Volkswagen Community Trust celebrates two decades of Community Transformation in Nelson Mandela Bay.
Volkswagen South Africa celebrated the 20th Anniversary of the VW Community Trust last week with an event at the Auto Pavilion in Uitenhage that coincided with the annual global conference of the VW Group World Works Council, hosted in 2009 in Nelson Mandela Bay.

Delegates from Europe, Asia, America and Africa joined VWSA management, the VW Community Trust Board of Trustees, directors of various NGO’s and NMMM Councilors in reviewing 20 years of the VW Community Trust’s development initiatives.

The VW Community Trust was established in 1988 as a result of negotiations between employees and trade union representatives, community leaders and VWSA management. The vision of the Trust is focused on empowering local communities to become independent and take control of their own futures.

Through a policy of ‘strategic giving’, Chairlady of the Trust and VWSA Director of Corporate & Government Affairs, Nonkqubela Maliza, announced an investment of over R8million for 2009 in the key focus areas of Sustainability, Education, Health, Community Wellbeing and Youth Sports Development. More than 80% of this budget is directly invested into the local communities of Uitenhage, Despatch and Port Elizabeth, whilst the balance impacts local communities in Roodekop and Katlehong in Gauteng.

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President of VW Group Works Council, Herr Bernd Osterloh reinforced VW AG’s social investment through international campaigns such as ‘One Hour for The Future’ and ‘Chance to Play’. The ‘Chance To Play’ campaign focuses on the Eastern Cape with a drive that integrates team sports opportunities and personal development through education and social upliftment.

VWSA Managing Director Dave Powels announced that VWSA looks forward to seeing the Trust active for another 20 years and further positioned the Trust’s strategic role within the broader context of VWSA’s R32million-plus that is to be invested directly into CSI programmes during 2009.

The Trust’s 20th Anniversary celebration also launched the Trust’s new website which is initiating a feature called ‘NGO Connect’ – an interactive platform open to all registered NGO’s offering a chance for NGO’s to profile their key focus areas and resource needs. According to Weza Moss, Vice Chairman of the Trust and manager of Corporate and Government Affairs at VWSA, “Through the NGO Connect platform we will offer other social investors an opportunity to become involved in projects that further the development and empowerment of local communities.”

The Trust wishes to extend it’s gratitude to all guests who shared the special occasion with us.
We also wish to thank the local community SMME’s who contributed to delivering the event.

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