More than 100 staff members of the Airport Company of South Africa discarded their suits in exchange for overalls, spades and shovels at Entokozweni Nursery School in Alexandra.
They brought with them gifts and food for the children of the nursery as part of their commemorative 67 minutes call to action on Mandela Day. The staff went a step further by officially handing over the newly refurbished kitchen of the nursery school to principal, Florah Manaka who expressed her delight at being able to serve her children from a top class kitchen.
Airports company spokesperson, Unathi Batyashe-Fillis said the company came bearing gifts and food for the children, and planted vegetables in the revamped garden. They also painted the walls of the classrooms and office block.
The company’s participation in Mandela Day activities forms part of its ongoing socio-economic development programme, which will not only touch the lives of the children and staff members of Entokozweni, but will spread far afield as the birth place of former President Nelson Mandela in Mvezo, Batyashe-Fillis said.
The revamped kitchen will be used to prepare three daily meals for the children. “The kitchen will also be utilised to service the greater community for our numerous outreach programmes,” Manaka added.
The vegetable garden will ensure a sufficient and consistent supply of produce to feed the more than 260 children who form the beneficiaries. Partnerships with Obvious Builders, Gadget Girls and Big 5 also saw the donation of paint, food packs, and soccer balls and mugs to the children.
