Through their time and financial contributions, OUTsurance staff helped transform Early Childhood Development Centres in Hammanskraal—providing young children with safer spaces, nutritious meals, and the learning tools they need to thrive
A culture of giving back
Staff Helping South Africa OUT (SHSAO) is an OUTsurance staff-driven initiative where staff members can give back to their communities. Staff members get involved by nominating projects, making a monthly financial contribution to SHSAO, or by volunteering at selected projects.
For every R1 contributed by a staff member, OUTsurance donates R2 to Staff Helping SA OUT thereby not only encouraging staff to give back, but also by showing its support to the initiative.
Focusing on Early Childhood Development Centres
Monica Fritz, Staff Helping SA OUT Coordinator says that ‘where we’ve previously focused our efforts mainly on providing food security, we’ve decided to shift our focus in 2025 to also invest in the needs of Early Childhood Development Centres (ECDs).’
‘At OUTsurance, we are cognisant of the long-term effects that our support could have on the lives of the kids. When children have access to the necessary resources, nutritious food and stimulating environments, they are likely to stay in school longer, deliver better academic results, and become productive members of society.
‘Staff Helping SA OUT have selected four ECDs in the Hammanskraal area that are in dire need of support. We'll be upgrading and fixing existing facilities to help create a safe and secure learning environment. With the help of our partners at Atterbury Foundation and Startwell Foods we’ll ensure that children at these centres will have access to well-balanced nutritious meals, and we’ll then also provide the centres with some of the necessary learning material and resources to set these children up for success,’ adds Fritz.
In order for these centres to be rated compliant, SHSAO will also be facilitating first aid and firefighting training to ECD staff under the leadership of one of our very own staff members – a certified first aid trainer.
Project kick-off in June 2025
Work on the first ECD centre, Lethabong la Rona, will start towards the end of June. OUTsurance staff members will have the opportunity to volunteer their time and assist service providers in building a new storeroom, laying paving, and installing new flooring or carpets. Staff Helping SA OUT volunteers will also plant a vegetable garden, paint the building's interior and exterior, and assist with installing shading nets.
‘This is a massive project, and we’ll need all hands on deck’, says Fritz. ‘We’ll be giving it our all to ensure that these children are being cared for in a safe and secure environment, that they get a daily nutritious meal, and that they have easy access to the necessary learning materials and resources to be able to reach their full potential.’