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The children were treated to a day of circus acts, delicious
treats, jumping castles and sporting events. Each child received
a lunch pack, a Dell branded peak cap and as much candy-
floss as their stomachs could handle! While this is already
an annual event, the Dell investment allowed SHAWCO to
expand on the occasion; to try new ideas and join forces as a
group comprising community, students and staff. It gave the
SHAWCO staff and volunteers the courage to think bigger and
expose local children to completely new experiences such as
the circus performance.
According to a SHAWCO spokesperson; “Given the economic
reality in which all NGO’s currently operate, SHAWCO should
not be dependent on donor funds to render services. Equally
so, funders should look for and encourage sustainability and
continuity in the services provided by NGO’s. The SHAWCO
Dell Day is a great example of a funders’ involvement enabling
SHAWCO to improve and expand existing operations. We hope
to continue this extremely productive partnership with Dell”.
From our side, Dell South Africa is proud to be associated
with SHAWCO and their objective of educating South African
students, teachers and their communities.
Beneficiary: Child Welfare
Dell Investment: Funds for Equipment
Millions of South African children are extremely vulnerable and
need expert assistance when it comes to education, health
and social development. In 2011, Child Welfare South Africa an-
nounced a new public and private partnership to tackle these
urgent challenges. As a result, Dell Computers partnered with
Child Welfare to provide funding, various donations and other
assistance to orphans and vulnerable children (OVC), based on
the Asibavikele model, a Xhosa/Zulu phrase that means “Let’s
Protect Them”.
While the project is aimed at providing training to community
members to enable them to identify and protect vulnerable
children who are orphaned or living in child-headed
households, it also intends to raise community awareness
about children affected by HIV and AIDS.
Literally part and parcel of our gift was a box of toys donated
by Dell staff members and which was given to CWSA
Mpumalanga to distribute to their member organisations. Prior
to this, we also donated computers to CWSA and contributed
towards the establishment of the Port St Johns Child Welfare
Centre in the Eastern Cape. Last but not least, on July 30, Dell
staff members headed off to one of South Africa’s Powering the
Possible Partners, the Child Welfare All Stars Centre, a facility
housing 21 boys aged between 12 and 18 years who previously
lived on the streets of Kempton Park. The Dell team spent the
day planting seedlings and vegetables which will eventually be
used by the home to make delicious soups and meals, while
the remainder of the day was spent chatting to the All Star staff
and playing a quick game of soccer with the boys.
Dell Computers Head of Transformation, Natasha Reuben,
puts this generosity of spirit into perspective: “Dell believes in
investing in communities to create positive transformation.
Working with CWSA in changing the lives of vulnerable children
is part of Dell’s commitment to making a positive difference
globally by starting with the communities in which our
employees live and work”.
CWSA President, dr. Dasarath Chetty, expresses the
organisation’s gratitude: “The continued commitment by Dell
to support CWSA goes a long way in assisting the organisation
to offer child protection services in South Africa. CWSA is also
touched by the goodwill not only of the organisation, but by its
staff members who have donated toys and have promised to
donate their time to children on Mandela Day in July this year”.