(Port Elizabeth) – The team from SVA International donated boxes of non-perishable supplies to Isithembiso Babies Home but came away with much more following their visit on Mandela Day (July 18).

GOOD NEWS: SVA International architects Clayton Johnson-Goddard (left) and Jannie Wagenaar (right) spent their 67 minutes of service on Mandela Day by spending time with the children from Isithembiso Babies Home in Port Elizabeth.

This is according to head of the Eastern Cape office, Debbie Wintermeyer, who identified the home for orphaned and abandoned babies as the beneficiary of the annual initiative.

“Isithembiso is a well-established, reputable facility that does amazing work at grassroots level,” said Wintermeyer.

“The children here have all had a difficult start and the aim is to see them placed in a loving and secure family environment.

She said her office had sponsored a number of items on the home’s shopping list, including dry food and nappies, which were an ongoing need.

“As an architectural firm, we are constantly upgrading our equipment and programmes, so we also donated a gently used laptop and will provide IT support where needed.”

Wintermeyer said one of her staff members had also conducted an assessment of the facility to identify areas where structural elements and interior spaces could be improved. These recommendations were reported to the home’s management team for consideration.

“For businesses in the hard corporate world, Mandela Day serves as an important reminder to look at the softer, simpler aspects of life and to find ways to serve others with humility and respect,” said Wintermeyer.