Corporate social investment

LERATONG SCHOOL

Across the way from one of Gauteng"s most affluent suburbs, Sandton, lies the poverty - stricken township of Alexandra.

It is here that we found Peggy Chauke. She is a small beacon of light for 180 near destitute pre-schoolers. Tucked between some council flats and shacks and a tiny informal barber shop is her pre-school, the Leratong School, Joy for One Foundation. In the midst of the shocking reality of daily life is this haven of hope, love, laughter and learning for these children aged between 2 and 6 years.

Many of these children are HIV positive; their living conditions are utterly appalling; they live in one-roomed shacks with not even the basic of amenities and often with no parents. Many of them are being brought up by siblings as young as twelve and thirteen, who themselves are in dire need of support - physically, mentally, materially, emotionally and educationally. A seemingly hopeless situation.

Peggy has carried this load on her shoulders for the past 19 years with little or no help. She has been the only shining light and ray of hope in these destitute children"s lives. She started the school as a day care facility nineteen years ago with seven children and is now looking after 180 children. This is a drop in the ocean of the number of children crying out for help. She could take hundreds, maybe thousands more if she had the resources.

We, at Ad Talent, are going to help these children and we want you to help us make a difference, too. We believe that the future of our wonderful country is vested in providing the youth of SA with the best opportunities in health and education that they can get. In the short term, however, along with your help, we can put food into the stomachs of these children, clothe them and give them warmth this winter, help educate them and to stop the further damage of malnutrition and abuse.

We do have a vision for this community. The vision, as defined by Peggy, is to provide for the long term needs of these children. The need is for more than what is currently being offered to 180 children. The need is for the children in the community at large, to give them shelter, food, care and education, to protect them from the rampant crime, drug and sexual abuse that is their everyday lives.

We want you to contribute, on a monthly basis, either as a company or individual members of your company, whatever you are willing or able to contribute. The immediate needs are money, clothing for 2 to 6 year olds, blankets, food, educational toys, art materials etc. This fund will be handled by a committed body to administer and facilitate all donations on an on-going basis, creating a website enabling you to contribute electronically and to keep you updated of the results which will be monitored and published in all the industry media e.g. Advantage, Biz-Community, Marketing web etc. Every cent your company contributes will be monitored and recorded as to how you"ve made a difference each month in these children"s lives.

We are targeting the entire communications industry to stand together and help make a real difference in the lives of these children and many, many more.

Should you wish to give a donation of money, these are Leratong’s bank details:
First National Bank, Bramley – 252 105,
Account number – 503 000 125 02.
Their registration certificate number is 002298.
(Alexandra Learning Pre-School Centre’s bank account)