Altech supports orphaned children with R527 000 donation

JSE listed Allied Technologies Limited (Altech) has donated R527 000 to the Villa of Hope children’s home in Nancefield, Eldorado Park in support of an M-Net Cares initiative. The donation includes funds for refurbishment and a tertiary education bursary for one of the children at the home.

The Villa of Hope is a shelter for children between the ages of one and 18 years who require alternative or foster care due to abuse, neglect or abandonment and to children that have been affected or infected by HIV and AIDS or other ill circumstances. Many of these children are placed under the care of the home by organisations such as Child Line, the Child Protection Unit of the South African Polices Service and the Child Welfare Department.

A total of 46 children are currently under the care of the home and are accommodated in houses on the property on an age or sibling level. Each house is managed by a full-time caregiver.

Dedicated to the principle that every child deserves the security of a loving and permanent family, children are provided with full time care, accommodation and education.
Altech became involved in the home following an approach to three of its subsidiaries - Altech Alcom Matomo, Altech Alcom Radio Distributors and Altech Fleetcall – by the initiators of the project, M-Net Cares, and local NPO Touch Africa and its sister company, Red Cherry Media Holdings.

At a ceremony to mark the opening of the newly refurbished house and handover of the education bursary, Craig Venter, Altech CEO, had the following to say:
“At Altech we believe in clear values recognising the needs and interests of the communities in which we operate, being transparent in our dealings and following best corporate governance practice. In line with this, several of our operations have identified a number of local communities and projects for involvement and funding, selecting projects according to the nature of the needs and our ability to make a difference.”

"We know that by taking care of our children we are taking care of our country’s future. For this reason we support projects with a specific focus on children and young people. When we received the motivation for this project we were convinced to get involved by the tremendous contribution this centre makes to its community and society at large.”

The refurbished home was officially opened on 2 June 2011.

(2 June 2011)