While these groups need governments to create environments in which there is safety, social and business support and fair economic conditions, established businesses in the private sector need to evaluate their role in nation-building and the upliftment of society and small- to medium-sized entrepreneurs.

Collaboration from the private sector might consist of donations, procurement of locally made products, the sharing of lessons learned, offering venues to host events, or even nurturing local talent with skills training. 

The benefit for those who offer their aid could be as simple as tax breaks for donations to public benefit organisations, but on a larger scale, the creation of societies that benefit the future of the areas they operate in. 

CSR Initiatives Promoting Sustainability

Many businesses and organisations have CSR initiatives in place that promote sustainability and ethical behaviour, but one of the most important ways a business can conduct themselves is through the support of local communities. When you have a platform big enough to make a difference, reaching out to local communities, empowering them and inspiring them, will not only help that community but will actively show that your business is intentional about bringing about change. 

Relate Bracelets, a 100% NPO supports this and has seen first-hand how a little support goes a long way economically, professionally and personally. Relate Bracelets has a partnership with women from vulnerable communities to bead bracelets for the organisation and all its aligned beneficiaries. This not only supports the community but also allows for personal empowerment and economic growth.

"Our partnership with social upliftment organisation, Ikamva Labantu is a treasured one," says Dalit Shekel, CEO of Relate Bracelets. 

For Radisson Blu Hotel Waterfront, its location along the aquatic biosphere that is the Western Cape's Atlantic Seaboard means that hotel staff and patrons are confronted daily with the reality of a need for wildlife and nature conservation. 

The hotel and its team are firm advocates for the well-being of the surrounding wildlife and make a concerted effort to play an active role in local outreach activities. For example, last year, the team adopted two penguins at the seabird rescue organisation SANCCOB.

"Hotels aren't just able to drive sustainability through their actions but can also help their guests participate in sustainability initiatives in the destinations they visit. I am proud of our team for not only being wonderful in their everyday roles but also for taking initiative and being good citizens of Cape Town," says Thom.

It is important to remember that sustainability is about more than just the environment. People and community play an important role too, and businesses should consider their role in contributing to the upliftment of their surroundings.

The Power of Community Upliftment 

With more than 50% of South African employers reporting that they are recruiting essential ICT skills overseas, it's clear that there is a massive demand for digital skills training in this country. The most in-demand expertise, and one of the most challenging to find locally, is within the software development field.

Zoho works with micro, small and medium enterprises to create digital literacy and provide critical skill development. Bourne says, "We need to future-proof children so that they are equipped to apply for jobs that require digital and development skills."

"With low-code platforms, for example, citizen developers can create complex and powerful business applications without requiring costly and lengthy training. Most low-code application development can be managed with users who only have moderate technical knowledge."

These are examples of how corporate South Africa has a responsibility to support and empower the local communities and local businesses it serves. 

Financial company, 10X for example is working to empower youth and disadvantaged communities' sports as part of its CSI programme. It has made significant donations to Paul Roos Gymnasium and Vusa Rugby and Learning Academy, resulting in new educational and sporting opportunities for young children in the Langa community in the Western Cape. Not only is this helping them to build their confidence and physical ability, but it's also teaching them important life lessons that can be applied to their lives. By giving these children access to meals, academic support, rugby (and all the discipline and life skills that come with that) and access to new recreational activities, they can develop the passion, skills, knowledge and motivation to become successful adults.

By empowering our youth and helping them to make smart educational and career decisions early in their lives businesses help kids to establish positive life outcomes. 

Helping Businesses Employ Work-Ready Youth

Effective CSR initiatives can significantly improve communities by providing access to education and skills development. These programmes not only empower individuals but also contribute to sustainable growth and economic development. 

When companies invest in the well-being and capabilities of the communities they operate in, it creates a positive cycle of improvement and fosters stronger relationships between the business and the public. By prioritising these initiatives, organisations can help pave the way for a brighter future for many individuals and, ultimately, create a more equitable society.

"We feel that it is our responsibility to contribute to education and skills development-focused CSR initiatives and hope to make a positive impact on our communities," says Riza Moosa, Managing Partner at CMS South Africa.

In June of this year, CMS identified learners in need of financial assistance to enable their participation in a debate competition. The competition aimed to ignite curiosity and passion for learning, public speaking and the law. After an exciting and intense day of competition, a matric learner Yolanda Nkosi — Ivory Park Secondary School — and a Grade 11 learner Sonke Msani — Bauhaus Academy — were selected as the worthy winners of bursaries to study for an LLB degree.

"When it comes to youth unemployment in South Africa, we need to rewrite the narrative that currently underpins the challenge because we don't have a jobs problem, we have a skills problem," says Fear.

"Empowering young people with the right digital skills, together with an agile approach to learning, is central to solving unemployment problems on the one hand and eliminating the need, on the other hand, for companies to import the digital skills they need in their organisations," adds Fear.

One of the many ways Salesforce is addressing this challenge is its partnership with The Collective X, a private sector-led initiative aimed at addressing the massive gap between the oversupply of digital jobs and the undersupply of people with the skills to fill them in South Africa. It's a collective effort to equip our country's youth with the digital skills needed to radically increase employment and make a meaningful contribution to the economy.

"Skills are acquired through experience and legitimate real-life work application. That is our challenge, in that most people do not have the relevant experience which talks about teaching important skills," Fear says.

Ultimately, support and upliftment of surrounding communities not only help your business grow but also allow for the growth of others. It is a win-win situation.

For more information, visit www.weareirvinepartners.com. You can also follow Irvine Partners on Facebook, LinkedIn, X, Instagram, or on TikTok. 

*Image courtesy of contributor