Charity starts at home!

Ever considered being part ofsomething bigger than yourself? Now is your chance. A day to takeaction and doing a bit of reflection is here - looking back at the life of one of South Africa’s amazing leaders, Nelson Mandela, and continuingthe legacy he helped build. Mandela Day(18 July) together with the 2017 theme: #ActionAgainstPoverty, is an invitation to all fellow South Africans to follow in the formidable footsteps of Madiba.

DebtSafe is placing their focus on their fellow colleagues’ needs as there are many employees (in and around South Africa) going through tough times and financial difficulties. DebtSafetherefore wants to contribute to their co-workers needs not only for 67 minutes, but also in the years to come.The act of serving is not a once off thing - every day should be Mandela Day.

DebtSafe is relaunching their Extra MileProject with the aim of making this internal initiative a sustainable and long term one.The idea of the project is to remind fellow co-workers that ‘charity starts at home’, and that their wellbeing and needs are of utmost importance to the team. The Extra MileProject is a channel DebtSafe employees can use to anonymously identify a person or more than one individual (within the organisation) that needs support. Their needs can vary: from groceries to a child’s school fees, for example. Employees are furthermore involved in not only identifying someone else’s needs but they can also financially contribute to the fund (which is non-compulsory). Every month each amount contributed by employees will be ‘matched’ by the company. The team is excited to see how the project will develop in the next few years.

DebtSafe has taken up the challenge and wants to encourage otherorganisations to do the same. Make every day a Mandela Day and create change from within your own organisation.To change the world for the better, you need to start at the core, namely home. And DebtSafe’s home is their employees.

“It is what difference we have made to the lives of others that will determine the significance of the life we lead” – Nelson Mandela