Octodec, with the help of City Property, has put smiles on the faces of 652 underprivileged children through the Santa Shoebox Project.
20 November 2023 – JSE-listed REIT, Octodec Investments Limited, hosted a Santa Shoebox packing day on 27 October 2023, an initiative that has consistently demonstrated the company’s commitment to giving back to the community while building thriving inner cities. Through the collaborative efforts of its staff, 652 Santa Shoeboxes were packed at 012central in the Pretoria CBD to distribute to underprivileged children throughout the province.
In South Africa, where more than half of all children live below the poverty line, the Santa Shoebox Project plays a crucial role in collecting and distributing personalised gifts consisting of essential items and treats to these disadvantaged children across South Africa and Namibia. The project, which originated in Cape Town in 2006 with a total of 180 shoeboxes being packed, has now entered its 18th year, having positively impacted the lives of more than 1,152,580 children. Each shoebox is thoughtfully curated to include vital items such as a toothbrush, toothpaste, soap, facecloth, school supplies, a toy, sweets, and an item of clothing.
Lisa Carne, Head of Sustainability at City Property, said, “We take immense pride in our involvement in this initiative, which brings joy to disadvantaged children throughout this country. Our employees’ enthusiastic participation demonstrates our unwavering commitment as City Property and Octodec to positively impact the communities we serve. We operate with purpose and our collaboration with the Santa Shoebox Project is one such demonstration that we invest in the well-being and sustainability of our communities.”
Octodec has been an active supporter of this initiative since 2017 by providing Santa Shoebox with rent-free space. For Octodec, providing a free-of-charge space or space at a reduced cost to a non-governmental organisation (NGO) such as Santa Shoebox, signifies its dedication to social responsibility and community support when funding is often limited.
“We believe that by alleviating this important NGO’s operating expenses especially at this time of their meaningful events, we are playing a role in helping the organisation direct more of its resources towards its mission and initiatives, ultimately contributing to the betterment of society and the welfare of those children in need. Given the magnitude of the impact of this project on vulnerable children, we are pleased to be in partnership with Santa Shoebox and look forward to continuing to support the initiative,” concludes Carne.
This initiative is also part of Octodec’s various social impact focusses in which the company spent R3.2 million in 2023 to assist communities in need. Together with its partnership alongside Santa Shoebox, Octodec also offers free rental space in their buildings to several charitable organisations, including Dignity Dreams and Cotlands. As part of its long-standing relationship with Cotlands, Octodec is in the process of establishing an Early Childhood Development (ECD) Centre in 2024. This initiative will assist Octodec’s tenants who work full-time to entrust their young children with qualified daycare staff in a warm, nurturing, and educational environment.
