July 2018
The Waitrose Foundation (SA) recently facilitated a visit of a film crew sent by Waitrose from the UK to take pictures and video footage for marketing purposes. The team captured Waitrose Foundation projects as well as some footage on the harvesting and packing processes at Westfalia (Avocados, Tzaneen - where they also celebrated Mandela Day with the children), Group 91 (Citrus, Letsitele) and Komati Estate (also Citrus, Letsitele). They were accompanied by Nyika Brain, Manager of Waitrose Foundation (Global) who visited Limpopo for the first time since she joined the Foundation. On all these farms the visitors were received with typical South African warm hospitality. The hosting farms went out of their way to show-case their projects and the amazing people who participate in these projects. At Westfalia a group of Traditional Dancers welcomed the film crew at the Resource Centre and another group welcomed them the evening at the pack house. The projects showcased on the farms that were visited included the CAMI (Computer Aided Maths Instruction) Programme, the Wellness Centre, and the Crèche at Westfalia, ABET (Adult Basic Education and Training) and Leadership for Hope Programmes at Group 91 as well as artistic products produced by the Komati Estate skills development projects. The latter included freshly baked muffins from the cooking and baking project, amazing hand-made braais, cookers and hot water geysers from the welding project and beautiful furniture from the woodwork project. Many other projects supported by Waitrose over the years were displayed in an inspirational/exciting exhibition.
We thank everybody who worked so hard to receive our visitors on their respective farms. This type of cooperation contributes to more effective marketing of our produce in the UK and we will surely see the results in due course.
