The Duraturf playground provides a fun, friendly and hygienic environment that stimulates early childhood development.
LIV’s dull, dreary backyard was transformed into a safe, stimulating playzone using Duraturf artificial lawn, living up to the Foundation’s vision of providing fun and fabulous foundations for underprivileged children.
LIV currently provides holistic residential care for over 200 orphaned and vulnerable children – with capacity for over 1 000 – teaching them valuable life skills and education to prepare them for life. Food, shelter and clothing for kids in 96 homes, as well as a private school provide basic necessities to enable these children to become productive members of society.
“LIV is just an incredible story, and their system – “Raising up future leaders”- actively adds value to children’s lives, enabling them to shine,” says Edward Colle, trustee of the Belgotex Foundation.
The new playground, complete with football field, track and a vibrant new play area was designed by the children themselves.
“We wanted to give them what they want, so we used their drawings for inspiration to create a fun, friendly and hygienic environment that stimulates early childhood development,” commented Colle.
A mini football field, a track or road with road signs and markings and a yellow island made from bright yellow turf, as well as a colourful play area featuring the LIV logo was installed.
Kids can play games or do sport without worries of grass burns, cuts or grazes, and the turf can be used for outdoor activities or instruction too.
Aside from the aesthetic value, the space provides a clean, friendly and safe environment that’s low maintenance and UV-resistant. The turf requires very little maintenance other than regular sweeping so minimises costs or concerns of watering, weeding and mowing. This allows caregivers and volunteers to focus on task at hand – raising the children to be the leaders of the future.
The LIV Village employs over 200 local community members, while eleven Level-2 BBBEE-rated small business units that are either partially owned or operated by LIV provide jobs and training for more than 1200 people. These businesses not only generate much-needed income to fund the village’s childcare needs, but also provide essential skills-transfer and vital business experience to uplift and empower the community. This enables them to develop a self-sustaining micro-economy that is not 100% reliant on donations.
One such business includes the production of LIV product labels for Belgotex which are being used on the recently launched Lifestyle Collection samples. This decision is in line with the Foundation’s heart-felt desire to support initiatives that improve the future of this country.
“Belgotex has shown such heart and we believe these sorts of partnerships are the way forward for South Africa,” says LIV founder, Tich Smith.
