Well-documented box to become soup kitchen

Last Saturday saw the arrival in Cape Town of a container with a difference. Known as the BBC Box, it was transported to Cape Town on board the Lars Maersk on the last leg of a year-long journey around the world initiated by the BBC to tell the story of the global economy and international trade by charting its progress on radio, television and online. It clocked up around 50 000 miles during its 12-month journey. With its initial goal accomplished, several charitable initiatives have kicked into gear. NYK has donated the container to Breadline Africa which will refit it as a permanent soup kitchen for some of those worst affected by the global recession. Maersk Line sponsored the seafreight journey to South Africa while the cargo of second-hand books carried in the box was donated to ‘Help the Rural Child’. In partnership with Roadwing Cape Town, Maersk Line provided free trucking from the port to Parow, where the container was unpacked. A truly global charitable initiative!