CHEP’s Double Impact: Investment that Reaches Youth with Disabilities and Young Children

CHEP South Africa is committed to a long-term investment strategy in South Africa aimed at uplifting youth with disabilities and improving early childhood development (ECD) outcomes in four communities through skills development and nutrition support.

Recognizing the interconnected nature of social development challenges, CHEP takes a holistic approach to address these issues as part of a broader system. In order to do this, the company works closely with the DO MORE FOUNDATION and our implementing partners, to drive lasting and impactful change for those most in need.

CHEP continues to invest in and champion the #DoMorePlay woodworking program. We were delighted last year to celebrate with CHEP (and other partners involved), as #DoMorePlay won first prize in the Disability Category at the annual Gender Mainstreaming Awards Africa.

Marietjie Brown, Sustainability and Government Affairs Lead for CHEP India, Middle East, Türkiye and Africa: “As a proud partner of the DO MORE FOUNDATION, we are thrilled to see the impactful work of #DoMorePlay being recognized and celebrated at the Gender Mainstreaming Awards Africa. We are excited to continue our collaboration with the Do More Foundation and make a meaningful impact in the lives of children and communities. Congratulations to the Do More Foundation on this well-deserved recognition.”

This innovative initiative prioritizes enterprise development and training to drive positive change in communities facing high levels of poverty and unemployment. Young adults with intellectual disabilities are trained needlework, painting and carpentry, using timber pallet off-cuts donated by CHEP to create high-quality wooden cognitive development early learning toys for ECD centres. They gain essential skills that enable them to create sustainable income by selling products.

#DoMorePlay is just one example of how CHEP has successfully embedded product regeneration and sustainability into business, making it part of the circular economy. This model minimises the single use of finite natural resources, keeping products in use for as long as possible, through repairing, recycling and redesign – so they can be used again and again. This results in a reduction of waste outputs and carbon emissions.

Since the #DoMorePlay woodworking program launched in Worcester in 2020, CHEP's contributions have grown significantly, with increased tonnes of timber and expanded support to now include Hammarsdale in KwaZulu-Natal, Rustenburg in the North West, and Nkomazi in Mpumalanga. This scaling has led to upskilling 66 youth with disabilities, 46,512 wooden toy boxes created and delivered to be enjoyed by approximately 18,360 young children attending ECD centres in 2023.

Marietjie Brown, on the connection between environmental sustainability and social investment: “At CHEP, sustainability is at the core of everything we do, and our involvement in initiatives like #DoMorePlay aligns perfectly with our commitment to creating positive social and environmental change. By supporting initiatives like #DoMorePlay, we not only contribute to environmental sustainability but also promote social equity and inclusion”.

But CHEP’s investment in community development across South Africa doesn’t stop at our woodworking program. Over the last financial year, CHEP donated 16,544.5 kgs or 330,890 meals of DoMore porridge. This translates to 495 children enjoying one meal of nutritious porridge a day for 12 months while attending their local ECD centre in Soweto, Creighton and Durban. Successful delivery of these meals was made possible through the collaboration of four local implementing partners, namely Creighton School, Mount Olive Outreach, the Robin Hood Foundaton, and KAP Sani2C, together with DO MORE’s own Logistics Team.

CHEP’s strategic approach to CSI has not only strengthened existing initiatives but also expanded their positive impact on skills enhancement and ECD centre feeding programmes in the communities where they operate.

Contact our Partnerships Team to work with us to create better tomorrows for South Africa’s young children, their families and communities: iris.naidoo@domore.org.za