RPC Astrapak recently contributed towards the fundraising efforts of WDB Investment Holdings’ Chief Investment Officer Nicci Gubb, who recently participated in The CEO SleepOut™ on Wednesday 11 July 2018.

Apart from the obvious “sleep-out”, the cold winter’s evening incorporated fireside discussions about social problems facing South Africans, and brainstorming solutions while experiencing first-hand what it feels like to be without a home. The fireside discussions were hosted by Sir Nic Wolpe (CEO Liliesleaf Farm & Museum) and co-hosted by Dr. Brylyne Chitsunge (Developer of The Qunu Food Security Project and Pan Africa Food Security Ambassador). The itinerary included a tour of Liliesleaf followed by 15-minute speeches by Alec Hogg (BizNews Media Entrepreneur and Keynote Address Speaker) and Dr. Makaziwe Mandela (2018 The CEO SleepOut™ Movement Patron).

Nicci describes the set up as being fairly authentic, with a soup kitchen for the evening meal, while also providing a networking opportunity to interact with people from different industries and sectors within their businesses while sharing a common experience.

“It was pretty tough,” she said. “We were reluctant to actually lay down to sleep – given how cold it was. In order to pass the time, we watched a movie about the Rivonia trialists at midnight, which ended around 02:00.

The movie – Act of Defiance – depicted the capture and trial of the Rivonia political prisoners and has not yet been released in South Africa. Liliesleaf Farm, situated in Rivonia, was the place where most of the political prisoners were captured, hence the name the “Rivonia trialists”.”

Liliesleaf Farm & Museum – one of South Africa’s leading heritage sites – as well as Qunu Food Security Project were the primary beneficiaries for this year’s fundraiser, both beneficiaries being closely linked to Madiba’s legacies of providing food security, education and remembering the past heroes of the liberation struggle.

“Corporate South Africa needs to do more of this as it certainly creates empathy in daily life, by practising conscious capital and being exposed to the reality of how the vast majority of this country lives,” Nicci continued. It helps us to take a different view and become more creative as to how we can solve society’s problems.”

Approximately 150 people representing 12 companies participated in The CEO SleepOut™. Nicci’s fundraising efforts in collecting more than the required amount of funding was outstanding, and she way surpassed the minimum required amount of R 150 000 with a donation of R 221 000, which contributed to the collective funds raised of approximately R 700 000.

The CEO SleepOut™ is a worthy cause that selects different charities as beneficiaries each year. This year, the two charities were chosen as they live through the Mandela values and the five key pillars that guided him.