By: Kgothatso Nyundu (UJ intern)
Pictures: Andile Nkosi (UJ Intern)
Clover South Africa staff spent a day away from their usual work environment to give back to the community when they visited Ebenezer Hannah Home in Ennerdale on Thursday, 27 August. The visit formed part of a special Clover Mama Africa initiative aimed at supporting Mama Lydia Isaac and spending meaningful time with the children and elderly people cared for at the centre.
The visit, which took place from 09:00 to 14:00, was initiated by a Clover department whose staff wanted to experience the work being done at Ebenezer Hannah Home first-hand. In preparation for the day, members of the team reached out to their families and friends and collected donations specifically for the centre. However, their contribution went beyond handing over donations, as staff spent several hours interacting with those at the home, sharing a meal and participating in activities.
For the Clover team, the day provided an opportunity to see the realities faced by community organisations and the people who dedicate their lives to caring for others. It also allowed staff to engage directly with Mama Lydia and learn more about the work that goes into keeping the centre running and responding to the different needs of those who depend on it.
Eugene, Business Unit Manager of Clover Food and Green, said the visit was particularly meaningful because he had known about the Clover Mama Africa programme for many years but had not experienced the work of the Mamas in this way. Being at the centre and seeing what had been built through years of commitment gave him a different perspective on the programme.
He described the experience as “fantastic” and said the day also made him reflect on how fortunate many people are and how much more they can do to assist organisations operating within their own communities. According to Eugene, support does not always have to come in the form of money or material donations, as simply making time to visit and assist can have an impact.
“We can give time, time is not costing anything,” Eugene said, encouraging people to become more involved with their local Mama and to consider visiting centres more regularly rather than waiting for special occasions to offer support.
The visit also placed the spotlight on the broader work of Clover Mama Africa, which has 17 centres across South Africa. The programme works with women who play important roles in their communities and assists them in strengthening initiatives that support people around them.
Rika, who is responsible for Clover South Africa’s corporate social investment programmes, explained that no two centres are exactly the same, as each Mama responds to the particular needs of her community. This means that the support and programmes offered at the centres are shaped by the circumstances and challenges experienced by the people they serve.
Skills development remains an important part of Clover Mama Africa. Through the programme, Mamas are equipped with various skills which they can then pass on to others. The approach is intended to create opportunities for community members while also helping centres develop income-generating projects that can contribute towards their sustainability.
At Ebenezer Hannah Home, Mama Lydia has continued a legacy of caring for others after taking over the centre from her mother, Mama Shirley Marim. Running the home comes with significant daily responsibilities, from ensuring the needs of residents are met to keeping the centre functioning and providing a supportive environment for the children and elderly people in its care.
For Mama Lydia, having the Clover staff step in and assist made the day particularly memorable. She described the visit as a “very blessed day”, saying the team helped make the heavy weight of her daily responsibilities a little lighter.
By serving members of the community, spending time with residents and participating in the day’s activities, the Clover team gave Mama Lydia an opportunity to take a brief break from some of her usual responsibilities. She said seeing the staff put smiles on the faces of the children and elderly people was among the highlights of the visit.
The day demonstrated how partnerships between businesses and community organisations can extend beyond financial contributions. While donations remain important to centres such as Ebenezer Hannah Home, the visit highlighted the value of people being physically present, offering their time and becoming involved in the communities around them.
For the Clover employees, it was an opportunity to better understand the work taking place behind the scenes at community-based centres. For Ebenezer Hannah Home, it was a day of additional helping hands, companionship and support for the people who call the centre home.
As the visit came to an end, Mama Lydia shared a simple message that reflects the approach that continues to drive her work in the Ennerdale community: “Never give up” and “be selfless.”
