Each year eg solutions plc, the back office optimisation software company and other supporters of Doornkop host a Christmas party for the children and this year the children went to Dude hall in Soweto – organised and supported by the eg South African team who raised the funds through a sponsored fun walk.

The children put on an amazing mini concert for the guests with all the different classes taking part in an activity. Lunch for the day was prepared by Digipos with the support of Samantha Phelps who sponsored the party packs and cup cakes, she was introduced to DNCC by eg’s Kay Moodley.

The day ended once all the children had received a Christmas present, kindly donated from the toy run organisation.

The money raised for this year’s Christmas Party totalled R8,775 and was raised partly by a run for fun as well as other donations from clients and members of staff at eg solutions.

We would like to thank everyone who has donated to the Charity to make this event possible as well as our own eg team who attended the event, they included Tony Cohn, Kay Moodley and Nols Mbele.

The Doornkop Needy Children Centre provides shelter, clothing, education and love to orphans and destitute children from the age of 0–5 years.  Currently around 160 children are in their care.

Find out more about the Doornkop Needy Children’s Centre and how you can get involved, and email ask@eguk.co.uk.

 eg donated a signed England football shirt of Wayne Rooney’s to one of their clients, Nationwide, after a request to donate a ‘money can’t buy gift’. The shirt alone raised £206 which along with other donations from suppliers raised a staggering £10,436.50 through their online auctions.

 The money raised can make a real difference to children in the UK. The funds raised by Nationwide’s online auction could:

•  Provide breakfast for over 150 children for one year
• Provide 100 beds to stop children from sleeping on bare floorboards
• Provide 450 hours of therapy for abused or neglected children

 eg would like to congratulate Nationwide who in combination with the online auction and other fundraising efforts from employees and customers, are expected to give in excess of £200,000 this year.

 For further information on how your donations make an impact please visit the BBC Children in Need website…. And it’s still not too late to make a donation.

 eg is committed to managing its business in a socially responsible manner and as part of the Company CSR policy supports selected charitable causes.

The eg operational excellence^® awards, now in their 9th year, offer an international benchmark of excellence within the industry.  They showcase Companies and Teams who are transforming the experience of customers and employees and demonstrate how real-time work management, forecasting & strategic planning and operational excellence can make a difference.  Over 130 guests from across the financial services sector were in attendance and generously donated to the appeal.

The Legion has introduced new services and extended the reach of existing ones. They spend over £1.2 million a week on welfare work and as a result, can help around 100,000 people each year so every penny counts.  So far £852.00 has been donated by eg and their client base which goes towards The Royal British Legion Poppy Appeal record breaking fundraising goal of £40 million.

Pictured below are Phil Lee, Non-executive Director and Elizabeth Gooch, CEO at eg solutions with the fundraising cheque.

It’s not too late to donate online – http://www.poppy.org.uk/support-us/give-money

eg is committed to managing its business in a socially responsible manner and as part of the Company CSR policy supports selected charitable causes.

Tony Cohn, Kay Moodley, Wendy Jeavons, Nols Mbele from eg South Africa and Namsi, the Senior Carer at the crèche, will be participating in the event doing the 10km walk with the aim to raise enough funds to organise a great Christmas party for the children at DNCC.

Entrant numbers have arrived and training is underway.  We have already received donations from eg staff, colleagues, friends & family and client staff from Silica.

So open your hearts and wallets to support our great cause.  Let’s make this a great Christmas party for the DNCC children this year!!

To donate, any amounts big or small would be greatly appreciated, please call +44 (0) 1785 715772.

Photographs from last years event can be viewed here. If you would like to find out more about the Doornkop Needy Children’s Centre, click here or email ask@eguk.co.uk.

This week, Elizabeth Gooch, CEO of eg visited the crèche to deliver additional educational equipment. Despite the sun shining it was a chilly 8 degrees so the children were dressed up in their winter woollies, hats and scarves.

The under 2s enthusiastically mastered the art of painting with their innovative new painting devices (recycled roller ball deodorants) to avoid paint splashing everywhere. The 3-4 age group were seated closely around tables painting and were equally as enthralled in their works of art, while others looked on patiently, eagerly awaiting their turn. The cold winter weather causes a problem for the centre, there is limited space indoors and typically there would be extra tables outside for the children to use.

The Grade R’s (aged 5, ready to go to school) showed off their understanding of letters, colours and numbers. They were able to recite the alphabet, trace the shapes of letters and numbers, count to 10 and show how many objects and colours represented each number.

