SASKO says that it has been at the centre of communities since 1930, and the SASKO Siyasizana initiative has always focused on building a solid foundation for our nation's children.

Siyasizana, which means 'we are helping each other', previously provided pre-primary and primary school children with reading books and educational material. This latest project aims to build on this legacy by promoting social skills development.

The campaign forms part of SASKO's 'people who care make things better' brand repositioning, which launched in 2022. The initiative is on a mission to roll out 100 playgrounds in phase one through a consumer call-to-action of nominating a school of their choice that they believe deserves a playground upgrade.

The winning schools will be provided playground upgrades to the value of R10 000 each. The second phase of the campaign will then roll out a reminder of playground upgrades across daycares and primary schools through a recycling mechanic.

Schools will be invited to collect a stipulated number of SASKO bread bags to qualify to be in the running for a playground upgrade.

The LEGO Playwell Report 2022 reveals that the mental, physical and emotional benefits of developmental and social play at an early age can help to reduce the prevalence — and impact — of bullying. This is by allowing children to develop life skills to manage future interactions.

"As a brand, care is at the core of our DNA; it is our purpose. We aim to put our care into action through the SASKO Siyasizana mission. By upgrading 1 000 playgrounds in daycares and primary schools in South Africa, we intend to raise awareness of the importance of positive play for the children in our communities and the impact it can have on their development," says Martin Neethling, PepsiCo South Africa's chief marketing officer.

The campaign will be executed through a 360 multi-channel approach leveraging:
  • television
  • digital
  • radio
  • print, and
  • instore platforms.
Nomawethu Ngadlela, Pepsico South Africa's marketing manager, adds, "Make sure that your local primary school or day care stands a chance to get a playground upgrade. Simply, buy SASKO bread or buns and rolls, scan the QR code or Whatsapp and follow the prompts to nominate your school."

"We are also partnering with influential public figures and subject-matter experts to not only maximise the reach of this campaign but to also tackle the issue we're trying to address through lasting professional advice," Neethling concludes.

For more information, visit www.sasko.co.za. You can also follow Sasko on Facebook, Twitter or on Instagram.