Sustainability >> Community Trust

The Alexander Forbes Community Trust was established to ensure that the broad-based, previously disadvantaged community of South Africa is positively impacted by Black Economic Empowerment.

As a team, the trustees are responsible for ensuring that monies are paid to worthy projects. A subcommittee has been set up whose responsibility is to ensure that suitable projects are identified and the ongoing sustainability of the projects supported.

The trust has specific focus areas which are aligned to the business of Alexander Forbes – women empowerment, education, HIV/Aids – those affected by the disease, the aged and the disabled.

It is a requirement of all projects to be transparent and they are visited from time to time by the trustees to ensure that money is being directed as intended.

Employees in the group are encouraged to participate in projects and where possible to provide relevant skills.

The amount released to the trust by the company for the year was R3 150 000.

The money is split up equally amongst the five focus areas. In addition, the trust donated an amount of R500 000 for the Chairlin Wildlife at the University of Pretoria, details of which can be found under the heading “Environment” in this report.

Projects assisted during the reporting period are:

Siyophumelela Simunye Association for the Disabled and Old Aged

This project is based in the informal settlement of Orange Farm, south of Johannesburg. The association of almost 200 aged and disabled within the community attend classes providing life skills and basic education, ie reading, writing, arithmetic and sewing. The trust has purchased containers to be used as classrooms, desks and chairs and is currently working with management of the project to develop financial management skills.

A number of old aged homes were found to be in disrepair, where the aged were required to sleep on the floor in unhygienic and sub-human conditions. The trust has assisted in ensuring that these homes are renovated and given equipment so that the aged in our community live in a dignified manner and in humane surroundings.

Katlehong Society for the Care of the Aged

Based in Katlehong, Gauteng, this old age home provides care to the aged and disabled. The home was in a state of disrepair, and the trust has assisted in improving the conditions for the elderly.

Ituro Care for the Aged

Based in Hammanskraal, Limpopo this centre accommodates and cares for aged people who have been abandoned and neglected. The trust has assisted in renovating the home.

Badiri Community Organisation

Based in Mabopane, Gauteng, this home for the aged has a 24-hour care facility. The trust has assisted by purchasing equipment to renovate the home.

Ekuphumleni Old Aged Home

Ekuphumleni is an old age home under the auspices of the Port Elizabeth Association for the Aged. It has 56 permanent residents who are dependent on Ekuphumleni for their wellbeing. The old age home also provides a 24-hour frail care facility for about 28 residents. The trust is contributing towards the renovation of the old age home.

QASA (“Quadriplegics Association of South Africa”)

The trust is sponsoring various initiatives for this association. We have continued our assistance of a commercial call centre which has been established and is managed by disabled people. A driver training programme for quadriplegics has been initiated – there are approximately 132 learners on the Amasondo Esibindi programme which will empower quadriplegics and hopefully help to make their lives a little easier.

Takalani Home for the Mentally Disabled

The trust supports a brick making project for disabled individuals in Soweto. The funds from the project are used to sustain the home and economically empower the beneficiaries of the project.

Siyazama Educare for Disabled Children

Based in the township of Khayelitsha in the Western Cape the trust assists a day-care centre for children with disabilities. Approximately 98 children are transported from their homes on a daily basis to the centre where they are exposed to a learning environment where they are separated into various groups depending on their disability.

Ikamva Labantu

This programme, focused on people infected by HIV/Aids and, based in Phillipi in the Western Cape, provides a home-based care programme which continues to grow. Approximately 40 home-based care workers in the community who are paid a stipend, care for more than 100 patients.

Mapetla Day-Care Centre

The project, based in Soweto, provides a day-care centre for children of hospice patients. The centre provides supervision, nourishment and a pre-school programme to the children of the patients of the Soweto Hospice, who due to ill health, are unable to care for them. More than 50 children benefit from the services provided by the centre.

Alexandra Children’s Haven

Based in Alexandra, the trust has enlisted the service of a social worker to ensure that orphans or abandoned children are able to get government grants. This is a difficult task as birth and death certificates are required in respect of parents who have either died or have abandoned these children. Meals are provided on a daily basis and children are given school uniforms. In the afternoons the children receive assistance with homework.

Alexandra Food Garden

This programme is an income generating project to financially empower a group of women in Alexandra. Due to the lack of progress on this project, the trust has enlisted the assistance of MaAfrika Tikkun, who support a similar project in Orange Farm.

Zizanani Women’s Sewing Project

Based in the informal settlement of Diepsloot in Gauteng, the trust supports the development of a sewing project for women in the area. In addition to producing school uniforms, these creative women are involved in selling their products at formal markets. The programme also teaches basic financial management.

Education bursaries

Bursaries are being paid in respect of 16 students who are studying through various universities in South Africa. The students are studying towards actuarial science or risk management degrees. A vacation programme is currently being developed so that these students can get practical experience in the workplace. The trust expects these students, who are of the highest calibre, to complete their degrees and permanently work for Alexander Forbes.

Maths project

The trust continues to fund maths centres at nine schools around the country benefiting approximately 2 000 learners.

Penreach Trust

Penreach is an in-service training programme for teachers, school principals and school governing bodies. Skills development workshops are held regularly for approximately 3 500 teachers in the Mpumalanga region.

CIDA Campus

Employees of Investment Solutions are involved in lecturing to students at CIDA Campus. The university targets previously disadvantaged individuals who do not have the financial means to further their education at a tertiary level. Lectures are provided in topics ranging from “introduction to investments” to “managing investment portfolios”. Investment Solutions has also hired employees who have successfully completed their degrees at CIDA Campus.