Dac Systems celebrates its 14th birthday by building a home for a destitute family.

Dac staff and their families spent a long weekend recently physically building a home for an orphan headed household.  What an amazing opportunity for each of the staff to help those in need and to know that the work they do every day directly benefits the community at large.

After a day of laying bricks and the odd cement fight, the team spent their time in the beautiful Berg-en-Dal area of the Kruger Park enjoying the African bush and reclining around the camp fire with an ice cold beverage, braai sizzling, while discussing who had seen the most game during leisurely afternoon drives through the park.  

The social upliftment programme that Dac Systems embarks on is an important event in our yearly calendar, ethically as well as from a team building perspective.  The focus is to build a home for a destitute family in the Shongwe community (Nkomazi, Mpumalanga province). In addition, Dac run many other activities including children’s clubs, renovation projects and care walks.

The Nkomazi Community Trust (www.nkomazitrust.org) is an endowment fund in this area.  This trust owns BEE shares in a number of organisations including 22% of Dac.  Mugg and Bean are also a major donor of the trust. 

In the region of Nkomazi, the HIV/AIDS situation is bleak. Medical practitioners report that the incidence of HIV infection is as high as 50%, placing Nkomazi among the highest infected communities in South Africa.  More than 4,500 orphans and vulnerable children have been identified in this area with over 350 households that are headed by children aged 16-18.

Dac works through Thembalethu (www.thembalethu.org), an organisation in Shongwe that provides the community with the following assistance:

• Training of community based care-workers
  
• Business & entrepreneurial skills training
  
• School fees, materials & uniforms
  
• Food parcels, clothing & blankets
  
• Building of homes & shelters
  
• Tertiary education bursaries
  
• Job creation projects
  
• Sports programmes
  
• Life skills training
  
• AIDS education

Here is a challenge to anyone reading this newsletter: Motivate this fantastic idea to your company for their next function!  Please do not hesitate to contact Gloria Webber at Dac systems should you require any information regarding this project (gloriaw@dac.co.za / 011 805 5908).