Social Investment in South Africa

On 16th June, Investec Asset Management will be supporting a special celebration of the Coaching for Conservation football camp in Maun, Botswana. The event will bring together some 250 children to participate in a showcase of its flagship programme, an annual week-long football camp welcoming over 600 children as participants in July. This special preview event, which aims to celebrate the annual International Day of the African Child, will be attended by a number of high profile VIP guests of Tusk Trust, along with coaches and mentors from the world of international sport.

As part of its activities around the World Cup in Africa, Investec Asset Management’s support of this innovative programme is in conjunction with its broader support of Tusk Trust and its sponsorship of the Botswana Predator Conservation Trust.

Coaching for Conservation is the primary social development programme of the Botswana Predator Conservation Trust. The Programme uses an innovative football programme and sports curriculum to educate primary school children about the challenge of protecting wildlife and its habitat. Football is used as a mechanism to change children’s fundamental values about health, respect for themselves and respect for their environment.

Commenting on the sponsorship, Hendrik du Toit, CEO of Investec Asset Management, said: “As a global investment manager with African roots, we believe in investing in the future of the continent, its children and its environment. It is our privilege to be supporting Tusk and the Coaching for Conservation initiative which has garnered such strong support from its patrons.

“The message of a changing Africa is slowly reaching the developed world. As the World Cup focuses the eyes of the world on Africa, this initiative will spotlight how investment in the continent’s community, its people and its environment can all play their role in securing a positive and lasting legacy.”

Lesley Boggs, Director of Coaching for Conservation, BPCT, said: “We are extremely grateful to Tusk for their ongoing support and thrilled that Investec Asset Management is providing such invaluable sponsorship for our football camps this year. The link between sport, health and wildlife conservation is not always obvious, so we are delighted to be embraced by Investec’s innovative thinkers who clearly share our vision of a sustainable future for wildlife and wildlife habitats in Botswana and throughout Africa. We look forward to building on this dynamic partnership to further our collective goals of changing the way we approach conservation.”

www.investecassetmanagement.com

www.tusk.org

www.bpctrust.com

With the generous help of global corporate Unilever South Africa, Thokomala Orphan Care Organisation, established in 2002 and now boasting 20 care homes for HIV/AIDS orphans across the country, launched its first rural hamlet of homes today at iSiphezi, near Eshowe in northern KwaZulu-Natal.

The Thokomala CUNINA Community Homes were officially opened by Sophie Vangheel, Founder and President of Belgian NGO, CUNINA, which provided funding to the tune of approximately R4.5m for building the new houses, another R300,000 to furnish them and will pay operational costs until November 2011.

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After the devastating earthquake in Chile, Anglo American is pleased to announce the donation of US$10 million.
Following the devastating earthquake in Chile, Anglo American is pleased to announce the donation of US$10 million (equivalent to just over Ch$5 billion), which will be allocated to projects to rebuild houses and schools and implement emergency water and electricity services. The company will work with the Chilean government to formulate the aid and reconstruction plans.

Cynthia Carroll, Chief Executive of Anglo American, said: “This tragedy has affected a very important country and partner for Anglo American and we are absolutely committed to working closely with the government of Chile and its people.” John Mackenzie, CEO of the Chile-based copper business unit, said: “We are deeply committed to supporting those people affected by the earthquake. Our people on the ground are looking forward to working very closely with the country’s authorities so that this contribution can provide relief to the Chilean people.”

Miguel Ángel Durán, CEO of Anglo American Chile, said: “The donation by Anglo American will be specially allocated to providing emergency solutions and to funding the reconstruction of houses and schools, mainly in the Concepción and Talcahuano areas. These are some of the communities near the Group’s operations that have been affected by the earthquake.”

The company has already moved a fleet of 14 heavy duty vehicles to help in the earth moving works and supplied power generators and a water treatment unit to the areas most affected. Anglo American has been a major investor in Chile for the last 30 years and employs more than 10,000 people there in its copper operations and at Scaw Metals (Moly-Cop). Anglo American, its executives and employees express their deepest condolences to those families affected by this disaster.

