Auxiliary Projects
We support the following organisations as part of our auxiliary social investment program.
Woodstock Community Upliftment
There are many community needs in Woodstock, with a number of children’s homes, shelters with large numbers of displaced people. We support local schools, crčches, shelters and orphanages with various donations, both cash and in kind and donated various merchandise items towards the new offices of Woodstock Improvement District. We continue to donate various items to the Haven Night Shelter and NOAH Old aged home in Woodstock.
MaAfrika Tikkun
MaAfrika Tikkun is an international organisation and in SA they represent a symbol of hope for those who want to progress in life, but have not had the means to do so. They are the bridge between government and private sector services in that their goal is to create community centres and embark on community projects that allow the community (within a period of 5 years) to then take ownership of the project and to continue with it. A high value is placed on local relevance. Of major concern is the large number of Orphans and Vulnerable Children (OVC’s).
MaAfrika Tikkun initiates new projects and partnerships (local, national and international) and spearhead and focus the necessary commitment to relevant self-sustaining and empowering projects. Their philosophy is to offer a HELPING HAND rather than a HAND OUT.
An amount of R50 000 has been donated to the Orphans and Vulnerable Children programme in Delft and Mfuleni.
Carel du Toit Centre
The approach followed at The Carel du Toit Centre is based on the EARLY IDENTIFICATION of the hearing loss and the fitting of hearing-aids or a cochlear implant. A hearing environment is created at the Centre, where the child with a hearing loss will learn to speak by learning to listen in a natural environment. Listening experiences and natural interaction create an intensive speech-development environment, which leads the child to linguistic competence. This process continues throughout the school years, laying a solid foundation for life. They believe that with early identification, providing there are no further complications, a large percentage of deaf children are able to acquire sufficient speech and language abilities in order to be able to adapt intellectually, socially and emotionally in a society of hearing people. An amount of R150 000 has been donated to support this worthy cause.
Community Chest
Community Chest is an active contributor to many welfare organisations. Lewis Stores is a major sponsor of the annual Twilight Run whereby the proceeds of thousands of entries contribute funding to various charities. We also operate a Give-as-you-earn programme where staff donates an amount directly from their salaries to the funding of various charities.
In 2009 Lewis received an award from the Community Chest for our valued and ongoing support.
Amy Biehl Foundation
The Amy Biehl Foundation is dedicated to providing a vast array of educational and cultural programmes designed to develop and empower youth in the impoverished townships, contribute to community building efforts, to give these children hope and a brighter future and to keep youth off the streets. Lewis has sponsored a number of camps for the children.
Abafundi Benkosi (Khayelitsha home orphanages)
This project was established by church leaders in Khayelitsha. They focus on orphans and vulnerable children, by ensuring that they are fed, have school uniforms and support child headed homes. We pay an amount of R2 500 each month for general orphan needs and consider additional requests.
Thembalitsha Foundation
Thembalitsha Foundation is a non-profit organisation which focuses on social development of children at risk. Their projects help build responsible individuals who are equipped and willing to contribute to the life of their communities and to the economic and social well being of SA. We support the following subdivisions of the foundation:
School of Hope –
The school is situated in Athlone and addresses the needs of children who have been rehabilitated and/or rescued from living on the streets and are fit to embrace mainstream education again. Our support is ongoing and addresses all needs of the school including, stationery, security, furniture and fittings, equipment, tracksuits, etc.
Graceland Pre-School –
This little school is based in Devon Valley. Most children attending this school are the children of farm workers. Some of the children exhibit signs of Foetal Alcohol Syndrome and other disabilities and conditions that require extra attention and stimulation. Support is ongoing as needs arise. We also fund the security for the pre-school.
TSiBA
TSiBA Education is a private provider of Higher Education in business. TSiBA offers a unique Foundation Year Certificate in Business Administration followed by an enriched Bachelor in Business Administration focused on Entrepreneurial Leadership. TSiBA specifically targets scholars and potential students that would otherwise not have access to tertiary level education, by offering successful applicants full tuition scholarships.
All students at TSiBA are on scholarship, as such, TSiBA partners with corporate and individual funders who sponsor the operations and management of the institution. The TSiBA degree is fully registered and accredited by the Department of Education and the Council on Higher Education. Lewis has sponsored bursaries for 2010 for ten students to the value of R31 500.
Food Tents
Through this project, vegetable growing tunnels are supplied to the needy, complete with plants, growing media and training and follow up. A pilot project of 60 tunnels was 100% successful. Each tunnel has the potential to feed a family in addition to providing a small cash crop, making the recipient a relatively independent small scale entrepreneur. We have sponsored 8 Veggie Tunnels which have been positioned mostly in rural areas. We are currently installing another three Food Tents at schools in Gugulethu.
Grace Feeding Scheme
Their vision is to free their community from oppression of poverty, hopelessness, unemployment and foster a culture of hope to bring about a change in their own deprived community. Grace Feeding Scheme is involved in addressing issues such as child abuse, substance abuse, crime, and teenage pregnancies, TB HIV/Aids etc. They prepare and distribute 35 000 meals per month and also work in the local schools and assist other NGOs and AIDS care facilities. Lewis donates R5 000 every month to this worthy cause and also donate merchandise items as needed.
HEART
The Heart of Healing is a social philanthropist organisation who offer the following specialised services: Specialist consulting and training; CSI Stakeholder Perception Audits; Customised CSI Programs; Managed staff community involvement projects; Give-as-you-earn programmes; CSI Reporting; CSI communications and Media; CSI outsourcing. We often work in collaboration with Heart in funding worthy projects.
Matthew Bowers
We continue to sponsor Matthew Bowers. He maintains his excellent achievements of breaking records and achieves gold and silver medals at each championship he attends. His swimwear now bears the Lewis logo. He is the current African Champion swimmer in his age group.
Community Sports Development
We support community sports clubs with branded sports gear, equipment, etc.
Organ Donor Foundation
The Organ Donor Foundation aims to address the critical shortage of organ donors in South Africa. Currently there are over 3,500 people waiting for organ transplants in our country. Many people die each year before they can receive a transplant. As a result of this critical shortage less than 1,000 of them will receive a transplant and the "Gift of Life" this year.The ODF creates public awareness to encourage registrations of potential organ donors. There are many people waiting for new hearts, lungs, livers, kidneys, and corneas. We have committed to donating R10 000 per annum to assist them in meeting their objectives.
Cape Mental Health Society
Established in 1913, Cape Mental Health supports persons (children and adults) with intellectual and psychiatric disabilities. They offer support groups, help with finding employment, training and assistance to caregivers and to the families of the mentally disabled to assist in increasing their independence and quality of life. We support Fountain House, a division of Cape Mental Health in raising funds for Casual Day and address other needs as requested.
Place of Hope
Place of Hope is a registered shelter in Athlone which provides holistic restoration services to abused women and their children. The shelter provides counselling as well as a day care facility for mothers who are employed or who attend training sessions. The shelter also runs skills development and training programmes. We have supported the home with various items needed and continue to do this. We have donated an amount of R10 000 towards teaching skills for the ladies at the home.