About Us Corporate Social Responsibility
Noah (Nurturing Orphans of Aids for Humanity)
Cart Horse Protection Association
Children of Fire was founded to help the young survivors of burn injuries in Africa. It also aims to help the communities in which the children live and educate them in the prevention of fires and burn injuries. Sadly more than 15 000 children are badly burned each year in South Africa alone. The charity was originally founded when director Bronwen Jones took on the challenge of helping burns survivor Dorah Mokoena. Dorah was burned in a shack fire at the age of seven months. She lost her eyelids, nose, lips, fingers and the heat of the fire was so intense that part of her forehead bone was reabsorbed. She is believed to be the most badly burned child in the world to survive. Bronwen took on the challenge of saving Dorah's eyes and rebuilding her face because no one else was prepared to do so. After being abandoned by her biological mother Dorah now lives as a member of Bronwen's own family. But the battle is far from won, because of the severity of Dorah's injuries and the extent of society's prejudice. Some 200 children have been seen through complicated surgery since Children of Fire began.
Skin & Body Renewal have assisted the Children by performing non-invasive laser treatments to the affected areas to help reduce the scarring and skin resurfacing. The Children have been going to the Skin & Body Renewal Parkhurst branch since 2008.
The Future of Children of Fire
Children of Fire hope to use its unique knowledge of burns treatment, psychological care and fire prevention to help make Africa a safer continent. The charity is widening the geographic area and the diversity of projects to enable more individuals and more communities to benefit from our work. The charity is taking a wide approach to community safety, from contributions towards national and international legislation, to projects to empower squatter camp communities to enable them to work themselves into a better future.
CO-SANC is a compassionate, no-kill but scientifically run cat shelter and animal adoption centre. They are not a new charity, but it is a new place, being a co-operative venture between a veterinary clinic and 5 pro-life animal charities.
CO-SANC does not take in animals directly from the public because they control numbers strictly and have an admission and quarantine process controlled by their vet. Admissions are strictly by arrangement with one of the participating charities, and all our animals are sourced from them. Cats live on the property. Dogs and other animals are brought in on weekends for the public to view.
Apart from the cleaner/caretaker, all staff, including the vet, work on a voluntary basis, so all donations benefit the animals directly. CO-SANC is based on lovely country property in Nooitgedacht between the Lion Park and Muldersdrift.
They provide a compassionate, pro-life but scientifically managed cat sanctuary and adhere to the following;
- Adopt out sterilised, vaccinated, dewormed, micro-chipped and viral-tested cats.
- Source all their animals from existing pro-life charities.
- Pass every cat through a 12-point quarantine process before available.
- Always take back any animal with one of the microchips.
The Skin & Body Renewal team got together in December 2009, to help build and paint a new puppy run for the puppies that CO-SANC started receiving and also donated bags and bags full of towels to CO-SANC.
FITE is a global empowerment platform powered by Dermalogica, the world's leading professional skin care brand, and Kiva.org, the nonprofit leader in microfinance that is designed to foster Financial Independence through Entrepreneurship for women in the developing world. Our mission is to provide women entrepreneurs access to small loans that will help them start or grow a business; and to help educate the public at large about the benefits of empowering women entrepreneurs so that they "can hold up their half of the sky."
In just the first 2 years, we aim to help at least 25,000 women in this capacity. Leading thinkers in social development, including the World Bank, hail investing in women as "smart economics," an untapped resource that can help solve many of the problems we see in our world today. Indeed, lending to women produces a positive ripple effect of improved health, education, and welfare for all household members.
joinFITE is championed by Dermalogica and its quarter?century investment in the financial independence of women. Dermalogica is promoting corporate philanthropy by using the products as a vehicle to educate the public at large about the positive change when we invest in women. joinFITE codes can be found inside select Dermalogica products, as well as from other joinFITE partners. Consumers are asked to activate their contribution to a microloan when they redeem the code(s) at joinFITE.org.
Skin & Body Renewal contribute towards Fite by selling Dermalogica products that have the joinFITE code attached to the products. The joinFITE codes enable you to direct joinFITE partner donations to an entrepreneur in a part of the world, and for a type of business, of your choosing.
Skin & Body Renewal are currently in talks with Dermalogica to become more involved in joinFITE.
