IBM rolls up its sleeves for CSR

By Bontle Moeng for IBM
Johannesburg, 14 Dec 2005

IBM SA employees spent the day with children at the Phomolong Child Care Centre in Tembisa this week as part of the company`s On Demand Community Service project and donated R100 000 towards the upliftment of the centre.

On Demand Community Service is a worldwide IBM initiative, which encourages its employees to volunteer time for community service. IBM workers who register their community service hours on the On Demand Community Web site earn points, which are converted into specific community project material support from IBM.

IBM has installed a R30 000 KidSmart computer unit at the centre to introduce the children to computer technology. So far, 600 KidSmart units have been rolled-out in primary schools countrywide as part of the company`s R10 million investment. The Phomolong centre caters for 26 HIV-infected children, between the ages of three and seven, and is a subsidiary of the Tembisa Child Welfare Centre. The Tembisa Child Welfare Centre caters for 90 children and has operated in the community for 18 years.

About 40 IBM workers prepared lunch for the children and showered them with gifts including clothing, food parcels, toiletries and bedding materials.

The IBM executive team felt strongly about doing something for the HIV pandemic and started raising money from individuals within the company, said Mark Harris, IBM SA country GM.

"I am thankful for the IBM team for taking their time to help the community. The employees decided to present themselves rather than material products. People can only do this kind of job if they are passionate about it and I credit the staff at Phomolong for the job that they do," he said.

Harris hopes the event will have a sustainable impact, instead of making small gestures and leaving at the end of the day.

"We choose this centre as we realise how these children are growing under challenging circumstances. We are here to make sure the children get the same opportunities as other children," said Dudu Nyamane, IBM SA human resource director.

"The centre was once based in two railway containers before moving into a brick centre. It is through corporations that the centre continues to strive to meet the need of the community," said Wilhemina Bodibe, the director of Tembisa Child Welfare and Phomolong Child Care Centre.

The centre also runs an adoption centre and Bodibe appeals to individuals and corporations to "adopt-a-child" to support at the centre, as this would ensure that there are enough resources to cater for the children.

IBM staff members have also raised R60 000 in cash and collected food and clothes for charities in Johannesburg, Cape Town and Durban. The charities that benefited from the funds included the World Wildlife Fund, CHOC Childhood Cancer Foundation, the Animal Anti-Cruelty League, and Street Children as well as Old Age People from Metropolitan Evangelical Services.