South Africa – Johannesburg

Career guidance and improved facilities at rural high school

Approximately 900 boys and girls attend Kwena Molapo High School and St Ansgar’s Combined School in Lanseria. This rural public High School comprises 16 prefabricated structures that serve as classrooms.

Volunteers from Aspen Pharmacare’s Johannesburg office spent time at the school providing career guidance and screening for 420 learners.   

Aspen’s employees are also committed to playing a meaningful role in alleviating period poverty in the country. As part of an ongoing initiative, more than 1 000 sanitary pads were donated to the young women and girls at Kwena Molapo High School.  

Research conducted by Stellenbosch University estimates that up to 7 million girls do not have access to or cannot afford sanitary products, and around 30% of South African girls do not attend school every month due to their period. Many lack sufficient resources to purchase sanitary products and are forced to choose between feminine hygiene products or buying food. This situation in turn impacts their education, physical health, and mental well-being.

Fostering an environment for growth and advancement

Blair Atholl Primary School is committed to fostering an environment conducive to learning, growth, and advancement. This state funded school accommodates some 480 learners from grade one to seven while the pre-primary school caters for about 100 learners from three to seven years of age.

Aspen’s volunteers participated in Mandela Day celebrations at the school where they refurbished classrooms and desks, and improved the environment for the primary school learners.

Showing care and kindness to Zanethemba’s little ones

Volunteers from Aspen Pharmacare’s Commercial department spent Mandela Day with young orphans at the Zanethemba Safe Haven in Walmer, Gqeberha. Some 220 babies and young children aged from one to seven years who have been neglected, abandoned, orphaned or abused are placed in this temporary safe care facility by means of a Court Order. Zanethemba (isiXhosa: ‘to bring hope’) provides therapeutic services, education, nutrition, access to medical assistance and most importantly, love, in order to show children how to trust and love again.

Aspen’s team spent the day with the children and engaged in various games and activities such as beading bracelets. Additional support to Zanethemba included attending to gardening, cleaning and maintenance tasks, as well as sorting and allocating a range of donations that had been collected for the children.