Whatshot
6th IBV Children's VIP Day A Resounding Success
6th IBV Children's VIP Day A Resounding Success
A surprise start to the day saw IBV Children's VIP Day Founders, Ashok and Sharoona Sewnarain, awarded the prestigious Louis Volk Humanitarian Award at the opening ceremony of the 2015 event, by Lion Sundru Pillay. The Louis Volk Humanitarians Award is the highest accolade bestowed on a community leader by Lions International, South Africa - in honour of Dr Louis Volk one of the founders of Lionismin South Africa. It is presented to individuals who perform exceptional community service who have shown deep concern for others in the service of humanity.
Further affirmation for this astonishing event took the form of the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between IBV and UNICEF. Herve Ludovic de Lys: Country Representative of UNICEF South Africa flew from Pretoria to publicly sign the MoU with Ashok Sewnarain at the VIP Day.
Sunday marked the sixth event hosted by IBV at which 2 500 less privileged children from 36 homes in and around Durban were treated to an interactive day of fun, treats, games and pampering in the company of sports stars and entertainment celebrities.
IBV International Vaults has forged partnerships with 100 sponsors in the form of corporate, civic organisations, service providers, small businesses and individuals who have come on board to lend their weight to this innovative event to add value to the Children's VIP Day, with the intention of forming lasting partnerships with children's organisations and homes.
"Since its inception, the essential purpose of this day has been to make a large number of underprivileged children VIP's for a day whilst business leaders play as reversal of roles as their executive helpers," said IBV CEO Ashok Sewnarain.
"An astonishing volume of products, food and services is made available to the children at the VIP Day by its various partners," considers Lions' Sundru Pillay who helps to co-ordinate the vast number of volunteers and service providers, ensuring that the little guests don't go hungry - helping with literally thousands of burgers, hot dogs, pizzas, hot chips, water, juice and cool drinks.
The 2015 VIP Day is the sixth such event and follows on from similar events held regularly since 2007. Each time the event has been supported by ICC Durban who has made the Durban Exhibition Centre available - and provides its chefs - under the guidance of John Moatshe, as well as kitchen and cleaning staff to support the event.
"It is through the sounds of their laughter and the sights of their smiles, that we will have ultimately achieved the event's greatest success," says Sewnarain.