• Continental employees donated clothing to support The Street Store, which hosts pop-up stores that enable homeless people to shop for clothes for free
• The tyre manufacturer also provided new clothing for all 80 residents of the SOS Children’s Village in Gqeberha
• Project aligns with Nelson Mandela’s vision of social change and making a positive impact in the lives of others, reinforces Continental’s commitment to community development and upliftment

GQEBERHA, South Africa, July 21, 2023 – On 17 July 2023, Continental Tyre South Africa (CTSA) proudly participated in The Street Store initiative, which was held at SOS Children’s Home in Gqeberha in honour of Mandela Day, which is celebrated annually on 18 July around the world. This impactful campaign is an expression of CTSA's commitment to community development and charitable endeavours, and aligns with Nelson Mandela's vision of social change and making a positive impact in the lives of others.

The Street Store was established in 2014 as a one-off event in Cape Town, and has now flourished into a global initiative that takes place in hundreds of cities around the world. The pop-up store concept serves homeless people and enables them to ‘shop’ for clothes for free.

To assist people who are destitute or impoverished, CTSA employees donated lightly used clothing items that were collected over the past months, creating a substantial contribution for The Street Store.

"The Street Store is such a simple but effective concept that gives homeless members of our community a sense of dignity and self-esteem,” said Matthew Livigni, MD of Continental Tyre South Africa. “There is so much we take for granted, but it’s truly heart-warming to see something as simple as a shirt, pair of pants or a jersey making a real difference to someone’s quality of life.”

New clothes for SOS Children’s Village residents

CTSA also used this opportunity to purchase new clothing for each child at SOS Children's Home in Gqeberha, ensuring that all 80 residents received clothing items tailored to their size and preference.

“We were delighted to broaden our participation in Mandela Day by donating new clothing to the SOS Children’s Home and providing the kids with clothes that fit them properly,” Livigni said. “We believe that every child deserves to feel cared for and valued, and we hope that this makes a positive difference in the lives of these young individuals.”

In addition to the clothing provided by CTSA to The Street Store and SOS Children's Home, the adult clothing items collected during the project were allocated to the various family homes and dedicated house mothers supported by SOS, thereby broadening the collective effort and support for those in need. While the campaign took place the day before the official Mandela Day, the spirit of volunteerism and compassion remained true to the essence of the occasion.

“Continental Tyre SA remains steadfast in our dedication to corporate social responsibility, community engagement and upliftment,” Livigni said. “The success of this project further exemplifies the power of collective efforts and the impact it can have on individuals' lives.”

Continental Tyre South Africa is a member of the SATMC. 

Ends 

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South Africa:

Jiminy Bosman
PR and Communications Manager

BU Replacement EMEA

Continental Tyre SA (Pty) Ltd
Phone: +27 41 406 5640

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Email:  Jiminyann.bosman@conti.co.za

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