The spirit of Ubuntu runs deep at SA's second largest medical scheme

Giving back to the community the GEMS way

Tuesday, 19 August 2014

As part of its ongoing quest to contribute towards the social upliftment of South Africa and its people the staff and management of the Government Employees Medical Scheme (GEMS) has taken KwaZulu-Natal based non-profit organisation, Abalindi Welfare Society, under its wing.

At the beginning of August the GEMS team, under the leadership of Principal Officer, Guni Goolab and Trustee, Dr Clarence Mini, visited four homes including a hospice, old age and children's home as well as a day care centre in the small community of Amatikwe in Inanda, north of Durban.

The GEMS volunteers spent the day rolling up their sleeves to help out with chores such as cooking, cleaning and grooming the elderly inhabitants of the old age home. The group of Good Samaritans also enjoyed some quality time with the children being cared for by this indispensable charity.   

Abalindi Welfare Society, which was established in 1998, consists of homes for the elderly and frail as well as for mentally, physically challenged and destitute children. It has its own bakery, gardening and block-making projects as well as a poultry farm that empowers and sustains the small community of Amatikwe. 

The GEMS team brought with them much needed equipment including electrical stoves, refrigerators, microwaves, wheelchairs and solar water panels, to mention but a few items that were donated to the Abalindi Welfare Society.

Commenting on the initiative, GEMS Executive: Communications and Member Affairs, Liziwe Nkonyana, said it was a most memorable and rewarding day for the GEMS volunteers.  "For us giving goes well beyond material things to devoting time and a little tender loving care to those in need. If this means cooking, shaving elderly people, cleaning and simply spending time with young children and the elderly then we will gladly do so."  

"At GEMS we are committed to making a meaningful and positive contribution within the communities that we serve. For us community spirit and involvement embodies the very core of our corporate citizenship philosophy and we therefore view giving back to the community as an opportunity to drive positive change within South African society," concludes Nkonyana.