Johannesburg, 25 September 2025 – On Saturday, 20 September, 160 Volkswagen Group Africa (VWGA) employees, joined by family members, rolled up their sleeves to make a tangible difference at the Leap Maths and Science Centre in Diepsloot. The initiative formed part of the VWGA Show of Hands programme, hosted by Volkswagen for Good in collaboration with charitable organisation Ladles of Love.
The event was designed to address both immediate community needs and long-term sustainability through four hands-on activities. In the Buckets of Hope initiative, volunteers packed 40 000 meals into 3 333 buckets, each providing enough food to feed twelve children, offering immediate relief to vulnerable families. The Arts and Crafts activity saw employees creating 150 colouring books, aiming to inspire creativity and support learning among children. Meanwhile, the Pairs of Kindness initiative involved painting and decorating sneakers for children at a local Early Childhood Development centre, adding a personal touch of care and joy. Finally, through the Food Gardening activity, staff planted vegetables and prepared 20 sustainable mini-gardens, leaving a long-term legacy of nutrition and education.
The initiative benefitted LEAP 4 Maths and Science Centre, part of a network of low-fee secondary schools dedicated to delivering world-class education in mathematics, physical science, and English to learners from underserved communities. Established in 2011, LEAP 4 continues to demonstrate the transformative power of education, consistently achieving exceptional results despite challenging circumstances, including multiple years of 100% matric pass rates. By equipping young people with the skills and confidence to succeed in higher education and beyond, LEAP 4 exemplifies the long-term impact of educational investment.
Founded in Cape Town by Danny Diliberto 11 years ago, Ladles of Love has grown into a national organisation providing food relief to over 200 beneficiary organisations. Its collaboration with VWGA has enabled a unique blend of immediate social support and community empowerment.
“Through the Show of Hands programme, we are proud to live our commitment to making a difference in the lives of the communities where we operate,” said Nonkqubela Maliza, Director for Corporate and Government Affairs at Volkswagen Group Africa. “We are happy that the mini-gardens that we have planted will grow to feed children even long after we have left, and to me, that is the impact and sustainability that we continuously talk about,” Maliza added.
The event underscored the power of collaborative partnerships and employee volunteerism. By engaging directly with communities, Volkswagen Group Africa continues to empower and uplift lives, making a lasting impact that extends far beyond the day’s activities.
