Spirit of Belron Challenge raises over €2m to Support Children & Young People in South Africa

Belron®, the global leader in vehicle glass repair, replacement, and recalibration (VGRRR), today announced that its annual charity event, the Spirit of Belron Challenge (SOBC), has raised over €2m for its partner charity, Afrika Tikkun. The funds will help transform the lives of thousands of children and young people in South Africa, where Belron was founded.

 

This year’s Challenge saw over 10,500 participants swim, cycle, run, walk, or travel by wheelchair to raise money for Afrika Tikkun. The SOBC was open to all employees, along with their families, friends, suppliers, and partners. Thousands of people from around the world joined the Challenge online, with an additional 2,000 participating in the ‘Day at Dorney’ event in Windsor, UK. 

 

Funds were raised through a combination of individual country fundraising efforts and donations from employees, partners, and suppliers. Additionally, for every kilometre travelled by each participant, Belron donated €1.

 

Carlos Brito, Belron’s CEO, said of the event:

 

“The Spirit of Belron Challenge is a remarkable event that unites our global team with a shared purpose of making a meaningful impact. Witnessing the passion, dedication, and energy from our colleagues worldwide has been truly inspiring. This collective effort has resulted in an extraordinary fundraising achievement for Afrika Tikkun. I am immensely proud of how our team has come together to support such a vital cause, demonstrating our commitment to making a difference with real care.”

 

Afrika Tikkun transforms the lives of children and young people in the poorest parts of South Africa by providing mentoring, schooling facilities, clean and healthy living environments, and career opportunities. Through contributions from the SOBC, Afrika Tikkun has:

 

• Supported the education of over 50,000 children aged between 1- 6 years old through our Bambanani programme (early childhood development)
• And 83,000 children aged between 7-18 years old through our Ignite Programme (child and youth development)
• Helped over 32,000 young adults through our career development pathways 
• Served 25 million meals  
• Delivered over 77,000 food parcels to vulnerable families 
• Supported over 105,000 families through our social services networks 
• Helped over 3000 children with disabilities included in our services 

 

 

Belron’s roots are firmly established in South Africa, and the business has a long-standing and deep relationship with Afrika Tikkun.

 

Carole Day, CEO of Afrika Tikkun UK, said: 

“Our partnership with Belron over the past 20 years has been fantastic. The dedication and support from Belron’s global family, especially through events like the Spirit of Belron Challenge, have been instrumental in helping us reach and uplift thousands of disadvantaged young people in South Africa. This year, as we celebrate Afrika Tikkun’s 30th anniversary, we are more committed than ever to our mission. The incredible funds raised will enable us to continue providing essential services and opportunities, creating a brighter future for the next generation. We are deeply thankful to everyone at Belron for their unwavering commitment and generosity.”

 

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About Belron

 

Belron® is the world’s leading vehicle glass repair, replacement and recalibration group. Our key brands include Carglass®, Safelite Autoglass® and Autoglass®. We operate in 39 countries across 6 continents through wholly owned and franchise operations, and also manage vehicle glass and other insurance claims on behalf of insurance customers. Belron is home to around 30,000 employees who delivered 16 million jobs for our customers in 2023, with a focus on service quality generating a very high level of customer satisfaction. More details are at https://www.belron.com/ 

 

About Afrika Tikkun

 

Afrika Tikkun is a non-profit providing education, health and social services to disadvantaged communities within South Africa, through their five centres across Gauteng and the Western Cape. Their cradle to career 360 degree model provides a holistic approach to the development of young people from early childhood to school leaving age, to when they journey into accessing economic opportunities. Currently assisting over 10,000 children and youth across the country, their primary goal is to create a sustainable future through economic empowerment for the youth of South Africa. The credibility of this cause won the support of the Parton-in-Chief in memoriam, Nelson Mandela. The success of Afrika Tikkun’s cradle to career approach is rooted in partnerships with beneficiaries and their communities, as well as the fundamental alignment and support of civil society organisations, private businesses and government. More details are at www.afrikatikkun.org