As part of its “Great Place to Work” initiative, PepsiCo, a Boksburg-based food and beverage company, chose to support Ubuhle Bezwe Child Care Centre in the neighbouring community of Tembisa.

“As a team it is important for us to give back to the community where the majority of our staff hail from. We donate blankets, long-life foods, household cleaning items, clothing and a range of other essentials,” said Peta Friedman, PepsiCo senior brand manager.

Ubuhle Bezwe Child Care Centre in Tembisa was established in 2000 by Barbra Mthimkhulu, a retired nurse and counsellor who trained through POWA (People Opposing Women Abuse).

Barbra saw a need in her community when she came across a day-old baby boy at the hospital where she worked and whose mom had passed away a few days after giving birth to him. The baby, together with his two siblings, were the first children Barbra took in. 

After officially registering as an NGO with six children under its care, Ubuhle Bezwe was established as an orphanage that cares for abandoned, abused or disabled children, and those affected by and infected with HIV/AIDS. Today the centre supports 75 children with food parcels and clothing in addition to providing shelter to 50 of them.

 “It is only through donations and help from organisations such as PepsiCo, who provide the children with the essential basic foodstuffs and household goods, that I am able to sustain the Ubuhle Bezwe Child Care Centre,’’ says Barbra. “We are so grateful to the PepsiCo team for their contribution, which has made such a huge difference to us and the children.”