Mzansi’s millennial leaders celebrated and empowered at the Old Mutual Tomorrow’s Leaders Convention 2016
Caption: Taking Ownership Panel Discussion. From left to right: Given Mkhari (Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of MSG Afrika Group), Zenith Tsengwa (Group Chief Executive of Permapart Investments Holding (Pty) Ltd), Max Hussman (CEO of Elegance Group), Nicholas Bell (CEO of Decision Inc.), Ran Neu-Ner (Co-CEO of The Creative Council) and Stephen Manzini (Founder of Soweto Fashion).
Top South African leaders were brought together at one of the biggest leadership celebrations, the Old Mutual Tomorrow’s Leaders Convention (OMTLC) 2016, that took place last week Friday, 11 March 2016 at Emperor’s Palace, Johannesburg. Over 800 attendees were kept entertained, informed and challenged to think outside of the box by a host of well renowned and influential speakers. The purpose of the event was for millennial leaders to learn, network and build long-lasting relationships across sectors.
In his opening keynote address at the Old Mutual Tomorrow’s Leaders Convention (OMTLC), Jeff Radebe, Minister in the Presidency mentioned that investing in leadership is just as important today as it was when the Tomorrow’s Leaders Convention started nine years ago. The speakers that followed concurred: investing in young leadership is key in developing a successful future for South Africa.
The jam-packed programme focused on various leadership topics ranging from self-development to social media and its influence, and other leadership affairs. During breaks, the delegates took advantage of what the master of ceremonies, Jeremy Maggs called “the biggest networking opportunity this year”. The networking that took place was as important as the advice and guidance given by the speakers.
During one of the five panel discussions, speakers discussed the role of women in business today. This discussion included top executives such as Max Hussman, CEO of Elegance Group and Ran Neu Ner, Co-CEO of The Creative Council. They asserted that the emotional and empathetic side of the female psyche, often perceived as a weakness, is actually a characterising strength that is increasingly contributing to the success of organisations.
Another thought provoking topic that surfaced at the event was the perseverance and motivation that drives young leaders to become successful. The ultimate highlight of OMTLC 2016 was the Inspirational Under 30 Leaders Panel that comprised of incredible jetsetters such as Bonolo Mataboge, Founder of Afriblossom; Sandile Shezi, Founder of Global Forex Institute; and Bheki Kuneni, Mind Matrix Media Founder. These young and hip speakers shared some of their personal stories and challenges, from major surgeries to starting out by selling peanuts. They overcame hardships and it continues to push them forward. “It’s a mind-set thing,” says Mataboge. “I always tell people not to let their struggle become their identity. If you think of your struggle as the worst thing that could happen to you, it’s always going to hold you back,” she adds.
“This year was one of our best conventions yet! The high calibre speakers and fantastic networking opportunities made for an extremely exciting day. Platforms such as these, where dynamic young leaders can be celebrated, are of the utmost importance for the future of South Africa and the success stories are many. We look forward to following the successes of these young leaders and look forward to welcoming them back at the next Convention in 2017,” says Beverley Stone, event coordinator for the OMTLC.
For those who were unable to be a part of this year’s event, nominations for next year will be open soon. To find out more about the Old Mutual Tomorrow’s Leaders Convention 2017 visit http://tomorrowsleaders.co.za or contact Beverley Stone | +27 (0)21 681 7000 | beverley@capemedia.co.za. Join the Tomorrow’s Leaders discussion on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/TomorrowsLeadersConvention.
NCVT celebrates Human Rights Day in Diepsloot
In commemoration of the upcoming national holiday on 21 March 2016 - Human Rights Day, the National Children and Violence Trust (NCVT) gathered with the community of Diepsloot yesterday, 16 March 2016 at St Mungos Church in Extension 4 to celebrate women’s and children’s rights. The purpose of the event was to educate the community on what basic human rights are and how they can be infringed. Speakers included representatives from the legal fraternity and community leaders.
NCVT, a non-profit organisation that works within the community of Diepsloot and its surrounding areas, hosted over 80 community members at their annual Human Rights Day Dialogue. The campaign was aimed at encouraging a healthy society free from violence and was used as a platform to discuss how to eradicate oppression. The programme kicked off with social workers sharing why they thought human rights are important. A discussion on what is considered to be an infringement of one’s human rights followed. Social workers attended the event to assist community members and resolve reported cases throughout the day. Members of the South African Police Services (SAPS) listened to community members talk about their experiences with the SAPS when reporting abuse. Together, they discussed how best the police can support the community in future. The NCVT choir also kept guests entertained throughout the programme.
