A 4-ton Hino 300-Series 814 truck fitted with a Praga van body has been on loan from Hino SA to the Touch Africa charitable organisation since 2010 and continues to play a vital role in a number of Touch Africa’s outreach programmes, many of which target schools.
“The truck now has 53 852km on its odometer and is proving an incredible tool for allowing us to perform amazing work in our quest of ‘Making School a Better Place’”, commented Mike Glover, director of Touch Africa, who operates out of Port Elizabeth.
Among the projects where the Hino has been used during the past year were the building of seven libraries, the delivery of books and mattresses to the Step by Step crèche in the Transkei and the erection of a jungle gym at Lion Park.
The libraries are made of a 40ft container with 2 500 books each with the increase of literacy the main benchmark. The truck is used to move the verandas and stock of books.
Touch Africa has installed 15 container libraries into 15 currently disadvantaged schools in SA over the past two years. Literacy at schools is a major concern considering only 8% of public schools have libraries. The organisation’s initial library project now totals 30 libraries; each container is revamped and equipped with tables and chairs as well as the stock of 2 500 books.
The next phase will involve ensuring the libraries are utilised properly.
The Hino also delivered all the building materials required to construct the Zisukhanyo crèche near Mazeppa Bay over a four-month period.
“Touch Africa also uses a 10-day off-road motorcycle charity ride through the Eastern Cape, the Transkei coastal region and KwaZulu-Natal to raise money for its charitable efforts, with substantial support coming from British citizens, including Princes William and Harry,” added the founder of Touch Africa. As much as R5-million is raised annually.
Hino SA vice-president, Ernie Trautmann, said that the Touch Africa project dovetailed very well with other corporate social investment programmes of Hino and Toyota, where the focus has always been on education and health.
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