A Ford Ranger was recently donated to the MEDICOS Special School in Soshanguve, north of Pretoria by Ford Motor Company of Southern Africa. In addition to the donation of the Ford Ranger, they also gave the students and teachers a Christmas party to close off the year. The school is a day-care centre for children with special needs. Most of the children come from surrounding areas of Soshanguve, Mabopane and Garankuwa and many who attend the school come from low income homes where their parents and guardians cannot afford the school fees.

Alisea Chetty, Corporate Communications Manager at Ford Motor Company of Southern Africa (FMCSA) said, “The donation to MEDICOS Special School was part of the surprise celebrations organised by FMCSA.”

“MEDICOS relies on volunteers, goodwill and fund donations to keep going and we are delighted to assist them with the good work they are doing for the community. FMCSA supports the school throughout the year with donations and we put together an annual Christmas party for the learners to celebrate the year. MEDICOS is doing a phenomenal job and we are proud to support them in their efforts to ensure that their students are cared for and loved.”

FMCSA also donated funds towards KICK in Port Elizabeth as well as the Viva Foundation in Mamelodi for their respective Christmas parties.

The Viva Foundation is a non-profit organisation that strives to transform informal settlements into stable and economically viable communities. The Viva Foundation established the Viva Village in Mamelodi East’s Alaska Informal Settlement, where it provides pre-school facilities; a special needs programme for children, literacy, art and after-school care programmes for children. It also runs a feeding scheme that provides more than 3500 meals to underprivileged families monthly. FMCSA has supported the Viva Foundation for the past three years as it directly impacts the Mamelodi community where many of FMCSA’s employees reside.

Another social upliftment project that’s important to FMCSA is the SOS Children’s Village in Mamelodi. FMCSA has a long standing association with the school and this year, FMCSA employees hosted a Christmas party for the students at the school where Kraig Kasper, Managing Director, Ford Credit South Africa, and his wife attended the Christmas party celebrating the upcoming holidays and this year’s milestones.

Kasper said, “We were privileged to share in the children’s joy and whilst our initiatives are a small gesture, each event and donation is something that the children relish. Instead of just handing out a cheque, we want to go further and build better communities by being involved with those who make our communities safer, more secure and happier for our children.”

FMCSA also donated funds towards the KICK foundation in Port Elizabeth. KICK was formed in 2006 with a vision to impact the lives of children in South Africa. Its aim is to unite the young children, equipping and empowering them to have the confidence and authority to believe that they can make a difference in our nation!