The six-member team, which forms THD’s Social Committee, ran a two-week fundraising initiative, asking colleagues and other members to donate what they could so that 31 underprivileged children from Blackburn Village could receive new school uniforms. Donors were asked, rather than spending R20 or R30 on chocolates or flowers, to give that money to children in need.

On Friday, 13 February, the bags and treats were handed over to the eager children who thanked THD for these life-changing gifts.

Development director at THD, Karen Petersen, said the Social Committee took the initiative to start the selfless project, giving up their personal time and finances to ensure the message of love was felt by those in need this Valentine’s Day.

“The Social Committee contacted Blackburn Primary School which is based in the heart of Blackburn Village. This is not an affluent area and we always give back to the communities in the areas we are developing,” explained Petersen.

She said the school was identified as having a number of children from disadvantaged backgrounds who were in dire need of aid. The principal was contacted and 31 children identified as desperately needing school uniforms.

“The reality is that, for many people, money earned has to go towards buying food. There isn’t enough for school uniforms so these children go without.”

She said the initiative was completely employee-driven and supported, and the idea was to back bring some heart into Valentine’s Day.

“We wanted to move away from the commercial and put compassion back into this day. It’s a day of love for everyone.”

Once the Social Committee had raised the R6000 needed to buy the uniforms, they spent time after work searching shops for the best items at the most affordable prices, carefully packing 31 school bags with a full school uniform, socks and shoes as well as a special bag of treats.

“When we put our minds to it, there is so much we can achieve. And there is so much more we can do.”

Although a THD initiative, she said a positive spinoff of this Valentine’s Day initiative ties well into the organisation’s Social Sustainability and Innovation Programme (SSIP), which aims at ensuring all the communities based near Tongaat Hulett developments are uplifted and empowered in an organised manner.

The SSIP has three programmes centred on community improvement; the Social Development Programme -which this Valentine’s Day donation forms part of –Open Space Management, as well as Economic Participation Programme. These greatly improve the lives of those in impoverished communities through job creation, skills’ development, education, infrastructure development, health, welfare and environmental upliftment.

Principal of Blackburn Primary School, Kevin Sevlall, said all the 192 pupils from Grade R to Grade 6 came from impoverished homes, but the 31 identified were the most destitute.

“These children had no school uniforms and it is something thaty they need almost every day,” said Sevlall. “The learners at the school are always changing and these are new children, starting at the school, who had very little. This donation makes such a difference to their lives.”

Young Kwanele Dlamini politely accepted the donations and, with a huge smile told the team, “Thanks for the gifts. I can’t wait to open the bag and see what’s inside.”

As of next term, the school will be moving to better premises at nearby Cornubia Phase 1A the pilot project of eThekwini’s subsidised housing development allowing easier access to the school for more children. It will be renamed the Solomon Mahlangu Primary once it is officially opened.