SPARK Media, a division of Caxton CTP Limited, visited Lebogang Mpho early learning centre (Hayani), this December to give each child a Santa Shoebox. In the spirit of the festive season, and in lieu of client gifts, SPARK Media has contributed money towards one of their CSI initiatives, the Lebogang Mpho early learning centre in Alexandra Township and Orange Grove. The primary objective of this organisation is to focus on destitute women and child welfare.
“At SPARK Media we feel very strongly about giving back, especially over this time of year. For some of these children their personalised Santa Shoebox will be their only gift,” says Gill Randall, CEO of SPARK Media. “The number of children that the Alexandra Township Centre cares for has increased from 75 children in 2014 to 103 in 2015. We wanted to make a difference, and for each child to feel special.”
The staff at SPARK Media put their hands up to wrap and pack boxes and donated many made up Santa Shoeboxes themselves. Along with ‘Father Christmas’ (in the form of one of the SPARK Media staff members) the shoeboxes were delivered by the staff to both locations, where the children sat patiently until their names were called to receive their present.
The Santa Shoebox Project is a wonderful initiative that originated in Cape Town and has grown in leaps and bounds, with an increase in the number of Santa Shoeboxes from 180 boxes in 2006 to an astounding 109 930 in 2014. The contents of the box are clearly stipulated so that each child receives the same fillings, fit for their age. Lebogang Mpho Early Learning Centre supplied SPARK Media with the names of each child so that each box could be personalised with their name and suitable contents.
If you are interested in supporting the Lebogang early learning centre, please contact hayanisupport@webmail.co.za or 011 640 – 3299 Cell: 082 746 9784.
