The Sugar Industry Trust Fund for Education (SITFE) is putting smiles on the faces of children from impoverished villages in Pongola, north of KwaZulu-Natal.
Above: SITFE Chairperson Nkonzo Mhlongo is all smiles and impressed with the artwork produced by the youngster.
SITFE, through the RCL FOODS’ DO MORE Foundation, is providing critical funding for the Early Childhood Development (ECD) programme in the area, greatly assisting children in the area to develop in a holistic manner as they prepare for primary school. According to the foundation, “the funds received from SITFE continue to enable the DO MORE FOUNDATION to continue its work in the resource-poor communities of Nkomazi (Mpumalanga) and uPongolo (KwaZulu-Natal). These two areas are sugar production strong-holds that host existing projects that the DO MORE FOUNDATION currently run, collaborating with established and committed partners”.
On the ground… SITFE Chairperson Nkonzo Mhlongo, SITFE Vice-Chairperson Dieter Lütge and SITFE Trustee Lindiwe “Lee” Hlubi, SASA Management and DO MORE FOUNDATION visiting an ECD centre and attending a function to recognise ECD practitioners in Pongola.
SITFE Chairperson Nkonzo Mhlongo and Trustees Dieter Lütge and Lindiwe “Lee” Hlubi, accompanied by the South African Sugar Association (SASA) Management, recently undertook an oversight visit to the area (Pongola). They were highly impressed with what they found during the visit – an ECD programme that is changing rural kids’ lives, the initiative which is helping to create a bright future for them from a very early stage of their lives. Mhlongo extolled the foundation and creches in the area for their sterling work. The foundation’s report indicates that, “Ten ECD centres have been enriched with infrastructure upgrades in the form of 5250lt JoJo tanks that have been donated. Funding has been used towards installation of the tanks at the ten centres. This allows for access to drinkable water that the children can use while at school. Toy kits have been distributed to identified ECD centres.”
The SITFE visit to Pongola coincided with an event to recognise ECD practitioners in the area. The ceremony took place at the local RCL FOODS sugar mill. Mhlongo paid tribute to the practitioners, who were predominantly women, and encouraged them to continue to work for the betterment of the children and do more to ensure a bright future for them.