Employees at Kumba Iron Ore’s Sishen Mine have collected over 13 000 canned food items to support local non-profit organisations (NPO) preparing meals for vulnerable groups in the region.
The Women in Mining-led initiative recently encouraged employees across Kumba’s Sishen Mine to donate canned food. This is signatory to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, of which two address “no poverty” and “zero hunger”. In addition, the canned food drive has fostered a sense of togetherness at the mine.
“The collection of the cans was done in a fun and challenge-driven manner. The drive enabled teams within different departments to work towards a common goal. It was amazing to see leaders emerge out of the initiative,” says Mogaleadi Seabela, mining section manager and Women in Mining chairperson at Sishen.
Past. Forward Olifant of the Assemblies of God Church and chairperson of the Dingleton Community Network, an NPO based in Siyathemba that runs a soup kitchen and offers home-based care for residents, was one of several recipients.
“These food parcels will be a great help for our support groups,” said Olifant.
“We have an after-school programme that dedicates itself to arts, sport and homework assistance. This will ensure that we have enough supplies to prepare meals for the children and the needy.
“We are grateful to Sishen mine’s Women in Mining team for this gesture.”
Sishen Mine matched the cans collected by employees with food items such as cooking oil, maize meal and other essentials that will contribute towards many meals being prepared.
