Barloworld plays its part in stopping hunger
SANDTON – With a record-breaking 170 000 meals packaged across southern Africa, Barloworld Equipment played their part in eradicating hunger for the Stop Hunger Now initiative.
The meal packaging event, spearheaded by Stop Hunger Now SA, saw two packaging events take place in South Africa and Mozambique with the Sandton-based company packaging a massive 100 000 meals at their offices as part of the South African leg of the campaign.
The remaining 70 000 meals were packaged in Mozambique by Graca Machel, chief patron of the organisation, along with Avis, CAT and Barloworld Limited staff and distributed to needy communities in the country.
Lesibana Ledwaba, executive director of Barloworld Equipment’s strategy, risk and sustainability, explained the reason behind the brand’s involvement in the initiative.
“Our brand has a vision to create shared value, which means that for us to thrive, the community within which we operate must also thrive and grow because this is where are our customers are based,” he said.
“Barloworld is a signatory to the United Nations Global Compact, an initiative which encourages businesses worldwide to adopt sustainable and socially responsible policies, and to report on their implementation.”
He also explained that the collaboration with the Stop Hunger Now SA initiative began during the Nelson Mandela Day initiative when the two worked together, with Barloworld deciding to expand on that and contribute towards charity more than once a year.
Saira Khan, chief executive officer of Stop Hunger Now SA, spoke on the collaboration and the change it brought to the lives of others.
“Finding a partner such as Barloworld, who is as committed as we are to eradicating hunger in our lifetime, was a refreshing change and shows that corporate South Africa’s partnership with non-governmental organisations can make a difference in the lives of many children,” he said.
“We are honoured by Barloworld’s gesture and look forward to many meal packaging events with them worldwide.”
The packaged meals were distributed to needy communities across South Africa which were identified by Stop Hunger Now. Stop Hunger Now SA was launched in 2009 and is a meal packaging programme which also distributes food to the needy.
Details: www.stophungernowsa.org