There are currently about 3.7 million orphans in South Africa, about half of whom have lost one or both parents; and 150 000 are believed to be living in child-headed households. About half of this number is because of the AIDS pandemic. Noah was born in 2000 from a need to take responsibility for these children. Our mandate is to give them an opportunity to grow up into emotionally, psychologically and physically healthy adults.
Noah is a registered non-profit organisation (NPO), but operates according to a corporate structure. This ensures managerial soundness in financial and day-to-day operations. Our board of directors is made up of respected businesspeople, with years of experience in the corporate world. Noah's head offices have a number of permanent employees, each dedicated to a particular field of operation. An Ark Development Officer/ADO (from the Noah head office) supports each Ark. The ADOs, along with head office mentoring, provide Arks with support to develop sustainable practices and form networks within the broader community.
Arks do not have to be physical structures, but dedicated resource centres do exist. Many Arks also operate out of school classrooms and community facilities in order to have an identifiable base in the community.
In December 2010, big changes to the Phomelelo Ark Day Care Centre in Muldersdrift brought hope and comfort to the staff and orphans they look after. Skin & Body Renewal 'adopted' the Ark and made some significant structural advancements bringing the nursery school one step closer to registration legibility with the Department of Social Development for extra funding.
Ark manager Esther Lebogang Marobe started Phomelelo in 2000. With only basic shipping containers to house the 78 pre-school children during the day, the roofs now have ceilings to prevent the harsh heat from the corrugated iron. Extra windows were built for through ventilation and a sick bay has been kitted out. The kitchen was renovated and the installation of fixed toilets replaced portable ones.
Over and above the structural improvements, the Gauteng staff of Skin Renewal descended on the crèche recently to clean the entire school, host a Christmas party and hand out gifts to each child. The Phomelelo Ark is located at Lesego Primary School in Muldersdrift, and falls under the Mogale City region of Gauteng. It is mainly farm area, and close to Maropeng, the Cradle of Humankind.
A big portion of the community is made up of farm workers who have lost their jobs because of farms being sold or turned into guest lodges. Lack of housing, unemployment and poverty are the main problems in the area. Because of the high rate of HIV infection and tuberculosis are a huge problem.
A lack of proper public transport means that our staff and children often have to walk long distances to get to the Ark. Funded transport will help get the children to the Ark where they receive a nutritious meal five days a week. Momentum has provided volunteers with bicycles for home visits.
Phomelelo was previously a daycare centre where local women looked after children in exchange for a small fee or donation. Noah partnered with Phomelelo in 2003. The Ark has successfully managed to forge a good relationship with other NGO's (Non-Governmental organisations) in the area, the department of Home Affairs and South African Police Services.
As in many other parts of the world, breast cancer is a leading cause of death for many South African women. South Africa, however, has a significantly higher mortality rate than other comparable countries, the reasons for which include the following:
- Lack of accessibility to health care centres or screening sites, within both rural and urban areas
- Lack of resources within the public sector to support such screening, this includes inadequately qualified staff as well as insufficient staff numbers; there are also only five apex or referral centres in the public sector nationally
- Cultural beliefs and stigma
- Low literacy rates and a lack of education
Confronted with these challenges, PinkDrive has created its education trucks and mobile mammography units to generate awareness, educate, and provide services to the women who need it the most.
In order to provide free services to disadvantaged communities, PinkDrive offers its services to the corporate sector, whose funds pay for the programme's running costs. Additional funds are supplied through the involvement of South African businesses, which sponsor PinkDrive as port of their corporate social responsibility.
To date, PinkDrive has made considerable progress:
- The first mobile mammography unit was launched on 30 June 2009
- The conversion and registration of the medical equipment has taken place
- The unit is equipped with the new CR unit
- Identification and discussion with interested stakeholders is ongoing within the public sector
- Development of educational literature for the rural areas is under way in collaboration with other stakeholders
- Development of a bespoke internet programme for database/statistical collection
- Work with the department of radiation, and equipment suppliers
- Continued collaboration with NGOs and government stakeholders will ensure a greater reach
PinkDrive is committed to improving breast cancer awareness, education, and providing and offering services to women across South Africa, particularly to those who do not have access to information on breast health. PinkDrive currently has two mobile breast units working in four provincial hospitals in Gauteng, serving some 1.6 million women.
The PinkDrive mobile mammography unit and education truck reaches women in areas where there are no facilities. They also drive the message to corporate environments leaving us" busy-being-busy" girls with no more excuses. The fact is: "Early Detection Saves Lives".
