Unifabs Chief Executive, Jason Austin, recently returned from a short but inspiring trip to South Africa with not-for-profit organisation Action Change, visiting the CSR projects we support and seeing first hand the positive impact of our corporate partnership.
First visit during the trip was to Siyakhula Educare, the preschool where Unifabs sponsors children with scholarships and meals. Jason was thrilled to see the improvements since his last visit with Action Change, from additional security around the building to a refurbished upstairs room now equipped with tables and chairs for the children. “It was amazing to see how these small changes with the support from Action Change make such a big difference for the children,” he said.
CSR project lunches rubgy at Bhongolethu School
On Thursday 27th November, Jason took part in a Rugby Day at Bhongolethu Foundation Primary School, where the preschool children were brought over by bus to take part in rugby activities, enjoy a hot dog lunch, and receive certificates recognising outstanding accomplishments and sportsmanship. The day was arranged by Action Change, with support from Unifabs, JAG Foundation, and Horn & Phillips. Jason reflected on how rewarding it was to see the nursery children experiencing new activities outside of their usual environment, building confidence and developing new skills.
Action Change had arranged for professional players to join on the day, but they unfortunately had to pull out at the last minute to play for their national team against Ireland. Despite this, the day was a huge success thanks to Tumi, a youth Western Province team player and Action Change intern who organised the whole event. The children also enjoyed learning from Coach Aya, a local to the school who has played rugby throughout his career. Now employed by Action Change and sponsored by Adidas, Aya plans to grow his own rugby charity alongside the project at Bhongolethu with the support of Action Change.
With Unifabs and others supporting the event, Bhongolethu School and the Masipumelele township now have access to rugby programmes for the children. Future plans for the project include fundraising for an astroturf pitch, school bus, team kits, and supporting ongoing coaching costs, ensuring the programme continues to grow safely and sustainably. A partnership through a local charity is also in development to enable the children to compete against other local schools in the future.
Other CSR projects during the trip
Jason also visited the Empowerment Programme based at the school, which teaches sewing skills to local residents and helps them gain employment. Aprons and tote bags produced by enrollees were sold at the Rugby Day, with future plans to make uniforms for the nursery. “Seeing these programmes in action really shows the difference corporate–charity partnerships can make,” Jason said.
Outside of the Action Change projects, Jason also enjoyed a few iconic Cape Town sights, including a sunset boat trip around the bay and a hike up Lion’s Head, taking in the natural beauty of South Africa — a stark contrast to the impoverished, densely populated townships he’d visited during his trip.
We’re proud to see the tangible impact our partnership with Action Change is having on children, communities, and local programmes, and we look forward to supporting these projects as they continue to grow. We are also pleased to be sponsoring the nursery with extra funding for a Christmas party this month, ensuring all the children receive a gift and some Christmas cheer this festive season.
If your business is looking for a charity partner to make a real difference, or you want to find out more about our CSR partnership and the inspiring projects run by Action Change, visit Action Change to learn how you can get involved.
