The CSIR International Convention Centre (CSIR ICC) has initiated a conference material donation drive to benefit underprivileged schools in its community. The Centre has placed a donation box in its foyer where conference delegates and organisers can deposit surplus pens, notepads and conference bags which are then donated to children in need of these items for school in the city of Tshwane.
Donation box at the CSIR ICC
“During our outreach project at Nelmaphius Primary School in Mamelodi, where we implemented a recycling project, we noticed many of the children have only plastic shopping bags to carry their school books. Needless to say, we decided to do something about this to aid the children with what we deem as school essentials – bags, pens and notepads. We encourage all our clients to please donate their surplus conference materials to this worthy cause,” explains Refilwe Nchebisang, Marketing Coordinator for the CSIR ICC.
Through various community projects, the CSIR International Convention Centre aims to uplift communities around Tshwane, more so the youth. Capacity development and aiding schools with the necessary tools to facilitate knowledge transfer and inspire innovation is always the key objective with all its outreach projects such as the conference material drive.
The CSIR ICC recently also donated equipment to Rekopantswe Orphanage based in Soshanguve. Rekopantswe Orphanage, established in 2011, runs an after-school feeding program for 80 children in Soshanguve and assists local children with school work. The orphanage was established to assist the community in their efforts to keep the children from the streets.
“We realise that one of the reasons our local children end up using drugs and being involved in criminal activities is because they are hungry. It is thanks to generous establishments such as the CSIR International Convention that we are able to assist our community”, says Pastor Isaac Leduka, Rekopantswe Orphanage Manager.
“We are happy that we can support organisations such as the Rekopantswe Orphanage, Nelmapius Primary School and other schools to help them keep doing the sterling job they do in our community”, says Refilwe who adds, “And we challenge all other conference venues around the country to do the same.”
