Renowned international social activist Gra?a Machel with Kuseni Dlamini, CEO of Old Mutual South Africa and Emerging Markets, attended the Old Mutual Staff volunteerism awards dinner. Accompanying them is Anthony Petersen (left), Amos Hadebe (back left) and Dr Pandelani Mathoma from Old Mutual.
From left: Old Mutual Staff Volunteerism Award Winners pictured with their volunteer-in-chief: Neckson Shavhani (Most Extraordinary Provincial Management Board), Kirsten Dewar (Most Extraordinary Staff Volunteer Champion), Blessing Sibusiso Shelembe (Initiative most aligned with Corporate Social Investment focus), Andrew Abrahams (CEO's Annual Volunteerism Award), Kuseni Dlamini (volunteer in chief and CEO of Old Mutual South Africa and Emerging Markets), Chris Howarth and Rose Keanly (Most Extraordinary Business Unit)), Barbara Ferreira (Care & Share Team Award), Ezra Fredericks (Golden Round of Applause) and Richard Chauke (Most Extraordinary Manager).
They might spend their days behind desks, counters or in boardrooms, but they’re also willing to step out of their comfort-zones to meet the most pressing needs in their communities.
The 24 volunteers recognised at the Old Mutual Staff Volunteerism Awards in Johannesburg last Thursday, attended by renowned international social activist Graça Machel, have dedicated their own time, talent and energy in uplifting their local communities by actively involving themselves in volunteerism programmes managed by the Old Mutual Foundation.
Kuseni Dlamini, CEO of Old Mutual South Africa and Emerging Markets, lauded the efforts of the volunteers, “Volunteerism is a powerful tool for social development. Your efforts will go a very long way in helping to make South Africa a winning nation, free of poverty, hunger and ignorance.”
Dlamini added that we should not for a moment regard these efforts as an afterthought, where we do business first and then do good if we have time and money. “Doing well and doing good are inextricably linked. They’re also linked to the eight Millennium Development Goals that all 192 United Nations member states and at least 23 international organizations have undertaken to achieve by the year 2015.”
In her key-note address, Machel said as Africans we value one another and this is revealed in the way we relate. “Old Mutual Staff Volunteers are demonstrating this value through connecting with underprivileged communities by sharing the knowledge and skills they’ve gained. This on its own is wisdom.”
The comprehensive Staff Volunteerism comprises three programmes:
•The Staff Payroll Giving Programme: Employees contribute financially to two funds, the ‘Adopt an Orphan' Programme and the Staff Charity Fund. Through these two programmes, over R6 million has been raised by staff since inception in 2002 and matched rand-for-rand by the Old Mutual Foundation, making this the largest contribution by staff in any company in South Africa.
•The Care & Share Programme: Each staff member is given one day’s paid leave to engage in diverse volunteerism activities of their choice such as building houses with Habitat for Humanity, taking part in Mandela Day initiatives and Care & Share Community Engagement projects. Over 5 690 employees were actively involved in the programme last year also making it the largest staff volunteerism programme in the country.
•The Staff Community Builder Programme: Encourages Old Mutual employees who dedicate their time, energy and talents to play an active role in the development of their communities by providing financial support of up to R20 000 per project.
Since the inception of Old Mutual South Africa’s Staff Community Builder, Payroll Giving and Care & Share programmes, Old Mutual has collectively disbursed over R30 million to different community projects.
Dlamini concluded that apart from helping achieve social transformation and working towards the development of disadvantaged communities, the company also strives to make social investment an integral part of the working lives of all its employees.
Get the latest issue of FAnews