Momentum Metropolitan Holdings says that it has always been passionate about enabling its employees to "be the difference they want to see in the world". Momentum's Admed team at Guardrisk — comprising Tebogo Machaka, Thulani Dlamini and Sibusiso Mthembu — did exactly this and won the Lesedi Staff Volunteer Awards.

Through its 'You Care, We Care' project, the team raised over R300 000 to rebuild society on three levels, inluding:
  1. Helping abandoned babies, toddlers and abused children at the New BeginningZ children's home
  2. Helping abandoned and abused township dogs with the NSPCA, and
  3. Helping improve STEM education in underprivileged communities through the Leap Science and Maths School.
Sibusiso Mthembu, claims assessor at Guardrisk, says, "When the society around you is in need, it's difficult to choose who to help first, so we chose three avenues that are close to our hearts. Knowing that we supported these organisations — not just financially, but to be there in person, to feel what they feel — was truly eye-opening."

The donation to New BeginningZ helped distribute food parcels, educate and support the abandoned babies, toddlers and abused children in the home. New BeginningZ is a member of The Tshwane Alliance for Street Children, an umbrella organisation for residential, non-residential, outreach, prevention and early intervention programmes.

Although it does not have a residential care facility for children living and working on the streets, it does put the children it encounters in touch with the various member shelters of TASC.

For the NSPCA, the team chose to donate to the special investigations unit in an effort to tackle underground dog fighting rings. On top of the donation, the GaurdriskAdmed team went out into areas of the local community where dogfighting had been flagged as a problem.

Together, with the dedicated members of the special investigations unit, the team was able to help educate and inform community members about the NSPCA and to bring their dogs in, should they need any help and to report dog-related criminal activities in the area.

For Leap Science and Maths School, the Momentum Admed team used Mandela Day 2019 to assist in giving high school learners in marginalised of communities "a fighting chance to excel in Maths, Science and English".

"Besides the R120 000 donation from the previous year, we were also able to teach the children about self-awareness and confidence, which is a skill set that too many schools forget to teach our children. It's where we can really see the impact and change we can effect for those who need it most," says Mthembu.

Going forward, Gaurdrisk's Admed team says that they will continue to support these organisations in any way they can. The team encourages all South Africans to do the same. "We are one society, so let's pull together as one," says Mthembu.

"You never have to walk far from your home before you find a person, an animal or an organisation in need of your support. Every bit helps," adds Mthembu.

Launched in 2016, the Lesedi Awards are aimed at recognising and celebrating the volunteer work that MMI employees and business units do in their communities. In line with their values, Momentum believes that volunteering should be "purposeful, where volunteers strive to work with communities to provide services needed by the community".

The Lesedi Awards are, according to the company, an important way in which Momentum engages with its employees. Momentum concludes that it wants to work with individuals with a social awareness who "share in their purpose of enabling people from all walks of life to achieve their financial goals and life aspirations".

For more information, visit www.momentum.co.za. You can also follow Momentum on Facebook, Twitter or on Instagram.