We fought hunger this Nelson Mandela Day

As part of #OneAECIForABetterWorld, AECI Plant Health proudly celebrated Nelson Mandela’s life and legacy this Nelson Mandela Day on July 18.

Nelson Mandela Day invites people and companies to make a difference in their communities by taking action and inspiring change. This year, AECI partnered with international hunger relief non-profit organisation Rise Against Hunger to host a meal packaging event, themed “It Starts With A Meal”. 

Rise Against Hunger coordinates the packaging and distribution of food and other aid to people in developing nations.

As Mandela Day is the biggest volunteerism initiative among AECI’s employees and the overwhelming interest they have in such initiatives, AECI allowed for on-site packaging of meals at its various business units to enable all its staff members to participate without having to take time off work.

Employees took turns in giving their 67 minutes on the day to limit disruption to their respective departments. All activities were coordinated by each business unit’s corporate social investment champion.

The AECI Plant Health Lilianton facility, in Boksburg, Gauteng, alone packed 14 904 meals, which is enough to feed 65 children attending creche fives meals a week for a year.

"As a proudly South African company and a responsible corporate citizen, AECI delights in partaking in such initiatives annually," says AECI Sustainability and ESG group head Kavita Pema.