Radisson Blu Gautrain Hotel continues support for Tembisa Child Welfare

For the past three years, the Radisson Blu Gautrain Hotel has participated in Mandela Day by supporting Tembisa Child Welfare. In 2017, it will be following in the footsteps of South Africa’s icon and statesman Nelson Mandela by continuing its relationship with the charity, and expanding its contribution to the Soweto Animal Rescue and Advisory Centre (SARAC).

This year’s Linen for Hope drive, in partnership with Sealed Air, suppliers of packaging solutions, will see Radisson Blu Gautrain Hotel collecting much-needed linen for the children’s home. Sealed Air will donate six sewing machines worth R16 000 to the charity, and Radisson Blu Gautrain Hotel will donate linen worth over R21 000.

Tembisa Child Welfare has a sewing room with qualified seamstresses to produce whatever linen the home requires, and to sell it to the broader community for further income. The children from the home also learn to use the sewing machines, which is a useful skill for them to have later in life.

“One of our promises is, ‘We genuinely care,” which for us, doesn’t stop at the care we extend to our guests, but is also expressed by our management and staff caring for our communities,” says Elna Velthuysen, the human resources manager at the Radisson Blu Gautrain Hotel. “Our staff love to participate in the project, and attend all the events and give of their time.”

The hotel will donate linen to the charity on an ongoing basis, adding to its quarterly Soap for Hope initiative, which was launched last year, also in partnership with Sealed Air, to provide soap to the community.

Velthuysen says that she and her team have committed to Tembisa Child Welfare over the past three years as they believe that building a strong relationship with a preferred charity allows them to make a significant and sustainable difference over time. The organisation caters to the needs of lost, abandoned and abused children who have no place else to go.

The commitment to SARAC this year is an additional 67 Minutes on behalf of Radisson Blu Gautrain Hotel staff, and will not replace its involvement with Tembisa Child Welfare.

Velthuysen says that she believes that Mandela Day inspires South African businesses and individuals every day. “It makes businesses aware of the need out there, and it gives us the opportunity to give back to the community in whatever way we can – money, time or goods. For individuals, it reminds us to appreciate what you have, and if you do have, to share.”

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