Skin & Body Renewal became a sponsor in 2010, supporting the PinkDrive and breast cancer awareness during October months.
October 2010 we funded a unique initiative by manufacturing 3D cards in the form of a lotus flower and sold them within our Branches and various shopping centres in hope to raise as many funds as possible for the PinkDrive throughout October. We managed to sell 638 flowers and raised R 12 770! The funds collected went towards marketing collateral and assisting in getting the PinkDrive's name more visible to the public. The flowers not sold, were donated to Pink Drive to sell at their events. We also sponsored R10 000 towards a table at the M-Net Lunch.Laugh.Life Breast Cancer Luncheon. The tickets for this table were given to ten less fortunate ladies who wouldn't have had the opportunity to attend this luncheon previously.
In October 2011, we once again sponsored R 10 000 towards a table which was given to ten cancer patients to attend the Shades of Pink Breast Cancer luncheon, at Emperors Palace.
The SPAR Women's 10km Challenge, which was held at the Parktonian sports grounds in Randburg, coincides with Breast Cancer month and a portion of proceeds from the race go to Reach for Recovery, a support group for women who have been diagnosed with breast cancer. The Reach for Recovery volunteers have all had their own encounters with the disease, and so they are in a perfect position to talk to and counsel women who have just heard those ominous words "you have breast cancer."
Although some of South Africa's top athletes, like Irvette Van Blerk, Rene Kalmer, Zintle Xiniwe, Annerien van Schalkwyk, Ntombesintu Mfunzi and Catherine Skosana were competing for the top spot, the race was really all about the thousands of ordinary women and girls who took part just for the fun of it.
The Spar women's challenge was also a fun day for the whole family, with a variety of food stalls, a children's play area with jumping castles, clowns and face painting as well as live entertainment provided by Denim, who are widely regarded as South Africa's top party band.
The Johannesburg Skin & Body Renewal staff participated in the Women's challenge on the 26th August 2011. Although none of us claimed any top positions, we had loads of fun walking for a cause!
Cart Horse Protection Association (CHPA)
Recently, the Cart Horse Protection Association (CHPA) – Recovery and Rehabilitation Centre in Somerset West got an extreme makeover. The staff of the Cape Town branches of Skin & Body Renewal spent the day at the association’s rehabilitation farm painting the horse stables, treating the wooden sheds and paddocks and establishing the gardens. The anti-aging company also donated R10 000 which was used to buy the apprentices’ some much needed farrier tools.
Every year before Christmas, the Skin & Body Renewal team ‘adopt’ a social initiative. Lynn Brown, from Skin Renewal, says they chose the CHPA this year because they would like to assist in maintaining a comfortable environment for the cart horses.
“We would really like to see a regulated carting industry on the Cape Flats with all working cart horses protected from abuse.”
The carting industry is rooted in District Six where horses and carts were used to “smous” (hawk) fish, fruit, vegetables, bottles and bones. Horses were kept in community stables, travelled short distances with light loads and business was lucrative for the cart horse owner.
However, with the forced relocations to the Cape Flats, the lives of the cart horse owners and their horses took a turn for the worst. Far from their markets, hawking was no longer a viable option. This led to the renting out of horses and carts and an increase in cart horse operators who had limited knowledge on how to properly care for and maintain a working horse. Consequently, badly shod, thin, overloaded, overworked and abused working cart horses became a common site on Cape Town’s roads.
In 1995 the Cart Horse Protection Association (CHPA) was established, providing vital services and education to the cart horse owners in an attempt to address the appalling conditions in which these working horses lived and worked. Today, the Cart Horse Protection Association Clinic and Training Centre, located in Epping 2, boasts a farrier agency, harness shop, treatment stalls and paddocks. There is also a cart repair workshop, education and training room, administrative offices and a feed storage barn. It provides services to over 400 working cart horses and their owners.
Andrea Rubin, Social Media Liaison at the Cart Horse Protection Association sent Skin Renewal this wonderful letter:
“When I heard Skin Renewal was organising a volunteer day, excitement was an understatement! A few extra hands go a long way in a charity organisation, where there are always a million things which need to be done.
Skin Renewal completely blew me away with the organisation, preparation and the passion that was thrown into their volunteer day. This wasn’t just about doing your bit for corporate social responsibility. The Skin Renewal Team really cared about our organisation and you could see it in every ounce of work that was done at the centre. It looked like the centre had undergone a small renovation!
