{"id":153120,"date":"2017-06-07T06:02:00","date_gmt":"2017-06-07T04:02:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/germistoncitynews.co.za\/153120\/bank-revamps-house-at-epworth-childrens-village\/"},"modified":"2017-06-07T09:13:56","modified_gmt":"2017-06-07T07:13:56","slug":"bank-revamps-house-at-epworth-childrens-village","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/develop.citizen.co.za\/germiston-city-news\/news-headlines\/2017\/06\/07\/bank-revamps-house-at-epworth-childrens-village\/","title":{"rendered":"Bank revamps house at Epworth Children’s Village"},"content":{"rendered":"

Nedbank continues to put smiles on the faces of children at Epworth Children\u2019s Village.<\/span><\/p>\n

One of the houses at the village, named Cypress, which was recently revamped and refurbished by Nedbank, was officially opened last Monday.<\/p>

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Nedbank has been the village\u2019s donor and has helped where possible for three years.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe have always worked closely with the village, organising gifts for holidays and Christmas parties among other things,\u201d said Tina Pieterse, Nedbank\u2019s executive for the integrated channels support.<\/p>

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\u201cLast year, we decided to change our focus and contribute in a more sustainable manner.\u201d<\/p>\n

Pieterse said they decided as a team to make a more meaningful difference to the village and chose to renovate the house.<\/p>\n

The team communicated their intentions to the village to identify their needs.<\/p>\n

\u201cHaving a siblings\u2019 house has always been a priority for us at Epworth,\u201d said Roberta Ingrato, public relations manager for Epworth Children\u2019s Village.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen Nedbank informed us about their goal we took the opportunity to get Cypress up and running.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are humbled and grateful for what Nedbank, together with its contractors and suppliers, has done for the children – it is amazing.\u201d<\/p>\n

Pieterse said it is important to invest in children.<\/p>\n

\u201cChildren are the future of our country and investing in them today will ensure they become contributing citizens tomorrow,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are also looking at revamping another house by the end of the year.<\/p>\n

\u201cDepending on funding, we would like to revamp at least two more houses.\u201d<\/p>\n

The children moving into Cypress were excited with their new home.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe children are overwhelmed with excitement,\u201d said Ingrato.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey are pleased with all the work done in their rooms and the house as a whole.<\/p>\n

\u201cThrough the siblings\u2019 house we aim to strengthen relationships between siblings who are unlikely to get support when leaving Epworth.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe objective is to develop bonds and reinforce their family commitment to each other so that they will support each other when they leave and not be isolated.\u201d<\/p>\n

Pieterse also thanked the contractors and suppliers who helped in the renovation.<\/p>\n

\u201cThank you to Ukhuni Business Furniture, C Power Shop Fitters, Poseidon Data and Electrical Services and 180 Degree Digital Print, PAV Shop Fitters, Proto Signs and Ronald Koekemoer and Associates, among others for assisting us in the project,\u201d said Pieterse.<\/p>\n

\u201cYour help doesn\u2019t go unnoticed; we wouldn\u2019t have done it without you.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe, at Nedbank, like to do good for the communities we serve and more than anything this project was a great privilege.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe will always remain committed to Epworth.\u201d<\/p>\n

Children moving into Cypress were also given gifts at the opening.<\/p>\n