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The Waitrose Foundation

 

The Waitrose Foundation in South Africa was established in 2005, with the aim of improving the lives of farm workers and their families in the communities that supply fruit to the Waitrose Supermarket  in the UK. This is in line with the South African Government’s aspirations for Black Economic Empowerment.
Now in its sixth year, the Waitrose Foundation has funded and overseen 241 projects  to date. It has benefitted as many as 50 500 farm workers, their spouses and children in the respective farming communities.
 
The Foundation is a Partnership between Waitrose and its supply partners, where we all return a percentage of our profits from the sale of fruit and wine to the farm workers who grow it.

 

  

Worker Committees

 

It is our belief that the farm workers own the right to make their own decisions about what projects are needed on their farm, and it is therefore crucial that the projects are chosen by the workers themselves. 

Since the start of the Foundation the workers committees have chosen a diverse group of projects including; crèches, adult literacy programmes, healthcare, and the set up of small businesses. We do not dictate in any way as to the projects that can be chosen, but they are truly based on the real needs of the community.

 

Waitrose Foundation Bursary Scheme

 

The Waitrose Foundation bursary scheme was set up to give farm workers and their families the opportunity to take up tertiary education. The Foundation is in its fourth year supporting the bursary programme and plans are in place to take on two students per academic year.

We currently have 5 Bursary Students: 3rd year - Likhaya Batyi and Mzomhle Tshapile, 2nd year - Siyabonga Mathebula and Marco Rooi, 1st year - Jenestopher Jenzel.

We are now in the process if interviewing students for the 2012 Bursaries. Watch this space!

 

 

Annual General Meeting 19 January

 

Please note that it is almost time for the 2012 Annual General Meeting. This year we have a brand new venue; it will be hosted at D'Aria Function Venue in Durbanville.

If you haven't rsvp'ed for the meeting, please do so as soon as possible. The AGM is open to Full Foundation and PB2 Members as well as all the relevant stakeholders in the Supply Chain.

This is the ideal platform for New Foundation Members to be informed about the ins and outs of the Foundation and to network with all other stakeholders.

We will also hear from our current Bursary Students on the day, so please do your utmost best to join us!

 

 

 

 

 

Farm Projects

 

Knitting Project (Bosrivier Farm), Timberlea Group, Koue Bokkeveld - Western Cape
BEE Keeing and Hiring of Hives Project - Auldearn, Grabouw - Western Cape
Bambanani Workers Canteen, Westonaria - Gauteng