Lindsay Henson, a lawyer from a non-profit organisation called Lawyers Against Abuse (located in Diepsloot Extension 2 – next to the fire station), talked about the different types of human rights and how the constitutional law protects the victim. Lawyers Against Abuse assists victims follow-up on cases and also helps victims complete protection order forms for free. Their main focus is assisting with domestic violence, sexual abuse and some criminal cases around Diepsloot. Henson encouraged attendees not only to report cases, but to attend weekly counselling sessions held by Lawyers Against Abuse affiliates as well. This, in an effort to help victims stabilise emotionally and heal from the trauma they may carry. Lawyers Against Abuse is NCVT’s partner in dealing with cases of human rights violation in Diepsloot.
“We are pleased with the outcome of the event – it shows that the Diepsloot community take their basic human rights seriously. It is so wonderful to see how the community members are empowered with the right information; we believe it will help them in practical ways to live safe lives where they can stand up for their human rights,” shares Judith Mthombeni, Senior Social Worker at NCVT. “We wish each South African citizen a safe, informative and empowering Human Rights Day,” concludes Mthombeni.
NCVT supports vulnerable groups such as abused and violated women and children; the unemployed and people infected by the human immunodeficiency virus and acquired immune deficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS). To make donations or volunteer towards these causes, members of the community can contact ncvtprojects@iafrica.com | +27 11 705-1960 | +27 11 467 4936. For more about NCVT, please visit www.ncvt.co.za.
Caption: One-on-one session between Diepsloot community member (left) and NCVT Senior Social Worker, Judith Mthombeni (right).
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Released by Reputation Matters
Media contact:
Morongoa Mohloba
Mobile: 081 411 6089
Email: morongoa@reputationmatters.co.za
About The National Children and Violence Trust [NPO Number: 008-861-NPO]
The National Children and Violence Trust (NCVT) is a non-profit organisation that supports women and children who have been abused; people who are unemployed and those living with HIV. The NCVT works with youth (in and out of school), women and families affected by violence and HIV/AIDS in some of the most impoverished informal settlements and farming areas in Gauteng. These include areas subject to high incidences of violence and trauma such as: Diepsloot, Loss MyCherry, Riverband, Lanseria, Musawawa, Thabo Mbeki, Nooitgedacht, Zandspruit, Itsoseng and the new settlement of Cosmo City.
Human Rights Day celebration in Diepsloot
The National Children and Violence Trust (NCVT) invites you to join us as we celebrate Human Rights Day with the community of Diepsloot on Wednesday, 16 March 2016. Proceedings will take place at St Mungos Church from 10:00 – 14:00.
NCVT is a non-profit organisation that works within the community of Diepsloot and its surrounding areas. The organisation supports vulnerable groups such as abused and violated women and children; the unemployed and people infected by human immunodeficiency virus infection and acquired immune deficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS). On 16 March 2016, NCVT will be celebrating women’s and children’s rights in commemoration of the upcoming national holiday on 21 March 2016 - Human Rights Day.
The programme will include discussions about what human rights are and how they can be infringed. The campaign aims to encourage a violence free and healthy society and discuss / give advice as to how to eradicate oppression. Lunch and soft drinks will be served at the end of the day.
“Our main aim for the day is to educate people on what their basic human rights are,” shares Judith Mthombeni, Senior Social Worker at NCVT. “Our social workers will be actively involved in assisting community members and resolving reported cases throughout the day,” concludes Mthombeni.
To make donations or volunteer towards these causes, members of the community can contact ncvtprojects@iafrica.com | +27 11 705-1960 | 079 390 1775. For more about NCVT, please visit www.ncvt.co.za.
For media enquiries and to RSVP, please contact Morongoa Mohloba on 081 411 6089 or morongoa@reputationmatters.co.za.
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Released by Reputation Matters
Media contact:
Morongoa Mohloba
Mobile Number: 081 411 6089
morongoa@reputationmatters.co.za
About The National Children and Violence Trust [NPO Number: 008-861-NPO]
The National Children and Violence Trust (NCVT) is a non-profit organisation that supports women and children who have been abused; people who are unemployed and those living with HIV. The NCVT works with youth (in and out of school), women and families affected by violence and HIV/AIDS in some of the most impoverished informal settlements and farming areas in Gauteng. These include areas subject to high incidences of violence and trauma such as: Diepsloot, Los My Cherry, Riverband, Lanseria, Musawawa, Thabo Mbeki, Nooitgedacht, Zandspruit, Itsoseng and the new settlement of Cosmo City.
The Future of Journalism in South Africa
The ECCO International Communication Network conducted an international survey last year to determine the role of journalists within the current changing media landscape. Reputation Matters, the South African member of the ECCO network, asked South African journalists for their viewpoint on the future of journalism in the country.