Elizabeth delivered the learning materials donated from recent fund raising (£300). This included building blocks, skipping ropes, balls, educational puzzles and toys for the babies.

The visit ended with tea and cake and the children singing a Christian church song for their guests.

Elizabeth Gooch commented “It was delightful to see how the children have developed since eg first became involved with the centre. They were hungry and under nourished now they are well fed, clothed and concentrating on their educational development. It’s a rewarding experience to witness how so little can achieve so much.”

Just £40 can provide food for one child for a year and £10 a month can provide one child’s food, clothing and school fees.  A little help can really go a long way, the Doornkop Needy Children’s Centre is always looking for new sponsors. If you would like to join us, make a donation or for more information please contact ask@eguk.co.uk.

Elizabeth Gooch, CEO at eg said “Chris has worked very hard to get to this stage and we wish him well for a productive and successful summer”.

Chris is currently receiving expert coaching from Staffordshire County Cricket as well as individual batting coaching from Aaron Jeavons who has played for Staffordshire; MCC and Oxford University.

Staffordshire has a long and proud heritage of Minor Counties Cricket being the first county of the current twenty Minor County sides to have been formed in 1871, and becoming founder members of the Minor Counties Championship in 1895.

In an interview with 12 year old Chris we asked him about his achievements to date and his aspirations for the future.

Profile:

Name: Chris Becker

Cricket Team: Milford Hall Cricket Club

Cricketing Role: Wicket Keeper and Top Order Batsman

Chris has played cricket since he was 8 and played for the County for the last three years.  In that time has achieved a great deal, here are some of his highlights:

• 2009/2010 South Staffordshire League under 11 ‘Wicket Keeper Award’ – Most Dismissals in the Season.

• 2009/2010 Milford Hall Cricket Club under 11 ‘Player of the Year’.

• Highest score of 100 Not Out in 2011.

• Four scores of over 50.

• Highest number of dismissals in an innings – 5 (4 stumpings, 1 catch).

eg: So Chris, what is your style?

CB: I’m a right hand batsman and a wicket keeper

eg: What are your cricket ambitions?

CB: To represent England then become a successful coach and ultimately an Umpire.

eg: You may be in luck.  I hear that Staffordshire have an unsurpassed playing record and is renowned for the number of players born within the county who have progressed into the first class game and gone on to play international cricket.

eg: Who is your favourite cricketer?

CB: Sachin Tendulkar (India) who is probably the greatest Test Batsman of all time.

Other facts from Chris:

Chris has been busy meeting famous current and ex players including Shane Warne; Matt Prior (England Wicket Keeper); Adam Gilchrist (ex Australian Wicket Keeper/ Batsman); Graham Swann; Andrew Flintoff; Marcus Trescothick; Nasser Hussain; Phil Tufnell; Courtney Walsh & Gladstone Small – not bad for a 12 year old!

As at 26 July2011 Chris has had a good start to this season and currently sits top of the overall Batting Averages.

- ENDS -

For more information please contact Rachel Oliver, Marketing Manager at eg, on +44 (0) 1785 715772, email racheloliver@eguk.co.uk or visit www.eguk.co.uk.

As a special treat eg, the back office optimisation company, visited the children to deliver Easter gifts.

Wendy Jeavons, Managing Director of eg in South Africa, said:  “The children were delighted with the Easter Eggs and this was made possible as a result of the recent fundraising and generous donations from staff and clients.  The eggs were eaten quickly by the children to avoid melting in the hot temperatures!

As part of the ongoing development of the crèche, plans to improve the facilities continues.  Recent training of the Doornkop carers has certainly paid off and inspired new thinking which has enhanced the day to day running and development of the crèche.  Pictured below are carers who manage the crèche on a daily basis.

Fundraising continues and eg’s CEO, Elizabeth Gooch has recently raised over £1000 which will go directly to improve the facilities and further enhance the educational programme for the 159 children at the crèche.

eg would like to thank everyone who has supported Doornkop over the last year.

The Doornkop Needy Children Centre provides shelter, clothing, education and love to orphans and destitute children from the age of 0–5 years.  Currently around 160 children are in their care.  eg decided to support Doornkop after being introduced to their work by the CEO of weekly South African newsletter ‘South Africa – The Good News’ and has since pledged to support the charity in their short and long term objectives.

