Purpose, support, and a spiritual calling to do good for one’s fellow human – these were the themes that marked Red Rocket’s Mandela Day events last week as Rocketeers united to do their part in giving back. Under the banner of Red Rocket Cares, inspiration reached an all-time high as our 67 minutes evolved into a week of lending a hand to worthy causes, reflecting the strong legacy that the late statesman stood for.
Our support took on different forms this year; from the swoon-worthy visit by the SA Guide-Dogs Association, to showing our support through art to children from underprivileged backgrounds with Ladles of Love, and collaborating with the Cheslin Kolbe Foundation and Gift of the Givers, it was Care, Create, and Collaborate paving the way.
Starting us in the spirit of giving on Wednesday were representatives from the South African Guide-Dogs Association, who brought their meaningful contribution to the Mothership, outlining the association’s initiatives that go a long way in improving the quality of life of thousands of people. As the only accredited organisation in South Africa providing guide dogs for people who are visually impaired, physically disabled, and children on the Autism Disorder Spectrum who need support dogs, Red Rocket is embarking on a long-term project to support a litter of the dogs in training to give help where it is needed most. This resonated with dog lovers within the organisation, some of whom are actively involved in animal-focused projects in their personal capacities.
Stealing the show during the visit, the organisation’s two guide dogs, Maggie and Maverick, were a hit with dog lovers as the association’s projects were announced. This provided a lot of insight and a deep consideration for the time and resources needed to train just one dog.
On Thursday, Mandela Day, non-profit organisation Ladles of Love put the spotlight on children from underprivileged backgrounds, prompting Rocketeers to unite in a mission to brighten their world. As part of the organisation’s initiatives, the Mothership was challenged to create wall posters and colouring books to enhance the process of learning, aligning with Mandela’s own dedication to quality children’s education.
Our site teams joined in on the fun as our working spaces transformed into creative hubs where beautiful artworks were created. In addition, Red Rocket donated R15 000 towards the organisation’s efforts which will go a long way in addressing the learning challenges faced by children in our most vulnerable communities. An extra dose of kindness also saw our site Rocketeers at Brandvalley and Rietkloof wind farms supporting children from neighbouring schools. In a recent art contest with Vestas, the children were given a task to interpret a world driven by wind energy, which got colourful entries from many budding artists. A celebration was held on Mandela Day, with the teams engaging with the children and handing out gifts.
In keeping with the spirit of enriching children’s lives, it was back to school for Springbok star Cheslin Kolbe and his wife Layla, who recently launched the Cheslin Kolbe Foundation to uplift the lives of residents, especially children, in Kolbe’s hometown of Kraaifontein and beyond. Starting where it all began for Kolbe, Simonsberg Primary School gave a rousing welcome to its former star, who was taken on a trip down memory lane by teachers who brought out his rugby kit from his Under-7 and Under-13 squad days. His mission was to inspire the children to reach for their dreams, no matter what.
For their 67 minutes of service, Rocketeers Brian Cunningham and Dexter Fiegeland got to speak with the children about renewable energy and STEM subjects, sparking a sense wonder among the school’s Grade 7 class. Assembling miniature wind turbine models provided by Red Rocket, the children got to see the inner workings of what their future might look like. This formed part of the bigger message about the importance of seeing oneself in big things, as Layla Kolbe spoke of the massive scale of wind farms and why it should be normal for children to see themselves in such developments.
Grade 7 learner Taylor Phillips praised the initiative as having exposed the pupils to opportunities that they don’t usually get access to. “It was very exciting that Cheslin was there with us. Fellow pupil and Head Prefect at the school, Siyamthanda Fumanisa, said having Kolbe visit the school was overwhelming but also exciting to know that he once walked the same grounds as her.
“We really appreciate him for coming to our school and we all had a great time learning about wind turbines from Red Rocket. This helped us a lot as we are learning about renewable energy in our Natural Sciences class. Our teacher will be proud of us,” she said.
The Mandela Day activities culminated in a visit to the Mothership on Friday by the Cheslin Kolbe Foundation and Gift of the Givers. Due to the recent heavy storms which battered the Cape, the organisation, headed by Dr Imtiaz Sooliman, has done extensive relief work in Kraaifontein and surrounding areas. In recognition of the great efforts, the Cheslin Kolbe Foundation dedicated a Red Rocket cash donation of R67 000 to Gift of the Givers to continue its work in the affected communities.
Kolbe, who was also joined by his wife, walked into the office space to the sound of Nkalakatha by Mandoza, and a sea of excited Rocketeers wearing their special rugby T-Shirts in a show of support. During the event, which was also attended by media, he shared his vision for what he called a “people’s foundation”, thanking Gift of the Givers and vowing to make a difference. Dr Sooliman spoke of the importance of giving from the heart. He honoured the Kolbes for their donation, saying, “Humanity is one, and we all stand together.”
Driven by a deep sense of spirituality, Dr Sooliman narrated how the organisation began with the mission “to serve all people unconditionally with kindness, love, and mercy,” remembering this as a calling which he was “chosen” to honour. The organisation, since its inception over 30 years ago, has responded to numerous disaster and war-torn countries, most notably opening hospitals and being instrumental in the hostage negotiations which resulted in the release of Yolande Korkie from al-Qaeda captivity in Yemen over a decade ago.
Red Rocket Chief Operating Officer, Luca Silva, presented the cheque to Dr Sooliman, thanking him and the Kolbes for an inspiring and memorable Mandela Day initiative for the company. “It is an honour to contribute and be part of the foundation’s efforts. As a company, we contribute in a big way through the generation of energy, but we also do so in many other ways,” he said, adding that Red Rocket, with its rich rugby culture, could explore many more opportunities in aid of both organisations in the future.
