Giving back to the community is not only the right thing to do, but in South Africa, it is desperately needed. Just like anything in business, if an investment of time and effort is to be effective, it must be done properly.
This is exactly the approach Space Age Technologies has taken with its CSI (community social investment) commitments. The goals, strategy and execution have been approached with the sort of passion and attention to detail the company is already renowned for in the IT industry.
The results speak for themselves. One of the company's programmes, called 'SATlings', identifies five learners each year from a local school in a disadvantaged community, who are nurtured from Grade 8 to matric, with the aim of ensuring they achieve a university entrance pass mark at the end of their schooling.
The programme is now in its third year, and, to date, all SATlings have not only consistently increased their marks, but they are also becoming a group others aspire to follow - setting a shining example in circumstances that otherwise are littered with too many distractions of the wrong kind.
The SATlings programme has proven the concept is effective. “We want to provide this opportunity for many more learners at the school, but we have reached the limit of what our small 60-person company can fund on its own,” programme manager Asmaa' Sayed states. “For this reason, right from the start, we set it up to involve other companies with a similar genuine desire to make a difference in the lives of people from disadvantaged communities.
“SATlings can easily scale well beyond what Space Age can fund - the model is built to provide a way for other companies to spend their CSI commitment effectively,” continues Sayed. “We have set up an NPO, Solid Foundations, as the umbrella for all our CSI programmes, and so investments from other companies are not linked to Space Age. We also provide them with the information needed to claim back CSI points for their BEE scorecards.”
This is a true win-win. A platform is made available to any interested company to spend their CSI money effectively and receive the BEE recognition they require. By incorporating partners, the impact of the programme is amplified - ensuring a much larger overall benefit than would be the case with multiple, smaller projects.
Hermann Rocher, ex teacher and SATlings Academic Manager, works full-time with the SATlings learners, monitoring their progress and continually ensuring the programme is achieving its objectives. With intensive attention to Maths and English literacy, combined with a caring emotional development aspect, SATlings is an extremely holistic development programme.
Sample learner: Nielin Baartman
* Joined SATlings in 2009 as Grade 8 learner, and was positioned 20th in grade
* Scored an average of 61% in Grade 8
* Has moved up to second position in Grade 10
* Scored an average above 90% this year, and achieved 99% for Maths in the June 2011 exams
* Was invited by a local (Stellenbosch) auditing firm to apply for a bursary based on his current results
Companies wanting to be a part of this successful CSI work should contact the CSI Programme Manager, Asmaa' Sayed, at Space Age Technologies: +27 (0) 21 887 7292. Updates from the NPO, Solid Foundations, may be followed on Twitter @ SATlings.
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Space Age Technologies
Space Age Technologies is the largest IT service provider focusing on the small and medium business in the greater Cape Town region. Having been in the IT business since 1994, the company boasts unique levels of know-how and skill. With a workforce of 60-odd employees, many of whom are technical, there are multiple levels of redundancy and escalation paths. Space Age is excellent at building relationships, as well as providing IT solutions that are relevant to the different needs of each and every customer's business.
Space Age Technologies
1st Floor, Block B
De Wagenweg Office Park
Stellentia Street
Stellenbosch
7600
Web: www.spaceage.co.za
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