other donations.
Abdulla wished the staff and learners of “Where Rainbows Meet” well over the latter part of the term, and stressed that our children are the leaders of the future – let us play a part in their development and open opportunities for them to acquire knowledge in order to build a better environment, a better community and a greater future.”
ENDS
For further information or to arrange an interview, contact:
Lauren@networxpr.co.za / 021 201 1522