“It is in your hands to make a better world for all who live in it.” Nelson Mandela
Such simple advice – just do something, no matter how small, to make the world, your city, your immediate neighbourhood, a little better than you found it. It isn’t hard to do – and the rewards are just incredible.
So whether it’s pro-bono work, volunteering, product donations, financial contributions, employee service days or eco-friendly practices, Haslop and Mason generally says, ‘Yes!’
Our can-do attitude and amazing staff have made it possible for us to meet some inspiring people over the years – people whose own determination has motivated us to lend a helping hand.
Here’s a quick overview of some of our recent relationships in the community:
- Northwood Children’s Hospice cares for sick and terminally ill children, offering training and counselling to caregivers across the province. Without them, parents of desperately ill children would have no one to turn to for much-needed training and emotional support.
We’ve enjoyed a supportive relationship with the hospice since 2010, providing electrical equipment where needed, helping out with Christmas hamper items and book collections, and sourcing funds to educate the children and their parents. We love being part of the behind-the-scenes support system to this incredible organisation.
- Earlier this year, managing member Kevin Dersley and sales account manager Eon van Vuuren got involved with Westering Primary School, where loadshedding had wreaked havoc with their admin systems. No school in this day and age can function without internet, computers and photocopiers! Eon reached out to Michael Botha at Eaton, who donated a partially off-grid electrical system to the school, and Haslop & Mason arranged to have the installation done.
We were nothing more than a catalyst here – but an essential one. Thanks to the involvement of all, Westering Primary can now sail right through the power outages.
- Through Kevin Dersely, Haslop & Mason supports the government’s Supplier Development Plan, which aims to build close working relationships between companies and their suppliers. The programme is a great innovation, in which companies help to build the proficiency and technical capability of their suppliers through skills and technology transfer. Haslop & Mason have enjoyed a rewarding relationship with Siva Naidoo and his business solutions company, NextFour, for some years. Through the training and capital we’ve invested, Siva has been able to expand his business, even during Covid lockdowns.
- We can never forget our own staff and their personal aspirations. A valued employee’s spouse, Aviwe Maxamba, was filled with a burning desire to develop her fledgling catering company by studying further. We met her and were impressed, and the upshot was that she was awarded the full employee bursary for further studies, receiving tuition fees, all study materials, equipment and clothing for enrolment at Capsicum Culinary School. “It was a dream come true!” said Aviwe. “Many doors will open for me now.”
This is how we build a nation – one person at a time.
- Most recently, on 18 July, in the spirit of Nelson Mandela, the Haslop & Mason team decided to clean up the streets around the Gqeberha office. We divided into four teams, each spending 67 minutes clearing up rubbish along the road. With PPE provided, a willing and happy crew gathered 85 bags of rubbish. What a difference we made in an hour!
Says Nadia Verhoog, “Everyone feels pleasure in doing good, even just for 67 minutes.”
True. At Haslop & Mason, we’ve made that a company ethos. We take pleasure in excellence – from the products we design to the effect we seek to have on our community.