Putco has adopted the New Life Centre for Girls in Midrand as its anchor Corporate Social Investment project since 2025. The sponsorship began on Mandela Month when Putco donated toiletries to the centre which houses 28 girls and 10 staff members. The items were collected by Putco employees. Kgopotso Nakin whom the girls fondly call Mam-K, established the centre in the 1990s in Hillbrow, Johannesburg, when she realised how women and children were forced into a life of prostitution. She nurtures the children up to the age of 18 years by ensuring that they have a place to call home, enough food to eat, clothes on their backs and that they attend school. “God has given me the strength to help these children despite the challenges that we face. It’s not always easy. We depend on donations.
Putco has pledged to sponsor the centre with R 67 000 monthly until 2027 and has bought a brand new bakkie that will transport the girls to school. Further to this, the company is paying for 24 hour security service to ensure that the girls are safe.
“Thank you Putco. May God bless you. We have always had faith that a sponsor will come to us and provide sustainable support so that we can continue with the work that we do. I remember last week we had minus R1 900 in our bank account. Today, we have R67 000. I was saying last week that I need to write letters to companies and say can you please donate 67 000 for 67 minutes. I said it and it happened. Thank you so much.”
In heartfelt messages, the girls expressed their gratitude to Mam-K for her continuous love and support and to Putco for the donation.