KLM donates 8 543 lunch packs

The Big Hearts Community Challenge of further education and training institute KLM Empowered delivered a staggering 8 543 lunch packs to community members that needed it most, over a period of four weeks in July.

The initiative activated a grand act of kindness inspired by Lead SA’s Movement for Good, and called on KLM Empowered learner groups and host companies to compete internally to distribute homemade lunch packs to underprivileged citizens in their communities.

“The excitement amongst the learners was palpable,” says Lyn Mansour, CEO of KLM Empowered. “It really is something remarkable to witness when aspiring individuals team up to give of themselves. This is the truest mark of greatness amongst communities.”

With 14 learner groups participating in this year’s Big Hearts Challenge, the shine was on DSV: FETC Road Transport Supervision – a team of 14 learners from Johannesburg that took first place with 1 300 lunch packs handed out.

Cape Town pipped second place with its team of eight, DSV: FETC Business Administration, with a run up of 700 lunch packs, while third place was awarded to Team Empangeni of SuperSport FETC: Business Administration, packing and presenting 420 lunch packs.

The project’s success was greatly aided by donations from Sigma International, which contributed 575 lunch packs, generous cash donations from FGEA Inc and Bindepro, as well as the fruit donations from Karen Korff and Food at Work.

“Congratulations on a phenomenal accomplishment, on bringing such joy to 8 543 citizens in need, and for making a remarkable difference to so many. We applaud your efforts and thank you and your facilitators, the sponsors and collaborators for digging deep and giving big,” comments Mansour.

As a Level 1 B-BBEE project-management and skills-development company, KLM Empowered continues to service government and corporate sectors with world-class skills development whilst advocating change, human transformation and inclusion.