Check out this auction from My Trade where you can win a 30 minute spin around Cape Town in a Lambo!

http://www.mytrade.co.za/auction-252551/Win_a_30min_drive_around_Cape_Town_in_a_Lamborghini_Gallardo_R1_No_reserve.html#bids

Bid it up! All money raised goes to Cotlands and Little Angels

For the third year in succession financial services group Old Mutual will be sponsoring the South Africa’s biggest selling, multi-award winning, Gospel sensation, Joyous Celebration. The sponsorship is enabling them to embark on their national five city tour starting from April.

Thandi Mosupye, Old Mutual Promotions and Marketing Manager says Old Mutual’s ongoing relationship with Joyous Celebration is important for two key reasons. “It plays a big role in promoting brand affinity and also gives us the opportunity to engage with our stakeholders,” she explains.

“We are also delighted to again be partnering with such a dynamic group that delivers positive messages to its fans – and helping one of South Africa’s finest acts reach as broad an audience as possible.”

A key component of the partnership is a strong community CSI focus on schools and hospices.  Old Mutual support schools with Name Boards, lap desks. This year the sponsorship will be providing much needed support to selected hospices and schools in the tour cities both in terms of time and supplies.

Old Mutual’s sponsorship of Joyous Celebration is part of a broader sponsorship bouquet that plays a key role in the financial services group’s commitment to social development and investing in South African talent.

In its Arts & Lifestyle portfolio, Old Mutual’s now three-year Joyous Celebration sponsorship is joined by the Old Mutual National Choir Festival (at 23 years, the oldest of its sponsorships), Old Mutual on the Square, Trophy Wine Show, Durban’s Music at the Lake, Old Mutual Encounters Summer Concerts at Johannesburg Botanical Gardens, Emmarentia Dam and the Kirstenbosch Summer Sunset Concerts.

Joyous Celebration vol. 14 will be released to coincide with the national tour.

I am not a big fan of Survivor but I cam across the: “Give me a chance Childrens Foundation” as it was the charity selected by pole-vaulter Okkert Brits as his charity of choice.

I checked out their website and was very impressed – it looks very professional and looks like it goes to a worthy cause:

The ‘Give Me a Chance’ Children’s foundation was started in October 2004 by Delarey and Sandie Brugman of Alluvia Specialist Winery and Guest House in an effort to make a tangible contribution to the future of a community. A community that can hopefully in years to come look back at this project as the turning point in their lives.

Ten learners from Kylemore Secondary were selected based on their academic and sporting abilities as well as attitude. According to principal De Vries, there has been an incredible transformation in these young beneficiaries and he applauded the learners for making the most of this incredible opportunity. The ‘Give Me a Chance’ Foundation works to help these children realise their dreams by raising funds for scholarship programmes as well as establishing a network of strong role models to mentor these children. Every cent received goes directly towards the children’s school and hostel fees, school clothing, books and sport equipment. Not only do the learners receive the necessary support to achieve on academic and sport levels, but they also have the chance to fulfill previously unreachable dreams.

“Research has shown that the development of a child from underprivileged status into a commercially active individual results in the betterment of at least 12 other people from his or her community,” says Brugman, who strongly believes that the future of any country depends on the holistic education of its youth. “People do not exist in isolation from their communities, which is why we decided to support the Kylemore community in the Banhoek Valley where we live. Although Kylemore has some of the poorest communities in our country, it is also home to a talented group of learners who dare to dream and are willing to work hard at achieving their goals”.

The trust hosts an annual charity fundraising event at Alluvia Specialist Winery and Guest House in aid of the children. In addition to this, Alluvia recently launched a limited edition 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon under the ‘Give Me a Chance’ label to provide a further financial boost for the trust. All proceeds generated by the sale of this incredible vintage will be donated to the Foundation.

The 2005 ‘Give Me a Chance’ Cabernet Sauvignon is available from Alluvia’s Wine Tasting facility. For more information visit www.alluvia.co.za

Victory Kids, was established in 2004 and is home to a group of children with a wide range of disabilities varying from severely disabled to moderately autistic. This non profit organisation is aiming to raise funds in order to settle the purchase of a hyperbaric oxygen therapy chamber and hopefully to purchase another.

