BDO takes trainee, student and pupil for upcoming CEO SleepOut

BDO South Africa, a well-known audit and advisory firm, recently announced that the company would partner with an employee, a student and a pupil at the upcoming Sun International CEO SleepOut next month.

The challenge will take place on 28 July at the Nelson Mandela Bridge in Braamfontein and will see the company’s chief executive officer, Mark Stewart, spend the night under the stars in aid of charity.

Joining him will be Sibongakonke Kheswa, a BDO Durban bursary recipient and student of the University of Johannesburg, who expressed excitement at taking part in the global initiative. “I am so thrilled to have been selected to be a BDO CEO SleepOut champion; I was fortunate enough to have learnt that we have to do something if we want to make a difference,” he said.

“I hope that through my participation in this event that I will be able to change the lives of at least one disadvantaged youth, as I believe that as one person I cannot change the world, but I can change the world of one person.”

Adding to this was Stewart, who explained that taking up the challenge benefitted the company greatly since this year’s focus was on education. This, Stewart explained, was a cause close to the company’s heart as each of the company’s five offices adopted a school each year and donated funds raised to the school.

“[We do this] because we believe that South Africa’s competitiveness is dependent on growing the future leaders of South Africa and it takes a nation to build a nation,” Stewart stressed.

Stewart and Kheswa will also be joined by third-year BDO trainee, Pat Mokgatle and Parktown Boys’ High school head boy, Darron Solomon, for a night on the street.

The CEO SleepOut, now in its second year, will see business leaders spend the night outside, along with a colleague, a student and a matric pupil with notable leadership qualities, all in aid of education.