Vodacom rocked Soweto; now it's time to give back

Vodacom today donated R500 000 in proceeds from its brand refresh concert to the Orlando Children's Home in Soweto.

The Vodacom Unlimited concert was held at Orlando Stadium on 1 April.

Portia Maurice, Chief Officer Corporate Affairs, says: "Vodacom rocked Soweto, now it's time to give back. This is the red heart of Vodacom."

Several of the company's Vodacom Volunteers pitched in to provide volunteer duties, ranging from electrical and plumbing work, to painting and fixing the jungle gym at the Home, to providing new sheets, duvet covers, pillow slips and towels as part of a much-needed "winter makeover" for the home.

Nosipho Figlan, a Vodacom Volunteer who works for the Vodacom Foundation, said of the volunteer activities: "In the light of the brand refresh, Vodacom is giving power to me, and I would like to use that power by giving back to Orlando Children's Home and helping the disadvantaged children who live there. By getting involved in these activities, the power given to me to do good has been well utilised."

Mirriam Mazibuko, Project Director of Orlando Children's Home, says: "For Orlando Children's Home, and as a broader community, we are very happy to share our South Africa with such kind people. In particular, Vodacom has shown by its nature that it's not just profit-driven. Vodacom is about the community and South African people; they care about us and children. To have that wisdom of ploughing the field by enabling us to take care of the children, they know the yield is going to be the best. I can name many other occasions that Vodacom has invested in human capital to make sure that the people looking after the children are caring for them in the best way. They have also given us food for the last three years."

The Orlando Children's Home cares for 60 abandoned, lost, orphaned, neglected and abused children. Programmes include skills development for teenagers who find it difficult to cope with a formal school environment, an outreach programme for prevention of abandonment of children and a crèche for 80 children.

Vodacom has previously contributed over R1-million to the home through the Vodacom Foundation.