The passion of the Abcon Group for these initiatives and the visible positive impact they made on these communities brought about the establishment of the Abcon Group Foundation (AGF).
The AGF is a non-profit company through which the corporate social investment initiatives, funded by the Abcon Group, are implemented. The Abcon Group consists of five specialist property companies, three property funds and a private equity investment arm.
Impilo Foster Homes NPC, a charitable organisation, has for years been involved in making a difference in the lives of Aids orphans.
In line with its mission and vision, Impilo Foster Homes NPC found a 2.5ha piece of property at Koedoe Road in Timsrand near Pretoria, with the potential to house all buildings and facilities required for a foster homes village. In November 2014, the AGF expressed its willingness to support Impilo Foster Homes NPC with the purchase of the land, and shortly thereafter, Impilo Foster Homes NPC and AGF decided to join forces for the development of the Impilo Village Timsrand.
With the benefit of the relationships and partnerships developed and maintained over time, the concept of the AGF precinct was born. The vision for the precinct is to provide an integrated environment with a full cycle of development which provides for 20 residential units, which will accommodate up to 200 Aids orphans, together with facilities such as a clinic, a crèche, a primary school and a special needs school.
They will receive support through the facilities at the Impilo Village Timsrand or by means of bursaries and support programmes, until they reach adulthood. Impilo Foster Homes NPC are the main beneficiaries of the project and will be making provision operationally for the much-needed care and support for the children, as well as the village.
Within the identified piece of property is a Skills Transfer and Training Centre, which will provide further opportunities for the Aids orphans as they mature and look to enter the workplace. It will offer a range of training and skills transfer opportunities, such as those that are specialised to the construction and property sector.
The design of the precinct also makes provision for an attractively landscaped open green space in the centre, which can house various recreational areas and a vegetable garden. The intention is to have the village as sustainable and self-sufficient as possible.
The property has some existing buildings which will be renovated and converted into the main reception and administrative building, management housing, ablutions and various services. The existing swimming pool and tennis court will also be redone.
The project broke ground on Phase I in January 2016. This phase includes the revamping of the main building, the erection of fencing around the site and the renovation of the existing guard house. Phase II will depend on funding, but is likely to involve the construction of the foster homes, which is an important focus of the project.
It is expected that the main construction activities will commence by the middle of 2016 and that the whole project, depending on the donations received, is envisaged to be completed by the end of 2017.
