CEO SleepOut 2016
South Africa's top CEOs rose to the challenge and helped raise R31 million for charities last night.
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The Sun International CEO SleepOut asked leaders "to turn profits to purpose" on the Nelson Mandela Bridge in Johannesburg on 28 July 2016.
On a cold winter's night, with temperatures reaching as low as 3 Degrees on the bridge, top executives, their colleagues, students, and matriculants stood together to experience what it would be like in someone else's shoes.
We managed to speak to some of the participants and this is what they had to say:
Alex for Huawei who was challenged by T-Systems the day before the event, told us that it was the best challenge of the year. In their first 6 hours they managed to raise R231 600. He said that he was happy to be there, as he was lucky enough to be blessed in the position that he is and he can now share his blessings with others.
Ntsundeni a student at WITS studying chemical engineering, was under the banner of IDC. He said he was fortunate enough to study and once he finishes his studies he would like to assist others not only to study but to start their own businesses and be independent.
Cassim Ebrahim from Liberty said they are very involved in education specifically the Kutlehong Trust where they focus on developing the Maths and Science skills of school kids in Gauteng and KZN.
Nazir Alli and his team from SANRAL spoke about how they make a difference in the development programmes that they offer students, bursaries, and maths and science programmes that assist students in rural areas.
Muhammad Cajee from Morvest said that the event was a great initiative for top executives to have a feel how others less fortunate feel and the money raised reaches far and wide.
The team at AIG, Wayne Abraham and Deon Van Der merwe spoke about the different intiatives that the company is involved in a lot of schools in disadvantaged areas.
Peace from MCC Eqstra said the experience was very thought provoking. He had just finished eating his soup and while he was doing so he imagined himself as a street child and how he would feel if that was his last meal or when he would have another meal. Even though there was meals, bedding and toiletries provided at the event for the participants, he felt he wanted to experience how others who were not so fortunate feel.
Mthetho from Business Connexion came as the outstanding student. The company had employed him on a learnership and subsequently hired him permanently after. Chatting to me while starting his fire, he told me how he can relate to those that go through the same experience everyday.
The general feeling among the participants was just to be there to assist where they could to those less fortunate.
All soup, blankets and sleeping bags will be donated to 1000 homeless people this morning.