This therapy, with some very positive preliminary global medical research for neurological disorders has also been widely recognized by the medical fraternity as delivering anecdotal benefits to many of the neurologically disabled children.  The therapy is administered in partnership with a pediatrician and general practitioner.

An amount of R200, 000 will settle the finance fees and enable the medium pressure hyperbaric oxygen therapy to be administered at a fraction of the cost to all children in the centre, some who are unable to afford the therapy at the moment. Purchasing of another unit will enable all children to be treated.

If you have a corporate social investment programme and want to make any donations towards this worthy cause, please note that a tax invoice will be issued for any donations made.

For further info/interest please contact :

Victory Kids: Janine Thetard on (c) 083 289 0023

victorykids@discoverymail.co.za

Or

Hyperbaric Chamber Operator: Emse du Plessis on (c) 0836090222

Your support will be truly appreciated

The centre is now a registered PBO (Public Benefit Organization No: 9320028541) and Non Profit Organization (NPO no 065595), which is widely recognized within the community of the Eastern Cape.

The leadership of the ISO Working Group on Social Responsibility (ISO/WG SR) is now analyzing the results of a positive vote on the Draft International Standard (DIS) version of ISO 26000, Guidance on social responsibility, before taking a decision on whether or not the document should now progress to the status of Final Draft International Standard (FDIS).

The vote, by national standards bodies (NSBs) which are members of ISO, closed on 14 February. More than two thirds of the ISO members participating in the development of ISO 26000 – known as “P-members” – voted in favour of moving the document to the FDIS stage, and less than one quarter of the total number of ISO member bodies (including members not participating in the ISO/WG SR) were against. These are the two numerical criteria laid down by the ISO/IEC Directives for consensus acceptance of a DIS.

However, before drawing final conclusions, the ISO/WG SR leadership will analyze the result further, including the comments received from ISO members and from organizations with liaison status to the working group. These liaison organizations are associations representing business, consumers or labour, and include both inter-governmental and non-governmental organizations. They do not have voting rights, but can participate in developing ISO 26000 and comment on the document.

The voting results and comments are being analyzed, and a final decision is expected end of February. 

If the decision is positive, the document will then be published with any modifications agreed on as an FDIS in the third or fourth quarter of 2010. The text of the FDIS cannot be prepared before the next meeting of the ISO/WG SR in Copenhagen, Denmark, in May 2010. The official target date for publication of ISO 26000 as an ISO International Standard is by the end of 2010, but the schedule is rather tight and it may be necessary to revisit this date at the Copenhagen meeting.

ISO 26000 will provide harmonized, globally relevant guidance based on international consensus among expert representatives of the main stakeholder groups and so encourage the implementation of best practice in social responsibility worldwide. The guidance in ISO 26000 draws on best practice developed by existing public and private sector SR initiatives.

The ISO/WG SR is made up of experts from ISO members (NSBs) and from liaison organizations. Membership is limited to a maximum of six experts per NSB and two experts per liaison organisation.  In total, the group comprises 436 participating experts and 195 observers from 94 ISO member countries and 42 liaison organizations.

■For more information on ISO 26000 and the ISO Working Group on Social Responsibility, see the dedicated Website: www.iso.org/sr.

Breadline Africa, a local charity that believes in giving a hand-up not a hand-out, wants to take you out to dinner with one of your favourite local celebs. All you need to do is to make a small, or big, donation towards alleviating poverty in Africa and you could win an evening out with Just Jinjer, Heinz Winckler, Sasha Martinengo or 94.7 Highveld Stereo’s Bailey Schneider.

The competition runs from 1 – 28 February 2010, and to enter simply donate to Breadline Africa via SMS (36010) or its website, www.breadlineafrica.org/celebs. The more you donate, the better your chances to win the prize. And don’t forget to choose which celeb you would like to meet if you win: you do this by including the correct code (JINJER, HEINZ, SASHA or BAILEY) if you enter by SMS, or checking the appropriate tick box if you enter online.

