#WINEFORGOOD: Oak Valley - growing together

Thursday, 23 April, 2020
Oak Valley
People have always been at the very heart of our story. What we are doing on Oak Valley is not only for this generation, but also for the generations to come. This is us. Growing together.

For more than 120 years, the business has been investing heavily in social infrastructure and upliftment of its people and their families

“In 1955, my father decided, because of lack of schooling, he would build a school on the farm. He also built a crèche” Anthony Rawbone-Viljoen, owner of Oak Valley said.

The Oak Valley crèche is licensed to accommodate 64 pre-school children who receive stationery, uniforms and three balanced meals per day. The crèche also provides nappies and formula milk for babies. School children receive transport to the local school and to sport and other outings.

After high-school, there is also a bursary scheme partly founded by Oak Valley, for qualifying students.

In 1980 they commenced with the housing programme, which supplies them new houses and when the new houses were occupied, the old houses were renovated to a very nice standard. Permanent staff with families receive accommodation, water, subsidised electricity and free maintenance services.

Staff living off farm, get a housing allowance and free transport to and from work.

 

“Oak Valley has always been a family business and we like to think that Oak Valley has an extended family in our employees, their families and the community at large. We really have a special bond with the people” says Christopher Rawbone-Viljoen, Managing Director at Oak Valley.


MORE ON #WINEFORGOOD

There are plenty of good news stories about upliftment and transformation in the South African Wine Industry. The #wineforgood website, launched by wine.co.za in June 2016, hosts all the positive stories from the winelands, of which there are plenty. wine.co.za has made April a focus for #wineforgood stories. Share them far and wide and spread the good news about South African wine.