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