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Bidvest company, Konica Minolta South Africa employees shared their privileges with some of the most vulnerable orphans, when staff members generously bought Christmas gifts for almost 130 HIV positive children, aged between two and six, within Muldersdrift’s Noah community.
Noah is made up of 23 community-based organisations that provide support to approximately 6,000 vulnerable children across KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng. These community-based organisations are not comprised of physical buildings, but are rather synergistic networks of care that are made up of elected community members, and are mentored and guided by Noah on a financial, organisational and skills training level. On an annual basis Konica Minolta South Africa selects a community or children’s home in need, through a Section 21 company, AAAKEE (Abused and Abandoned Kids Educational Excursions). According to Odin Middleton, an AAAKEE associate member, the company provides educational excursions to various homes for children who have been abused, abandoned, or orphaned. “Whilst educational, these are also intended to enrich their lives with fun, entertainment, and excitement – a core value in the life of any child. Using this strategy, these children can learn common principles, and have fun at the same time. Apart from the happy excursions, we also have several sponsors funding our various Charity Drives, which cater for food, clothing, stationery, and school uniforms,” he says. For the past three years, Konica Minolta South Africa employees have donated gifts and refreshments to help ensure that Christmas is a special time for South Africa’s orphans. “Our staff has always been most generous with both their time and money. They shop for just the right gift to fit each child’s profile,” says Janine Ferreira, public relations officer at Konica Minolta South Africa. In addition, Konica Minolta South Africa partnered with The Edu-Care Foundation to also provide Noah’s orphans with books and painting materials. “Of course, Christmas would not be Christmas without a decorated tree, Father Christmas and many sweets, so we made certain that a decorated tree stood tall, a jolly Santa was present, and treats were in full supply,” adds Ferreira.
ABOUT KONICA MINOLTA SOUTH AFRICA: Konica Minolta South Africa, wholly owned by the Bidvest Group, stands at the forefront of business solution providers as the principal importer and distributor of the innovative and award winning Konica Minolta range of bizhub digital multi-functional colour and black & white devices, laser printers, fax machines and business solutions, into South Africa as well as Namibia, Malawi, Botswana and Swaziland. Konica Minolta South Africa's head office is based in Johannesburg and 17 branches and 48 dealerships support its distribution network. With an operational stance of consultative business partnering, the group provides clients with holistic document management solutions: through pre-sales analysis, audits to sales, installation, ongoing onsite technical and software management as well as the supply of spare parts and consumables. CONTACTS: Konica Minolta SA: Ritchi Smith, 0800 bizhub, ritchis@kmsa.com
icomm: Debbie Sielemann, +27 (0) 82 414 4633, debbie@pr.co.za, www.icomm-pr.co.za