Capespan is defined by the quality of our fruit. We care for the people who nurture and produce it – our employees. To this end, Capespan funds the Capespan Blue Hand we care initiative. This non-profit public benefit organisation is dedicated to improving the quality of life of the people living and working on Capespan’s farms. In addition, Capespan supports local community projects by endorsing and sponsoring projects that are aligned with this mandate.
The Blue Hand we care vision is to efficiently address primary health care, basic education and life-skills development needs, using integrated, sustainable initiatives that uplift beneficiaries and their communities. Projects include the installation of infrastructure, such as improved drinking water systems; and the renovation and construction of worker accommodation and facilities.
Our Blue Hand Projects
A TIMELINE of milestones along the road to making a difference 2007 – 2020
Namibia Grape Company
Namibia Grape Company
Capespan in partnership with the Namibia Government, manages and exports 475 ha of table grape production on behalf of the Namibia Grape Company. In a joint effort with the NGC, Capespan supports a number of community initiatives in the Aussenkehr community.
2020
2020
Since the second week of March 2020, Blue Hand projects focussed on immediate Covid-19 lockdown relief and in the longer term mitigation of its impact measures.2019
2019
Capespan again utilised the services of two qualified professional nurses for 2019. They travel between Capespan’s farms, rendering occupational health, preventative- as well as primary health-care services to some 2000 permanent and migrant workers annually.2018
2018
Farm worker supervisor and team leader life- skills mentoring programmes were conducted at Capespan Farms in the Northern Cape. In the Sundays River Valley, Eastern Cape, nineteen individuals were trained as Capespan Blue Hand Wordworks™ Programme facilitators and practitioners.2017
2017
We continued our relationship with the Ben Viljoen Secondary School in Groblersdal by donating generously towards a learner’s new prosthetic leg.
2016
2016
A three-day Blue Hand training initiative was attended by about 26 representatives from needy community crèches, as well as pre-schools coordinated by the Thembalethu and the SRCC Foundation Trusts in the Sundays River Valley.
2015
2015
Managed by professional nursing agency Incon Health, a partnered primary occupational health care service programme was launched in the Sundays River Valley on Penhill, three commercial farms and four SRCC community farms.
2014
2014
About 150 Grade R/1 learners in the Komatipoort area were delighted to receive stationery and Blue Hand backpacks.
2013
2013
Continuing our involvement with the Letaba School for the Disabled in Nkowankowa, we made an ad hoc contribution to the school from Capespan SA Golf Day proceeds.
2012
2012
Mpumalanga Blue Hand funding assisted the Vorster farms, as well as renovations for a pre-school crèche near a Capespan-managed farm in the Komatipoort region. We also supplied the farm with educational equipment.
2011
2011
Capespan Blue Hand distributed educational material and books donated by School Aid UK in the Letsitele area, fitted shelves at schools on Group 91 farms, Mahela and other schools in the rural areas.
2010
2010
Various Capespan farms and other exporter farms received the Blue Hand treatment in terms of needs such as facilities, educational supplies for pre-schools, annual internet fees and library resources.
2009
2009
Die Vallei Farm’s day-care centre in Villiersdorp received a generous lick of lead-free PVA paint from Capespan Blue Hand when Capespan staff jumped in to add educational content to the walls and blackboards.
2008
2008
Limpopo Five schools in the Letsitele area received a major boost when Capespan Blue Hand donated containers of books, art, science and craft equipment received from partners UK School Aid, Capespan UK Ltd, Tilbury Container Services (now Forth Ports), Maersk Line, Harwood Shipping and Simpson Transport.
2007
2007
Our relationship with Northern Cape farms started when 2 000 trees were planted in an unforgiving landscape to green the farms.Each and every Capespan Blue Hand project has taught us values, social development lessons and inspired us.
Year after year we’ve evolved our initiatives based on what we’ve learned to ensure a sustainable and measurable social development impact.
As such, we’ll continue striving to improve the quality of life for all farm workers in Capespan operational areas: leading, mentoring and managing to aid empowerment, mental development and long-term career advancement. Because we believe that the job of everyone working on fruit production farms and in related industries, is more than a pay packet. It’s about knowledge, dignity and belonging to a self-respecting community.
