Hyprop Investments Partners with the Santa Shoebox Project to Deliver Impactful Change Across South Africa

BY MUFARO MHARIWA
Dec 5, 2024
2 min read

Photo: Courtesy of Santa ShoeBox

Hyprop Investments joyfully celebrates its continued partnership with the Santa Shoebox Project, a beacon of hope and generosity in South Africa. This year, Hyprop’s eight retail centres played a pivotal role in facilitating 23,636 of the 74,751 Santa Shoeboxes donated nationwide, bringing festive joy to disadvantaged children and their educators.

“The support of Hyprop malls and the Hyprop Foundation enables our beloved Santa Shoebox Project to fulfil its mission of providing equal access to quality education for all children in South Africa,” said Debbie Zelezniak, spokesperson for the Santa Shoebox Project. “It is incredibly valuable to have a partner in Hyprop that shares our values.”

Since its inception in 2006, the Santa Shoebox Project has delivered over 1.3 million personalised shoeboxes to underprivileged children. Through continued financial and community support, Hyprop has significantly extended the reach and impact of this initiative.

Making a Difference: Three Years of Contributions

Over the past three years, Hyprop Foundation has contributed R1.1 million to the Santa Shoebox Project. These funds have supported the training of Early Childhood Development (ECD) teachers, equipping them with essential skills like perceptual training, learning through play, and crafting toys from recyclable materials.

Financial Impact Summary:

2024: R400,000, supporting 574 teachers and 12,048 children.
2023: R350,000, supporting 238 teachers and 4,150 children.
2022: R350,000, supporting 508 teachers and 14,442 children.

In total, these contributions have positively impacted the lives of 30,640 children and over 1,300 teachers.

2024: A Year of Generosity and Community Engagement

In 2024, Hyprop’s malls served as vibrant collection hubs, encouraging shoppers to fill personalised shoe boxes with essential items like toiletries, school supplies, clothing, toys, and treats. This collective effort strengthened community ties and made it easier for the public to participate in this impactful initiative.

“The Santa Shoebox Project demonstrates the power of collective giving,” said Leonie du Preez, Hyprop Foundation. “We’re proud to support an initiative that uplifts communities and spreads joy. Our financial contributions, combined with the incredible involvement of our shoppers, have made 2024 another successful year of giving.”

A Legacy of Change

Through the Hyprop Foundation, the group continues to channel its Corporate and Social Investment efforts into education, community upliftment, and enterprise development. Partnering with the Santa Shoebox Project, which builds pre-schools, trains teachers, and creates reading corners, aligns seamlessly with Hyprop’s mission to drive meaningful social change.

As 2024 comes to a close, Hyprop celebrates the success of this partnership and its enduring impact, looking forward to creating even more opportunities for positive change in the years ahead.