Schneider Electric, a leader in the digital transformation of energy management and automation, has reaffirmed its commitment to the Emthonjeni Community Centre by mobilising almost 100 employees from its Johannesburg head office to participate in this year’s Mandela Day activities at the centre’s premises in Zandspruit, north-west Johannesburg.

The initiative also forms part of Schneider Electric’s global VolunteerIn programme, which empowers employees to give their time, skills, and energy to causes they care about. Since 2017, VolunteerIn has mobilised more than 31 000 Schneider Electric employees, contributing to more than 75,000 volunteering days and surpassing the company’s 2025 target of 50,000 days, ahead of schedule.

On Mandela Day, Schneider Electric volunteers assisted Emthonjeni with vegetable harvesting, bedding preparation, planting vegetable seedlings, repairing the greenhouse net, cleaning within the garden areas, cutting vegetables for use in the Emthonjeni kitchen, and serving meals to some of the elderly members of the community.

The vegetable garden also supplies fresh, nutritious produce to the FACT (Feed a Child Today) kitchen at Emthonjeni, as part of Embark Foundation’s FACT programme, which serves 28 600 meals per day across 22 different kitchens.

Most recently, Schneider Electric donated nine solar-powered streetlights  to the centre, improving safety and accessibility after dark.

“Our relationship with Emthonjeni is built on shared values of community upliftment and sustainability,” says Tanya Ramlagan, Vice President of Human Resources, English-speaking Africa at Schneider Electric. “With almost 100 Schneider Electric volunteers attending our Mandela Day celebrations at the centre, we have demonstrated our continued commitment to such a worthy cause. Together, we are working to create lasting, positive change in the lives of people in Zandspruit.”

Estelle Mengel, Partnership Developer at Emthonjeni Community Centre, adds: “Our relationship with Schneider Electric is truly profound and testament that together with the right partners you can make a tangible impact in communities and in the lives of those in need.”

Teamwork in action

Malesela Wilfred Ledwaba, one of Emthonjeni’s youth leaders, reflected on the collaboration: “I had the opportunity to lead a team of volunteers from Schneider Electric on Mandela Day. The teamwork and willingness to make a difference were inspiring. It’s encouraging to see a company so committed to uplifting the youth and our community.”

Sinamkele Vukuthu, a 23-year-old youth leader and volunteer at Emthonjeni, shared a similar sentiment: “Leading 20 participants from the Schneider Electric team was an amazing experience. The volunteers’ dedication showed me the power of collective effort in addressing the challenges we face in Zandspruit.”