Photographs from the creche can be viewed here. If you would like to find out more about the Doornkop Needy Children’s Centre, click here or email ask@eguk.co.uk.

Doornkop carers left to right: Violet, Paulin and Alice

After last years successful Christmas outing to the zoo, the 140 children and babies cared for at the crèche went on an outing to Rietvlei Farm.  Care givers, crèche sponsors, including eg staff and local volunteers, assisted to make sure a good time was had by all.

It is important not only to provide the necessary shelter, clothing and love to the children at The Doornkop Needy Children’s Centre, but as part of their education to allow them to experience things more fortunate children take for granted.  For many, the trip to the farm was a rare occasion to leave their hometown of Soweto and see live animals.

As part of the outing the children had a tour around the farm and saw ducks, hens, chickens, guinea pigs and rabbits and goats roaming freely.  The children had fun chasing the ingulube (Zulu for pigs) until the pigs started to chase them!

The children had worked up an appetite on the tour and had an outdoor picnic of HUGE Boerewors sausage rolls and drinks under the gazebos that had been provided to keep everyone out of the rain shower.

After an exhausting day for some of the younger ones, the babies had an afternoon nap whilst the older children, (who graduate from DNCC this year), danced for the sponsors and delivered a speech in their graduation cloaks to thank them.

Wendy Jeavons, Managing Director of eg South Africa, said “As part of the generous client and staff donations and fundraising that eg has done this year we were able to provide coaches for getting all 140 children to and from the farm and cover the entrance fee.  The support we have is truly wonderful and to see the children in awe of the animals was fantastic”.

Gifts of stationery starter packs for each child were kindly donated from BIC South Africa and included pencil crayons, felt tip pens, pencils and erasers.  Also donated through South Africa’s Gauteng Bikers Toy Run event were 150 teddies.  The motorcycle charity helps collect and distribute donations for underprivileged children.  The charity aims to give something back to destitute young South Africans.

eg solutions would like to thank everyone who has supported Doornkop over the last year.

Take a look at the photographs from the event below. You can also find out more about The Doornkop Needy Children’s Centre, or email ask@eguk.co.uk.

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The additional training Doornkop carers recently received has certainly paid off and inspired new thinking. Mmamonamodi Jacobeth Lesito, Project Manager has introduced age specific learning plans for the children, classroom timetables and a menu of balanced meals for each day of the week.

Educational wall charts now cover the walls and recent donations have enabled the provision of a fantasy corner/play area for the children including new tables and chairs and play items such as a tea set, alphabet blocks, baby dolls – basic items to stimulate learning and interaction.

Wendy Jeavons, Managing Director of eg South Africa said “It is fantastic to see the crèche go from strength to strength in terms of the facilities, ongoing education and the welfare of the children.  The latest fundraising activities by the eg pink panthers competing in the London Triathlon has raised over £700, which will go a long way to further improve the facilities and the children’s educational development”.

Thank you to everyone for their continued support of The Doornkop Needy Children’s Centre over the last year.  If you would like more information about the work the Centre undertakes, or would like to make a donation, email ask@eguk.co.uk.

The ‘eg pink panthers’ who competed in the London Triathlon to raise money for Doornkop Creche can be seen below with the presentation cheque.

Pictured left to right Jonathan Hayward, Mark Cooper & John Moss

So far we have raised £710 for the Doornkop Needy Children’s Centre which is a fantastic achievement!  If you have sponsored the team please send your pledges in as soon as possible.

Mark, John and Jonathan would like to thank everyone who has made a donation so far!… and of course, if you’d still like to make a donation the lines are still open to make a  pledge at www.doornkop.co.uk.

The money raised is vital for the future of the children and their survival and eg are proud to have sponsored the team.  It costs approximately £40.00 per child per year to supply daily food supplies of e-pap to keep the children strong and healthy – that’s less than £3.50 per month.  Around £125 can provide one child’s food, clothing and school fees for a year.

The aim of the Doornkop Needy Children Centre (DNCC) is to provide shelter, clothing, education and love to those orphans and destitute children from the age of 0 – 5 years.

The Centre, situated in Snakepark, a poverty-stricken area of Soweto, was started in August 2002 by two concerned mothers who were aware of the fact that many children – some abused, some abandoned, but most just plain poor – desperately needed some sort of crèche facility and care. They approached the community, secured permission to use a church gathering point and now look after 160 children.

Left to Right: Jonathan Hayward, John Moss, Mark Cooper