BNI makes over 3 000 sandwiches for children in need
GREENSIDE – Busines Network (BNI) an international business networking company made the sandwiches for local organisations as part of their Mandela Day celebrations.
Business Network, (BNI) made 3 277 sandwiches for various children’s organisations at Pirates Bowls Club on 12 July as their way of giving back for Mandela Day.
BNI is an international business networking organisation with over 253 000 members worldwide. For this Mandela Day event, 70 members from four local chapters took part in making sandwiches.
Beneficiary organisations included Ububele Educational and Psychotherapy Trust in Alexandra, Hotel Hope in Melville and Johannesburg Girls Preparatory School in Hillbrow.
BNI director Jeremy Dannheisser said, “Our slogan, ‘Where givers gain’, shows that we are very much about giving back and looking out for others. This is not about money but rather about empowering communities of small businesses.”
Lesego Khutsoane, who headed up the outreach, said, “As much as we overlook it, there are so many homeless, unemployed and hungry people in our country. We want to give them something to eat for just one day.”
BNI member Kenneth Motauhg said, “Today is about giving back to the community. I was brought up in a disadvantaged community and saw the struggle. I know the importance of giving back, which is why I decided to join today.”
Lynne Goldschmidt of Ububele said that the event was not only about receiving a meal, but raising awareness about infant mental health and seeking to find partners for sustainability.
Founder and CEO of Hotel Hope Oliver Quambusch said their adoption home provides a place of safety for 22 HIV-infected or affected abandoned children from newborn to eight years old. “We are excited to be second-time beneficiaries of this sandwich drive and love this initiative. Sandwiches will go to children at the home but also to homeless youth in Melville and beneficiaries in Alex, where we run a teenage crisis pregnancy intervention across five high schools.
“We are faced with poverty every day, more so outside of the home than within the home. Poverty is the number one reason why parents abandon their children. This initiative shows people that someone cares.”
Sports coach at Johannesburg Girls Kerry O’Farrell said the sandwiches donated to the school would go towards the school’s feeding scheme.
Some Grade 7 learners from the school also attended the sandwich-making event. O’Farrell said, “Having the girls here helps to increase their vision by seeing entrepreneurs at work. It also teaches them the importance of compassion and service to others.”
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