Category Archives: Charity & Selfless Service

Disney Africa Brings Festive Cheer for Lift Travellers

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The Walt Disney Company Africa’s #MayYourWishesComeTrue campaign continued the festive celebrations this December with a special surprise-and-delight activation aboard the Disney-inspired LIFT airplane.

Over 150 passengers, travelling from Johannesburg to Cape Town were welcomed by “Wish Agents” at their boarding gate at OR Tambo International Airport on 1 December, with each child being asked what their wish for Christmas was. With their wishes adorning a special Disney-inspired Christmas tree, the young passengers boarded flight GE123, unaware that a mere two hours later those wishes would be fulfilled.

Behind the scenes the requests were communicated to Disney’s Wish Agents, on standby at Canal Walk Shopping Centre in Cape Town, who swung into action to shop up a storm, wrap the gifts and transport them to Cape Town International Airport in time for the passengers to disembark.

From bicycles, “Disney Princess The Little Mermaid” figurines, Lego® sets to even Spider-man Sony PlayStation 5’s, all the requested wishes came true as passengers disembarked the plane and entered the specially-branded walkway to meet the Wish Agents. In addition, each traveler was gifted a Disney Mickey plush toy and a subscription to Disney+.

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Oxford University Press Empowers Minds Through World Literacy Day

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Hanri Pieterse – MD of Oxford University South Africa

International Literacy Day is celebrated annually around the world on 8 September and Oxford University Press observes the day in support and endorsement of literacy in all its forms.

Founded by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in 1967, International Literacy Day celebrations have since taken place across the globe to remind the international community of the importance of literacy as a matter of dignity and human rights, and to advance the literacy agenda towards a more literate and sustainable society. (1)

In its simplest definition, ‘literacy’ refers to the ability to read and write. In broader terms, it encompasses ways of thinking and doing reading and writing with the purpose of understanding and expressing thoughts or ideas in written form within specific contexts.

 Global literacy is a cause for celebration since the rate for adults 15 years and above stands at 86,3% in 2023. (2) While, on the surface, this is a successful statistic, closer inspection reveals a deeply unequal divide.

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Cotton On Foundation Launches Mental Health Campaign with Lady Gaga’s Born this Way Foundation

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Australian-born fashion and lifestyle brand Cotton On have partnered their philanthropic arm, Cotton On Foundation with US-based non-profit Born This Way Foundation, founded by Lady Gaga and her mother, Cynthia Bissett Germanotta, in 2012. Together, they aim to raise $5 million USD for global mental health, with R2 500 000 being donated to provide mental health support for youth in South Africa. 

“We’re honored to partner with Cotton On Foundation for our first global campaign amplifying our mission to build a kinder, braver world together,” said Lady Gaga, Co-Founder of Born This Way Foundation. “We are constantly working to uplift the stories of young people worldwide, and through this partnership, we invite everyone to practice kindness and learn how to better support one another. Our research tells us that kindness is one way we can support each other’s mental health.”

The two organisations came together to create a range of limited-edition products available from 1 September – 10 October 2023 with Cotton On donating 100% of the net proceeds to Born This Way Foundation, making Cotton On one of the biggest corporate contributors to global youth mental health resources and support in 2023. Customers can purchase items, including caps, T-shirts, tote bags, stationery, and a denim jacket online and in select stores globally. The ‘Kinder, Braver, Together’ product design was inspired by Born This Way Foundation’s mission of supporting youth mental health and working with young people to build a kinder, braver world. An ethos shared by Cotton On Foundation on their journey to create a world where everyone can thrive.

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Trees For Schools On Mandela Day

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This year marks ten years since the passing of former president Nelson Mandela, and one retailer plans to plant trees to honour the iconic statesman’s visionary life. Through a campaign dubbed “It’s in your hands, let’s plant our schools green,” the Cotton On Group aims to plant trees in schools supported by the Cotton On Foundation in South Africa. Symbolizing the visionary leader’s lasting contribution to South African society, the intention is to benefit these areas for many years to come. 

Through its chain of stores that include Cotton On, Factorie and Typo, shoppers are encouraged to support the initiative by purchasing Cotton On Foundation products such as tote bags, breath mints, wipes and sanitizers that are available both online and at the till points in these stores.

The full proceeds of the sale of these items, from 3 to 23 July 2023, will be channelled to planting trees at the schools that the Cotton On Foundation supports in KwaZulu-Natal, namely Ethekwini Primary and Dr JL Dube High School, which it is currently rebuilding. Shoppers are also welcome to donate to the project.

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Free Internet for over 300 Schools in South Africa, thanks to Cool Ideas

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Digital connectivity is no longer a luxury, but rather a necessity as access to information has become an essential part of modern-day life. UNICEF recently reported that connecting schools has the potential to boost GDP by up to 20 percent in the world’s least connected nations.

Sadly, many schools across South Africa struggle with the costs and infrastructure required to provide this for teachers and learners. Now, one Internet Service Provider (ISP) is stepping up to help.

Over the past eight years, ISP Cool Ideas has been expanding its fibre and LTE networks across the country, to expedite access to digital information, through high-speed connectivity. While doing so, through their Cool Schools initiative, they have collaborated with schools across eight provinces to date, to ensure that as the network grows, so does learner access to information, with the result that education can benefit.

The project started in 2015, when the first school, Parkhurst Primary in Johannesburg, was connected on a trial basis, and the rest, as they say, is history. Since then, new schools have been added every month with the result that Cool Ideas currently supplies over 300 schools with fibre access throughout the year. Additionally, the organisation has collaborated with fibre providers such as Vumatel, Evotel, Octotel and Frogfoot to ensure further support.

The Cool Schools Initiative aims to bridge the digital divide in South Africa by providing internet connectivity to underprivileged schools and schools in Cool Ideas coverage areas. Through this remarkable upliftment project, a free internet connection with speeds of up to 1 000Mbps (1Gbps) is provided to qualifying schools, enabling learners to access educational resources online. This way, the leaders of tomorrow are given the resources need to support their growth. Learn more about Cool Schools here.

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