We collected Easter eggs and Christmas presents, for everyone from orphans to the homeless, and renovated kennels, hospitals wards and classrooms … 2015 was an incredible year for OUTsurance’s Staff Helping SA OUT (SHSAO) initiative!
Each year our staff donate their time, skills and hearts to organising and implementing projects that make a difference to the lives of others. 2015 was packed with great projects from upgrading HAWS animal shelter cat sanctuary to making life a little bit easier for the orphaned children of Paul Kruger house. We’re proud to have been a part of a variety of projects helping over 37 charities throughout the year.
Who can forget the story of Caitlyn, the 11 year-old who took it upon herself to collect 2000 Easter eggs for underprivileged children? OUTsurance staff stepped in to help Caitlyn surpass her goal with over 17 000 Easter eggs in total!
In June 2015 the CEO Sleepout initiative went viral nationwide. OUTsurance CEO Ernst Gouws, who was unable to attend, was so inspired by the initiative that he implemented a Campus SleepOUT project within the company. OUTsurance staff members joined their CEO and spent a night outdoors sleeping on cardboard boxes and raised R240 000 in funds for the homeless.
We finished the year with our annual Christmas gift adoption project in which our staff “adopt” a child, elderly person or animal from various charities and put together a gift package just for them. This year our staff put together 472 gifts that were handed out to the delight of their recipients over the Festive Season.
With so many honourable projects completed last year we are reminded of the hardships faced by communities around us. Staff Helping SA OUT recognises that a new year brings with it new challenges. There is more to be done to bring positive change to the lives of those who need it most. We’re looking forward to how we can help SA OUT in 2016. Challenge accepted!