IS partners with ChemCity in CSI community upliftment project
Internet Solutions and ChemCity, a wholly owned subsidiary of Sasol Chemical Industries have joined forces to help uplift local community members and the physically disabled at Epilepsy SA in the Free State, through a Corporate Social Investment (CSI) initiative that will refurbish the epilepsy centre in Parys and assist local communities to become more self-sufficient and at the same time provide financial support for the centre.
“As part of our corporate CSI programme we chose to get involved in this project as it is ideally aligned with our CSI objective, which is to make a meaningful and long-lasting contribution to the underprivileged communities of South Africa,” comments Prenesh Padayachee, Chief Technology Officer at Internet Solutions. “At Internet Solutions we also have a strong community culture, so giving back to the less fortunate is part of our passion.”
ChemCity is a business incubator that facilitates the establishment of independent SMME’s in the downstream chemical and related sectors. “We are very pleased to have been able to partner with Internet Solutions in this initiative. The combination of the Internet Solutions commitment, with our ChemCity SMME development resources, has ensured we have been able to offer meaningful and sustainable assistance to the Tumahole and Makwallo communities,” said Bridgitte Backman, Managing Director of ChemCity.
The Tumahole and Makwallo communities are some of the Epilepsy SA beneficiaries who are involved with the support groups. They have been economically empowered through the establishment of income generation projects, such as candle making, soap making, perfumery, a bakery and a coffee shop as a result of the IS and ChemCity collaboration in Parys. “More than 600 IS employees participated in this community CSI project and together they refurbished a building donated by the local municipality to accommodate all of these businesses, which has provided a more sustainable livelihood to enable these communities to prosper,” comments Costa Koutakis, Client Services Director at Internet Solutions. “We have also erected veggie tunnels and planted various types of vegetables that will be sold out of the refurbished shop.”
“We are delighted that Internet Solutions and ChemCity have given of their time and resources to assist the residents of the Epilepsy Centre and the surrounding communities, as their contribution will make a long-term and sustainable difference to their lives,” concludes Gary Westwood, Director of the Epilepsy SA centre in Parys.
The official handover event, marking the completion of the project, was held on Thursday, 15 October 2009 at the Epilepsy SA centre in Parys.
TAMMY DU PREEZ
Communications Manager
Tel: 087 365 7768
Tel: +27 (11) 575 7768
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