Clover Mamas are ordinary ladies doing extraordinary work to make life better for other South Africans in need. (Image: Clover)
There are 40 Mamas throughout the country who are making a visible and vital difference in the lives of children and the elderly. These Mamas are part of Clover SA’s biggest corporate social investment programme, Clover Mama Afrika.
The Clover Mamas each run successful care centres throughout South Africa, and collectively take care of more than 15 500 children and 2 500 elderly people, many of whom are abused, orphaned, homeless and vulnerable. The programme began in 2004.
Clover, the food and beverages group, empowers the Mamas with vital skills such as: cooking, baking, sewing, crocheting, business management, food gardening and bread baking skills. Over and above the training, the women are all supplied with the necessary tools, equipment and infrastructure to create an income for their communities.
In 2014, Clover Mama Afrika received the Rural Development Award at the second Annual South African Premier Business Awards, hosted by the Department of Trade and Industry. It won for recognising and promoting community projects that were part of the government’s strategic interventions in poverty alleviation.
Now, the managing team of the Clover Mama Afrika Trust is on the road visiting the Clover Mamas for the #40Mamas4Change 2015 National Roadshow. The trip was made possible by its sponsor, MiX Telematics, a global provider of fleet and mobile asset management solutions.
KEEPING COMMUNITY ROOTS
This year, the roadshow started in Polokwane and in the last week of August, moved to KwaZulu-Natal, covering a substantial 2 552km. By the end of the roadshow, in December, the Clover Mama Afrika Trust managing team would have covered 7 204km.
While on the roadshow, the team consults no more than two Mamas a day to establish their progress in their respective projects and identify what they need to continue their good work. Besides attending to the needs of the Mamas and their community centres, the roadshow allows the team to evaluate where each Mama is in terms of her progress.
“When this time of year rolls around, the team is excited to visit the Mamas in their own homes and centres,” said Professor Elain Vlok, the corporate services manager of Clover SA and Clover Mama Afrika Trust.
“Throughout the year we meet at training sessions which are usually not in their hometowns, so when we do the roadshow, we try to spend as much time with them to ensure that we receive all the information we need to update the auditors and provide further assistance, as well as enjoy a nice cup of tea and usually some baked goods freshly made from their ovens.”
Vlok said the Mamas’ progress was evaluated and their financial status analysed; then assistance was given through financial education while their needs were assessed.
“For the fourth year in a row we have supported this important cause,” added Mariette Myburgh, the divisional director of customer service at MiX Telematics (Africa), “as we believe by truly understanding the needs of each Mama, we can facilitate their access to skills and relevant equipment.
“Thus, not only enabling them to support themselves and to grow their own business but to share their skills and empower the larger communities around them. Through this, we are not only creating employment but contributing to South Africa’s larger growth objectives.”
For more information on the Clover Mama Afrika project visit its website.
For updates on the roadshow, log on to the Clover Mama Afrika Facebook page or follow 40Mamas4Change on Twitter.
