Engen service station owners have once again come together to help the children of Diepsloot informal settlement, many of whom are hungry and live below the breadline.
In collaboration with leading non-profit organisation JAM South Africa, 31 Engen franchisees have pledged to support the organisation’s ‘Nutritional Feeding Programme’ for the second year running. They have also joined together to fund the rebuilding of the Mogau Day & Night Care Centre.
The Engen franchisees and JAM handed over the new Centre to thrilled staff, teachers and children at the official launch party on Wednesday, 8 March 2017.
Rather than renovate the existing building which was structurally unsound and run down, a decision was taken to demolish and rebuild. The franchisees approached Container Conversations who kindly agreed to donate three containers which have been fully revamped and transformed into a brand new Centre, inclusive of classrooms, new toilets, a play area, a fully kitted kitchen, as well as teaching and educational toys.
Funding raised by the 31 dealers was matched by Engen as part of the company’s Engen Dealer Community Partnership Programme (DCPP). This eventually totaled R306 000 and covered the rebuild as well as the nutritional feeding of 90 children in 2017, each of whom will be provided with a 50g portion of highly nutritious porridge served in a JAM Red Bowl every school day.
JAM is a South African founded international humanitarian development organisation. In existence for more than three decades, JAM have provided more than 1,64 billion meals to over a million beneficiaries across Africa.
Managing Director of JAM South Africa, David Brown says there are four steps involved in their approach. “Our primary focus is to provide nutrition for children between the ages of 6 months and 6 years in informal settlements. We then focus on infrastructure improvements through our Makeover Programme, Early Childhood Centre Development (ECD) education for caregivers and community involvement in support of ECD.”
Engen service station owners from the Engen Gauteng Central West charity committee said that working with JAM had been a humbling and uplifting process. “This is our second year working with JAM. We revamped the Needy Kids Day Centre last year in the same area and this year together with JAM we have built a brand new home for the children of Mogau where they can learn and grow in a safe and positive environment”.
Engen’s Corporate Social Investment Manager, Mntu Nduvane says Engen fully encourages and supports its franchisees getting involved and engaging with their local communities.
“Our franchisees got involved in the Centre’s transformation helping with some of the painting and adding the final touches. We welcome this generous show of community support and social upliftment by them,” says Nduvane.