Paddock poles were painted, the stable walls were all painted (keep in mind that there are a lot of stables!), the outdoor shelters were painted, the entire centre was cleaned up and plants were planted in the gardens. The pictures do not do it justice!
I believe the festive season is about spreading love and bringing people together and Skin Renewal embodied this message perfectly. Organising donations and sponsorship of materials needed for Cart Horse brought different people and companies together to join hands in the support of a charity organisation.
This is what I believe Christmas is all about – sharing, giving and helping those in need. Best regards - Andrea”
Cart Horse Protection Association (CHPA) would like to thank all the sponsors who made a contribution: Skin & Body Renewal donated time and money. Skincare company Lamelle donated R5000. Kaap Agri Stellenbosch sponsored 100 litres of Creosote. Western Shoppe sponsored cleaning materials. Ferndale Nurseries sponsored plants. Dulux sponsored 10 x 20 litre of paint. Genop donated NeoStrata skin care products that were raffled to raise money. Joy Heath donated a Samsung top loader washing machine.
Twilight Children
General
Every year the Skin Renewal team donates their time and resources in helping an association or charity organisation in need. This year the Skin Renewal Gauteng branches chose Twilight Children, a Hilbrow based Child and Youth Care Centre, providing care, development and support for children between the ages of 8 and 18 years old that have been found in major urban and inner city areas in need of care and protection.
Twilight Children encourage these children to stay at the shelter and enrol in the Twilight Programme.
Main purposes of programme:
- Reuniting children with their families or get them into safe homes
- Education Enrol children into local schools
- Skills Training: Pottery, bead making, baking and sewing
- Sporting activities and computer training
- Prepare the children for re-integration into society
The overall purpose of Twilight Children is to serve as a bridging facility through which children can be mainstreamed back into society. They now have two new buildings built on two adjacent stands with the aid of The Department of Social Development. They do not restrict their operation to a particular race or sex, age group or area. Providing education and training, life skills, particularly relating to sexual behaviour and exposure to the everyday world are also important activities.
Other Programmes offered:
- I T/Training Centre
- Part of our holistic approach – Healthy minds
- They are currently having difficulty getting the training centre accredited by CITA, thus training cannot be continued for the time being.
- Girl/Women's drop-in community project
- An initiative to cater for the girl-child and other women
- School programme, formal and informal training
- HIV/Aids Awareness
- Risk mitigation initiative for the boys and community
- Mentoring
- A programme to provide guidance and grooming for boys through activities and association with positive role models.
Wishlist:
(For the more detailed version, please e-mail landi@skinrenewal.co.za)
- First Aid supplies and box
- Soap dispenser refills
- Toiletries
- Towels
- Bedding and curtaining for dorms
- Clothing
New or Second hand and mostly for boys between 8 and 18 years - Sponsorship towards their skills projects
Old jeans/Denims to recycle (they make bags and cushions)
Glass Beads and jewellery they can recycle
Beads – various - Stationary
- School uniforms (standard)
- Below is a short version of their capital needs:
The model below is designed such that donors can sponsor a specific project through cash funding or undertake the project themselves-in kind. Detailed below is a list of outstanding projects for possible funding with estimated total costs:
Item # |
Project |
Cost R |
1 |
Dishwasher Industrial |
20 000.00 |
2 |
Table and Chairs Dining Room |
20 000.00 |
3 |
Hino Bus Purchase shortfall |
30 000.00 |
4 |
Security Room construction |
50 000.00 |
5 |
Courtyard Paving |
50 000.00 |
6 |
Cold Room Repairs |
60 000.00 |
7 |
Kitchen Stove Industrial x2 |
60 000.00 |
8 |
Outreach Areas Renovations |
60 000.00 |
9 |
Shower and Wall Repairs |
90 000.00 |
10 |
Toilets upgrade to Pushbutton Flush |
100 000.00 |
11 |
Buildings Repairs Internal and Painting |
100 000.00 |
12 |
Kitchen Hoist -to hoist hot food to dining room |
150 000.00 |
13 |
Boys Dormitory Refurbishment |
200 000.00 |
14 |
Bus Refurbishment - Hino Bus |
250 000.00 |
15 |
Buildings Repairs and Painting-External |
250 000.00 |
R 1 490 000.00 |
If you would like to get involved on the day (9 December 2012) and donate some of your time or assist by supporting Skin Renewal with a donation please send an e-mail to landi@skinrenewal.co.za.
