Building More Than Cars, Ford is Building Stronger South African Communities

Photo Credit: Ford South Africa

From food gardens and school upgrades to feeding thousands, discover how Ford employees and dealers made a meaningful difference across South Africa.

South Africa (30 October 2026) – Every September, Ford employees around the world roll up their sleeves for Global Caring Month, an annual initiative that puts kindness and community at the heart of what they do. In South Africa, this spirit of giving back comes to life through Ford Building Together, bringing employees, dealers and local community organisations together to lend a hand, support local needs and make a meaningful difference where it matters most.

This year, Ford South Africa employees and dealer partners contributed more than 8,000 volunteer hours to 29 community projects during its 2026 Global Caring Month programme.

From Ford’s Silverton Assembly Plant and Struandale Engine Plant to its national dealer network, the initiative reached communities across the country, supporting everything from education and food security to disability support and the care of children and local families. Among the many contributions was an incredible 36.42 tonnes of food, helping put meals on tables and make a tangible difference in the lives of those who need it most.

“Global Caring Month is a chance to put care into action, alongside the people and organisations who understand their communities best. Across South Africa, our employees and dealer partners brought their time, skills and energy to projects that support learning, wellbeing and opportunity. Through Ford Building Together, we are proud to help strengthen the connections that make communities more caring and resilient,” said Duduzile Nxele, Corporate Communications Manager, Ford South Africa.

For the Silverton Assembly Plant team, giving back took many different forms. Volunteers got their hands dirty establishing and nurturing food gardens, rolled up their sleeves to brighten classrooms and care facilities, and helped people living with disabilities through much-needed equipment and practical support. There was also a focus on building brighter futures, with initiatives centred on youth career development, health and gender-based violence awareness, as well as a little extra love and attention for children’s homes and community spaces.

Support for people with disabilities also brought Ford South Africa’s Policy Team to Botho Botjha Training Centre in the Vaal. The team improved the sick bay and other facilities, worked in the garden, donated wheelchairs and first aid kits, and spent time with staff and beneficiaries to learn about the centre’s skills development work.

In Gqeberha and its surrounding areas, the Struandale Engine Plant focused on projects that addressed food security, education and community wellbeing. Initiatives with Love Story and the Association of Persons with Disabilities focused on food security, gardening and entrepreneurship.

Bet Sheekoom House of Restoration for Women in Crisis received support through essential supplies, while work with Siyaphambili Disabled Community Project included facility improvements, water infrastructure and community meals.

Education projects included classroom, corridor and ablution improvements and learning resources for Emsengeni Primary School and Coega Primary School.

Volunteers also supported a food garden at Gamble Street Secondary School and shared skills with young people at the Thulani Qusheka Foundation to help improve their employment prospects. Northwood Children’s Hospice received educational supplies and compassionate support for patients and their families.

Ford’s dealership network also took the spirit of giving back into communities across the country, with each dealership finding meaningful ways to support local needs. From improving children’s homes and supporting food gardens to creating opportunities for young people through sport, skills development and community feeding schemes, the projects showed how much can happen when local businesses get involved.

Some of the initiatives included:

Hatfield Motor Group: Supporting Johannesburg Children’s Home with vegetable gardens, shade structures and improvements to its children’s village.
Ben Morgenrood: Helping Connie Mulder Centre with food, facility repairs, skills-training equipment and garden maintenance.
CMH Ford Umhlanga: Providing football equipment to under-resourced rural schools through the Namenyi Project Hope.
NMI Ford N1 City: Supporting surfing equipment and coaching through The Kamvalethu Foundation.
Human Auto Bloemfontein: Partnering with ENGO Free State to provide meal kits to more than 220 families.
Sentracor: Supporting a community feeding scheme reaching around 500 people.

The dealerships also rallied behind the Global Dealer Food Drive, collecting an impressive 33,962.05kg of food, with Ford employees contributing a further 2,454.35kg. Together, that amounted to 36,416.4kg of food.

Leading the dealer collections was Human Auto Welkom, with 8,268kg, followed by CMH Kempster Ford Umhlanga (7,500kg) and Nelspruit Ford (2,700kg). Human Auto Welkom also worked with local donors and businesses to turn the donations into food hampers for charities, schools and families in need, with its contribution estimated to have supported 4,218 people.

At the heart of all these initiatives is the simple but powerful idea that doing good starts with showing up. Ford is demonstrating that its impact in South Africa goes beyond the vehicles it builds and sells. It is also about the people, families and communities that make this country what it is.

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