Making a bright future possible for SA children
BRAAMFONTEIN – Stakeholders come together to improve the lives of young South Africans.
From dreams of being the best football stars to hopes of saving people’s lives, guests were given a glimpse into the hopes and dreams of young South Africans at the launch of the Unilever brightFuture schools programme.
The launch took place in Braamfontein and captured the hopes and aspirations of young South Africans in a moving exhibition showcasing these pupils’ future dreams.
Speaking at the launch was Peter Cowan, executive vice president of Unilever South Africa, who spoke briefly about the inspiration for the programme. “The programme came as a result of the 17 Global Goals for Sustainable Development, focused on tackling global challenges including poverty, climate change and inequalities,” he explained.
“In this, Unilever is focused on helping young people improve their health and well-being, ensuring that the company makes an impact that matters in these children’s lives.”
Cowan added that the programme was a product of a collaboration with various stakeholders including the Gauteng Department of Education, and aimed at creating a brighter future for young South Africans. This, the company hoped to achieve through teaching schoolchildren about the importance of basic health care and sanitation.
Adding to this was the Gauteng MEC for Education, Panyaza Lesufi, who welcomed the partnership to improve the well-being of young schoolchildren. “It’s imperative that we achieve the goals set and be part of the trends that allow this. As the department, we realise that, through partnership, we are able to eradicate the difficulties our kids are faced with,” he said.
He stressed the need to ensure no child ever lost the opportunity to realise their dreams because of limitations.
Other stakeholders present included the United Nations Children’s Emergency Fund and I See a Different You, which collaborated with Unilever to create the moving exhibition.
The exhibition displayed portraits of young schoolchildren from four primary schools in Alexandra, alongside drawings they had created of their dreams for the future.
The brightFuture Schools Programme will start piloting in 31 schools in Kwazulu-Natal, Eastern Cape, Gauteng and Limpopo over the next five months.
The programme will integrate the Domestos and Lifebuoy health and hygiene programmes, a new oral hygiene programme from Pepsodent and the popular Omo Smart Kids Maths programme.