Four lucky winners will be whisked off for a fun-filled evening with a top SA celeb, or group of celebs, who are also doing their bit to eradicate poverty in Africa – for once and for all. Flights are included, and you’ll get an exclusive culinary experience with one of your favourite local celebrities! Breadline Africa is involved in a range of projects across Southern Africa, all aimed at helping communities become sustainable and enabling them to help themselves.

Most of the projects involve placing refurbished shipping containers in disadvantaged areas to be used as classrooms, soup kitchens, clinics, libraries or ablution blocks. “We are thrilled at the support we have received from these South African role models. The competition winners are guaranteed a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity – as well as changing lives through their donations to Breadline Africa,” said Marianna Boguslavsky, Online Marketing Manager, Breadline Africa.

MXit, the global mobile social networking and instant messenger, has joined forces with Breadline Africa to help generate support in the fight against poverty in Africa, by promoting the competition to its three-quarters of a million music lovers. The MXit Music community will be encouraged to open their hearts and SMS the short-code, adding their support to stop African poverty in its tracks – while having the opportunity to engage for an evening, with some of South Africa’s best music talent.

Look out for further competition details and information on MXit in February 2010.

How to enter:

1. By SMS: Simply SMS 36010 to donate R5 to Breadline Africa. Don’t forget to include one of the following keywords to indicate which celeb or band you would like to spend time with: JINJER, HEINZ, SASHA or BAILEY.
2. Visit www.breadlineafrica.org/celebs and enter your details. Remember to indicate which of the celebs you want to meet if you win. Visit the Breadline Africa site, www.breadlineafrica.org, for the competition rules. The website pages are planned to go live: mid-January 2010

About Breadline Africa:
Breadline Africa, www.breadlineafrica.org, is a Southern African charity that aims to break the cycle of poverty in Africa by helping people help themselves. It supports ground-level African charities that are helping the communities around them realise their full potential and to become self-sustainable. By raising funds in the UK, Ireland, the Netherlands and South Africa, it provides funding to projects throughout South Africa, as well as in neighbouring countries like Lesotho, Malawi, Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

Breadline Africa favours small, grassroots projects that have grown out of community support, are locally managed and have beneficiaries in their governing structures. The projects it supports target children and youth in terms of health and nutrition, educational support, and sports, arts and culture. Breadline Africa is a Section 21 Company duly registered in terms of the statutes of the Republic of South Africa with registration number 2006/015075/08, PBO number 930021936, TEG reference number EVZ 0037/10/06 and registered number 053406 NPO.

About MXit:
MXit is a global mobile instant messaging and social network that allows users to chat to one another on their mobile phones or pc anywhere in the world. It also allows users to send text messages to and from mobile phones and PCs using GPRS or 3G instead of using standard SMS technology, which is expensive. MXit delights its users by continuously unveiling social networking, entertainment, communication and lifestyle features that benefit and enrich their lives.

This commitment towards innovation is the cornerstone of its success. MXit is a new generation company that boasts more than over 18 million global users. It attracts more than 25 000 and 28 000 users per day. It is in constant evolution to match the needs of its users and is set on becoming one of the biggest instant messaging mobile networks in the world and the preferred mobile social network for communicating with young people in Africa, South East Asia, South America and the rest of the world. MXit first introduced mobile instant messaging to South Africa in 2003. It started as a mobile game developer and evolved into a mobile instant messaging company, allowing its users to send messages at a fraction of the cost of traditional SMS. To download MXit: Open your mobile browser, type in www.mxit.com/wap and simply follow the prompts.

Contact information:
Vanessa Clark
Twokats Communications
Ph: +27 82 335 1117

This week the South African blogosphere and media have been covering the story of a Cape businessman who apparently had a dream and woke up the next morning and decided to give away his R1.2m Audi R8 to two homeless guys.

I read somewhere else that the guy has also just decided to give away his house and is handing out his cash – its an absolutely amazing story

This quote from an interview really jumped out at me: ““if you can help others, you must give without wanting in return.”

Definately a story to be followed.

Apparently this book by Seb Hunter entitled – “How to be a better person” - is quite a good read.