SUPPORTING COMMUNITIES. CHANGING LIVES. YOUTH EMPOWERMENT ACROSS SOUTH AFRICA ISSUE 01/APRIL/2026 COMMUNITY INITIATIVES THAT MATTER REAL STORIES FROM SPAR REGIONS
SPAR CARES - ISSUE 01 - 2026 EDITOR’S MESSAGE SPAR CENTRAL OFFICE SPAR WESTERN CAPE SPAR EASTERN CAPE SPAR SOUTH RAND SPAR NORTHRAND SPAR NORTHRAND 01 1-3 4-9 10-11 12-15 16-18 19-25
PAGE 01 A MESSAGE FROM THE EDITOR At SPAR, we believe that our purpose goes far beyond the shelves in our stores. We are, and always will be, part of the communities we serve. This means showing up where we are needed most—especially in moments that truly matter. Across the country, our SPAR regions continue to demonstrate what it means to care in action. Whether it is responding to disaster relief efforts, supporting local schools, or uplifting women through meaningful initiatives, each story in this newsletter is a reflection of our shared commitment to making a difference. Our work is guided by three key pillars: Education, Nutrition, and Women Empowerment. Through education, we invest in the future of young people, creating opportunities for growth and learning. Through nutrition, we help ensure that individuals and families have access to the essentials needed to live healthy, dignified lives. And through women empowerment, we celebrate, support, and uplift women as powerful drivers of change within our communities. What makes these initiatives truly powerful is the collective spirit behind them. It is our retailers, partners, and customers who bring these efforts to life—demonstrating that when we come together, even the smallest acts of kindness can have a lasting impact. As you read through this edition of SPAR Cares, I encourage you to take pride in the role we all play in building stronger, more resilient communities. Together, we continue to inspire hope, uplift lives, and show that care is not just something we say—it is something we do. Warm regards, Ms Mpudi Maubane National PR, Communications & Sponsorships Manager SPAR South Africa
SPAR CARES - ISSUE 01 - 2026 SPAR CENTRAL OFFICE Changing Course: Empowering Youth to Stand Against GBV Across South Africa, classrooms are becoming more than places of learning — they are becoming spaces of courage. Through Trulife's Changing Course on GBV Awareness, supported by SPAR, learners from Grades 5 to 12 are gaining the tools to recognise abuse, challenge harmful norms, and seek help. Active across seven provinces, the programme uses interactive workshops, creative content, and open discussion to create safe spaces for honest conversations. Since its launch, more than 75,000 learners have participated nationwide — and the impact is being felt in classrooms across the country. The results are tangible: a 28% increase in learners' confidence to act against GBV, and 82% now able to correctly identify how and where to report abuse. But the true impact goes beyond statistics. It lives in the poems written, the stories shared, and the conversations that continue long after the workshop ends. The quote must go into the copy and pulled out in the green block as it is now. "I didn't realise that some of the things we joke about are actually abuse. Now I know we must respect girls and stand up when something is wrong."— Male learner, Changing Course participant
SPAR CARES - ISSUE 01 - 2026 SPAR CENTRAL OFFICE From Reaction to Prevention: SPAR's Commitment to Safer Schools 75 000+ 280 LEARNERS REACHED SPAR-FUNDED WORKSHOPS 07 PROVINCES SPAR's investment has already reached over 44,500 learners through 280 workshops — helping shift the conversation from reacting to gender-based violence (GBV) to preventing it. The programme equips young people with the knowledge and confidence to recognise risk, speak up, and access support through trusted pathways, including SPAR-supported Thuthuzela Care Centres. It is a commitment that has not gone unnoticed by those working closest to the issue. "Trulife's expertise, compassion, and dedication to this issue are unparalleled."— Dr Nira Naidoo, District Psychologist, Department of Education Over the next three years, Trulife aims to expand its reach to 1,200 schools and 300,000 learners nationwide. Accredited teacher training will further strengthen schools' ability to create safe, supportive environments.
SPAR CARES - ISSUE 01 - 2026 SPAR WESTERN CAPE Running for Change: SPAR Backs 1,125km Youth Empowerment Journey Before sunrise on Kloof Street in Cape Town, a small crowd of runners, shop owners, and supporters gathered with a shared purpose. Jono Kruger, co-founder of Sports for Lives, set off on a gruelling 1,125km journey to East London — carrying a Coach-in-a-Box prototype and a R1 million fundraising goal. The KWIKSPAR on Kloof, owned by sisters Carmen and Savannah Egling, hosted the send-off, with staff and Capetonian runners gathering to cheer Jono on as he began his journey. "SPAR is more than a retailer; it's the cornerstone of the communities."— Elsabe van Zyl, Sponsorship and Events Manager, SPAR Western Cape & Namibia SPAR Western Cape proudly became the first community partner to support the run — reinforcing its belief that retail spaces can be powerful platforms for change. What is Coach-in-a-Box? Coach-in-a-Box, developed by EduSport Youth, is a mobile empowerment programme designed to bring coaching, life skills, and mentorship directly into schools and underserved communities. It equips young leaders with practical tools to deliver impactful sport and education sessions, creating real employment and mentorship opportunities. Every rand raised supports the expansion of this programme. Through the Vula Mdantsane Run, each SPAR store along the route becomes more than a pitstop — it becomes a champion for youth empowerment and education. Each stop serves as a platform for awareness and community connection, spreading the message of hope and opportunity from the Cape all the way to the Eastern Cape.
SPAR CARES - ISSUE 01 - 2026 SPAR WESTERN CAPE 18 000 Goodie Bags, Packed with Purpose Long before the starting gun sounds and For many residents, this work brings a sense of thousands of women fill the streets of Green routine, purpose, and joy. There are moments of Point, meaningful work is already underway — quiet concentration, bursts of laughter, and at the Alta du Toit Centre in Bellville, just shared smiles when a job is well done. Residents outside Cape Town. work as a team, supporting one another and Here, residents living with intellectual taking genuine pride in the role they play in one disabilities gather around tables and, one item of the Western Cape's most iconic sporting at a time, carefully pack 18,000 goodie bags events. for the SPAR Women's Challenge Cape Town. What may seem like a simple task carries deep significance. Each bag is packed with pride — a tangible symbol of belonging, contribution, and community. "This work is about more than completing a task; it is about dignity, inclusion, and celebrating each person's abilities."— Bianca Evert. Psychologist and Workshop Co- ordinator, Alta du Toit Centre
SPAR CARES - ISSUE 01 - 2026 SPAR WESTERN CAPE Behind every professionally executed packing session stands the Centre's dedicated team, whose patience, care, and encouragement are integral to the process. The partnership with SPAR offers residents the opportunity to be part of something bigger than themselves — an event that celebrates women across the Western Cape. For SPARWestern Cape, this partnership reflects a long-held belief: meaningful community involvement is built on relationships, shared values, and a genuine desire to enrich lives. Along with funding the packing, SPAR donates an additional portion directly to the Centre — ensuring that the impact extends well beyond race day.
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