Wayne, the largest manufacturer of PVC and PU Gumboots in South Africa, recently donated 1265 pairs of gumboots to Izulu Orphan Projects based in Zululand. As a member of the BBF Safety Group, Wayne contributes to a number of socio-economic investment projects on an annual basis.

Vanessa Ronald, BBF Senior Brand Manager explains, “We feel privileged as a company to be in a position where we are able to initiate socio-economic development projects that make a difference within our community and positively contribute to the lives of the people within it.”

Izulu Orphan Projects (IOP) is a Non-Profit Organisation that educates, feeds and supports rural South African orphans, as well as the children of HIV positive widows. Founded in 2006, IOP relies solely on donations and support from both the public and private sectors.

Founding Member, Kate Bain, explains that their vision is to serve, educate and provide for the desperate and deserted orphans through individualised, family-centred, community-focused care. “We are completely blown away by this amazing donation from Wayne! Most of the orphans registered on our program are extremely poor and shoes of any kind are an absolute luxury. To be able to hand out such high quality gumboots to our children has been a huge blessing. The sheer joy on their faces is priceless – they are so excited about their brightly coloured gumboots.”

Vanessa Ronald adds that Wayne are proud to support Izulu Orphan Projects and the wonderful work that Kate and her team do. “Days like this make you realise the societal difference that you can make through your daily job. Through the collective work effort of the members within the BBF company we are able to generate a substantial socio-economic development budget that we are proud to put back into the communities that support us.”