The Nedbank Foundation, the Nedbank Group’s primary corporate social investment arm, intends investing approximately R30million into needy communities and worthy projects across South Africa during 2011.
The funds will be channeled into the group’s core focus areas, namely; education, community development, economic development, staff and client volunteerism, an important value-add to CSI projects targeted by the foundation.
“Our main aim is to be a catalyst for upliftment in our communities with a major emphasis being placed on sustainability. We believe that it is essential to support projects which have a meaningful and long-lasting impact hence we carefully assess all potential projects before committing to them,” says Kone Gugushe, Head of Nedbank Foundation.
Unsurprisingly, education is the Nedbank Foundation’s key focus area this year, in line with the national agenda to provide access and enhance the quality of education across the board. The Nedbank Foundation will support no less than 21 projects nationally, including the: Nedbank Maths and Science Fundisa Programme( a programme that trains Maths and Science teachers and provides tutorial support to learners in Grade 10 and 11), Nedbank Matric Revision Programme (running Matric revision sessions for Grade 12 learners) the partnership with Trac South Africa and the Nedbank Mobile Laboratories Project (programmes that are aimed at providing access to Science Laboratory equipment in rural areas), and the Nedbank Edutainer Project,(providing Early Childhood Development (ECD) Education resources)
“The financial services sector is one of many sectors affected by the chronic shortage of skills and as a major player, it makes sense for us to pay special attention to education needs across the country. This will go a long way in ensuring that basic education institutions produce a superior quality of students,” adds Gugushe.
The Nedbank Foundation will also continue with Community Development programmes such as the Nedbank Winter Campaign (a project providing blankets to vulnerable groups across the country), various support programmes for people living with disabilities (e.g. Masibambane Home for the Disabled, National Institute for the Deaf) and support for vulnerable groups, (e.g. Johannesburg Child Welfare, Bloemfontein Child Welfare, a nutrition programme for the St Francis Hospice). Health, and particularly HIV / Aids also remains an area of focus, where the Nedbank Foundation supports efforts aimed at alleviating the plight of those living with HVI/AIDS. This is achieved through supporting initiatives such as the Regency Foundation, a donation for the phase one building of Isiphephelo home-based care facility, and support for Lebone Village which is a centre caring for children affected by HIV/Aids.
Volunteerism remains an important add-on to the Foundation’s drive and involves Nedbank Group staff and Nedbank clients around the country. Apart from volunteering in various projects, the Foundation estimates that Nedbank staff and clients will generate donations of over R2 million during 2011.
Volunteer programmes include Internal (staff) and External (clients) Local Hero initiatives – whereby the groups make donations to projects where its staff and clients are volunteering their services – a Team Challenge exercise and the Christmas Angel Tree
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