Download - October 2011
October 2011
VOSESA ConferenceSizwe Nxasana
• The value of volunteerism
• Service a growing phenomenon
• The regional agenda
• The role of government
• The role of business
VOSESA CONFERENCE2
• The opportunity for people to make a contribution
• Linkage back to volunteers’ own society
• Commitment and solidarity
– willingness to work for reduced salary and conditions - an expression of partnership
• Skills transfer
– diversity of skills brought by volunteers builds social capital
• Confidence building
• Encourages social inclusion and integration
– Contributes to a stable and cohesive society
• Volunteers bringing an outsiders perspective, independence and contacts
• Volunteering has a role to play in promoting employment by enhancing the employability of the unemployed
The Value of Volunteerism3
Imagine how many needs would go unanswered without volunteers....
• Our cultural beliefs and practices
encourage collective responsibility,
community support systems and
collaboration.
• Environments of social and political
unrest, economic instability and poverty
have fostered this culture.
• In Africa, typically servers are poor and
vulnerable themselves.
• Volunteering dominated by women who
are regarded as the caregivers and
anchors in their communities.
Volunteerism and Service in our Culture4
Service has historically deep cultural roots in Africa
Service a growing phenomenon in the country5
Voluntary associations are usually coupled with Community Based
Organisations (CBOs) as they are traditionally
informal types of organisations that are rooted in communities
they serve.
Source : 2010/11 State Of South African Registered Nonprofit Organisations, Department Of Social Development, April 2011
Social Services include – services for the handicapped,
elderly, youth, child welfare, family services, self help and other personal
social services
Social service/volunteer organisations in a position to shape development
• SADC countries have adopted the Millennium
Development Goals (MDGs) - however the region is
faced with many challenges in achieving these goals.
• Achieving the MDGs will require the resourcefulness
and creativity of millions of ordinary people through
voluntary action.
• Government programmes typically have scarce
resources and manpower.
• Government efforts will be dependent on involvement
of communities and volunteer organisations.
Volunteering as a national and regional agenda
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Social service/volunteer organisations in a position to shape development
MDG 1: Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger
MDG 2: Achieve universal primary education
MDG 3: Promote gender equality & empower women
MDG 4: Reduce child mortality
MDG 5: Improve maternal health
MDG 6: Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases
MDG 7: Ensure environmental sustainability
MDG 8: Develop a global partnership for development
• Volunteer Organisations’ main role is to service the needs of
people and can assist government in achieving their social
development goals because :
– they are largely concentrated in areas of service delivery at local level, to
address immediate needs
– they are located much closer to the needs of the people than government
needs of poor communities
– they are able to create a sense of community that government agencies
cannot
– they enjoy comparative advantage in service delivery due to their more
consultative approach, a focus on community empowerment, and ability to
respond more directly and immediately than government to community
needs.
– they serve those in greatest need.
Volunteering and community engagement empower people to change the world from the grassroots up, especially when enabled by strong partnerships at every level.
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Partnership with Government
• Establish an enabling environment for volunteer organisations
– legal and policy
• Develop overall integrated strategies for promoting volunteering in partnership
with volunteer societies
• Raise public awareness about the value of volunteering
• Promoting youth volunteering
– high unemployment rate amongst the youth – volunteering helps the youth acquire
skills and keeps them busy
• Promoting private sector support
– Tax and other incentives
• Regional and International support
– Facilitate regional and international collaboration
8
The Role of Governmentvolunteering is much more visible on the agenda of international organisations,
governments and civil society organisations
• A business is a community of people with a purpose
• Business must set the pace in areas such as:
Human Rights
- Transformation
- HIV/AIDS
- Education
- Skills development
- Occupational Health and Safety
“The business of business is not only business”
The Role of BusinessCapitalism with a human face
• FirstRand invested more than R700m in social development
since 1998
• Driven by social development imperatives not business
pressures
• Programmatic approach
– large multi-year grants
– focus on specific areas for maximum impact
– aligned to national policies
• Monitoring and Evaluation
• Benefits
– stronger relationships, greater impact, sustainability, more than
money
The FirstRand Foundation and Philosophy 10
Given the challenges faced by South African society, FirstRand’s strategy is not about marketing or publicity, it is about ensuring
change for those who need it most.
Sectors we support
• Education: Maths education, early childhood development and the provision of bursaries to financially disadvantaged learners;
• HIV/Aids: The hospice sector offer palliative care to those predominately affected by the HIV/Aids pandemic;
• Agricultural livelihood interventions: Financial support goes towards sustainable initiatives focused on food security projects;
• Arts, culture and heritage: Supporting the enhancement of South African cultural activities, especially music, dance and the preservation of our heritage;
• Environment: Conservation initiatives and environmental awareness programmes are supported; and
• Community care: Promoting safer communities, supporting victims of gender-based violence and protecting vulnerable children.
Vital Statistics
Grant making of R66 million
in 2010/2011
Projected availability +- R95
million in 2011/2012
50% in education
10 programmes
174 initiatives supported
Average grant is R380 000
The FirstRand Foundation and Philosophy11
• We can all make a difference to humanity
• High levels of youth unemployment, volunteering can help channel energies of the youth
• We need more social cohesion to promote peace, stability and growth.
CONCLUSION12