PLATINUM HEALTH SUPPORTS NELSON MANDELA DAY

Platinum Health (PH) employees devoted 67 minutes and more on 18 July in support of Mandela Day celebrations. To honour the amount of time and resources former president Nelson Mandela devoted to improving the lives of children around the world, we made children and the elderly the focus of what would have been his 106th birthday.

Not content with making a difference in just one place, we visited three institutions in the Rustenburg, Bushveld and Eastern Limb Regions respectively.

Here’s a snapshot of the activities that took place.

SOS CHILDREN’S VILLAGE, TLHABANE (RUSTENBURG REGION)

Not content with making a difference in just one place, we visited three institutions in the Rustenburg, Bushveld and Eastern Limb Regions respectively.

Here’s a snapshot of the activities that took place.

The SOS Children’s Village is a non-governmental childcare organisation that provides direct care services for children who have already lost parental care or children at risk of losing parental care. They are passionate about childcare development and provide a place that orphaned and abandoned children can call home. It provides children the opportunity to live as part of their own culture and religion, in a home where their needs for food, healthcare, shelter, and education are met. It’s an environment where they can be children again: to play, laugh, learn, make friends, and do all the things a child should do.

The air was buzzing with excitement as our teams pitched in with cleaning the houses, and whether it was dusting the walls or sweeping the floors, the end result was incredibly enjoyable and rewarding. We also donated blankets to keep the little ones warm during wintertime and some much-needed cleaning material was handed over to the SOS team too.

At the event, Mr Albert Kokota (Nursing Services Executive) said we are always happy to be able to make a positive difference in people’s lives, especially the youngsters of today as they are the leaders of tomorrow. “It is an exhilarating experience to be part of an initiative that gives something meaningful to the community. Thank you for the warm welcome we received from all of you and we trust that our visit here today will make a positive difference in the lives of the children.”

If you wish to donate to SOS Children’s Village or to find out more, contact Mpho Madiba on 071 681 6557.

BOKAMOSO OLD AGE HOME, SANDFONTEIN (BUSHVELD REGION)

The Bokamoso Old Age Home in Sandfontein houses ten elders who are terminally ill and they offer food and care to them as well as to another twenty elders living in the nearby village.

The Old Age Home required an overall renovation, and our teams couldn’t wait to start painting the house both inside and outside. All dressed up in our overalls and amidst laughter and a feeling of togetherness, we got the job done, with many elders expressing their gratitude for our enthusiastic efforts. To ensure they sleep cozy and enjoy warm cooked meals this winter, we also donated blankets, a gas stove and cylinder to them as they didn’t have a proper kitchen to prepare meals.

At the event, our CEO, Mr Rodney Gounden, underlined the importance of preserving the legacy of Madiba. “This day serves as a call to action for every one of us. In a society where the elderly are often overlooked or forgotten, it is delightful for us to spend the day with all of you. It is a day that urges us to reflect on our actions, promote peace, equality, and justice and to strive towards a society free from discrimination and oppression. This day is not just about remembering Madiba’s achievements, it is about honouring his values and principles!”

If you wish to donate to Bokamoso Old Age Home or to find out more, contact Elsie Moshai on 067 843 6334.

TUBATSE CHILD AND YOUTH CARE CENTRE (EASTERN LIMB REGION)

Tubatse Child and Youth Care Centre serves as a safety home for children and the youth in the area, and it houses thirty-three children in need of care and protection. It offers integrated services to needy, neglected, traumatised and abused children and the care provides 24 hours accommodation, food, medical services, clothing, scholastic training, social counselling and any other services needed for their total care.

All geared up in their green overalls, our enthusiastic teams took to the task of performing a much-needed renovation of the netball courts, and at the end of the day we were gifted with a sense of contentment and pride. In addition to this we also donated blankets to the children, as we want the children to sleep nice and snug during the cold winter months.

At the event, Dr Matome Sekgala (Chief Operational Officer – Eastern Limb) recognised that education and physical exercise were the key to unlocking the potential of children and empowering them to create a better future. “We identified Tubatse Child and Youth Care Centre because it’s part of the community that we serve, and we wanted to do something special for them on this day. We decided to refurbish the netball court because we believe that physical activity plays an important part in the growth of children and youth.