Warm hearts keep the winter frost away

Ford Motor Company of Southern Africa (FMCSA) employees once again banded together to collect warm clothes and blankets in anticipation of another cold winter. These were delivered to the Viva Foundation, a non-profit organisation that strives to transform informal settlements into stable and economically viable communities.

“Our employees once again really came to the party by donating generously,” says Alisea Chetty, Ford’s corporate communications manager. “We were fortunate to spend time with the children and witness their daily activities when we delivered the goods. It was heart-warming to hand these items over.”

The Viva Foundation established the Viva Village in Mamelodi East’s Alaska informal settlement, east of Pretoria, where it provides pre-school facilities. These include a special-needs programme as well as literacy, art and after-school programmes for children. It also runs a feeding scheme that provides more than 3 500 meals to underprivileged families monthly.

FMCSA has supported the Viva Foundation for the past three years as it directly impacts the Mamelodi community where many of FMCSA’s employees reside.


Last year the company donated a Ford Ranger to the Viva Foundation in support of its on-going work in the Mamelodi East community. 

”They were in dire need of a vehicle and we were pleased to be able to assist them in that regard,” says Chetty. “And when our staff donated so generously ahead of the winter season, we were once again very pleased to be able to offer our support.”