The rapid pace of technological innovation is the driving force behind the ever evolving media landscape, especially following the rise of the Internet. The 2015 international ECCO survey explored the effect of this technological change on media and what journalists believe the future will look like.
Reputation Matters assisted ECCO in conducting the survey by asking over 200 South African media industry professionals their opinion on the matter. The survey was targeted mainly at editors, freelancers or writers and heads of departments at South African media outlets. The opinions of additional respondents such as publication owners, content managers, producers, radio hosts, programme managers and social media managers were also included in the study.
The study indicates that the changing media landscape contributes toward an increased workload for journalists, more budget cuts, lower job security within the industry and less time available to conduct research. Daily and weekly newspapers are expected to decline strongly, while tabloids and magazines share a similar fate. Despite the constant change, traditional television and radio should remain stable. In contrast to the other media platforms, 83% of the respondents expect a dramatic increase in the use of online platforms (blogs, social media, news portals and Internet broadcast media).
With the resulting decrease in print media sales, media professionals expect revenue to come from online subscriptions and advertising, as well as sponsorship. Respondents showed little confidence in paywalls (pay-per-article), crowdfunding or public funding revenue models. To address the financial issue, some media professionals suggested that media houses should diversify their product offering (to support the new digital generation) or generate income streams internationally. Collaboration is a suggested solution by offering consumers bundled subscriptions to various media outlets.
“We see that most media professionals agree that turning to blogging is an option as many already have blogs, but they are not convinced that it would be a viable or sustainable income stream – readers would not want to pay for content when so much is already free online,” says Regine le Roux, Managing Director of Reputation Matters. “It also takes time to establish a blog and for its popularity to grow,” adds le Roux.
Several media professionals indicated that they are concerned about the standard of journalism and dropping levels of credibility as anyone and everyone becomes an expert “journalist” – one respondent went as far as to say that “the blogspace is crowded with morons.”
“The study shows that the media still value Public Relations agencies and the news tips and press releases that they offer. Just over half of the respondents (52.3%) indicated that the role of Public Relations (PR) agencies have become a lot more important over the last five years. With that said, 71% of the respondents indicated that they still rely a lot more on personal contacts and that one-on-one engagement has grown in importance,” says le Roux.
Most of the respondents write for both online and print media and branch into radio and television, podcasts, newsletters, social media, blogs and quarterly print editions of online content etc. Some commented that one can no longer view newspapers and magazines as a print medium with online content but rather that it is the other way around.
The advent of social media has changed the media landscape to a great extent because of its immediacy. Anyone using social media becomes a daily ‘news’ reporter. Because of this, publishing houses will need to investigate different business models, even different types of reporting, to adapt to the online market.
“It is obvious that the online space presents not only challenges to traditional print media, but also great opportunities. The media that adapts the best in terms of its business model and product offering will be the ones that thrive,” says le Roux.
For more information about Reputation Matters contact 011 317 3861 (Johannesburg) or 021 790 0208 (Cape Town) or visit www.reputationmatters.co.za. Join the Reputation Matters Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/yourreputationmatters or follow us on Twitter at @ReputationIsKey.
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Released by Reputation Matters
Media contact:
Morongoa Mohloba
Mobile: 081 411 6089
Email: morongoa@reputationmatters.co.za
The National Children and Violence Trust spreads hope in 2016
The National Children and Violence Trust (NCVT) aims to spread hope this year by extending its social workers’ hours and uplifting vulnerable communities in Gauteng in need of support. NCVT operates in areas subject to high incidences of violence and trauma such as: Diepsloot, Loss My Cherry, Riverband, Lanseria, Musawawa, Thabo Mbeki, Nooitgedacht, Zandspruit, Itsoseng and the new settlement of Cosmo City. Community members will be happy to know that the NCVT social workers will now be available from 08:00 to 16:30 to help alleviate unforeseen case backlogs and offer further support to vulnerable groups.
The NCVT is a non-profit organisation that supports women and children who have been abused; people who are unemployed; and those living with human immunodeficiency virus and acquired immune deficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) in some of the most impoverished informal settlements and farming areas in Gauteng. These families are faced with daily challenges and have very little hope that help is on the way; NCVT encourages them to boldly seek help immediately.
Senior Social worker at the NCVT, Judith Mthombeni, says that if you are unemployed; a victim of violence or abuse; or infected or affected by HIV/AIDS, here are some of the ways you may benefit from the work NCVT does:
Psycho-social and trauma management programme
NCVT offers counselling and trauma management within its operating communities and empowers victims of abuse through socially engaging activities. Family therapy sessions, psycho-educational assessments and generic social work services are also part of the NCVT’s psycho-social and trauma management programme.
Access to justice and a court support programme
Having access to the justice system and to basic social services is a constitutional right to all. It is important for individuals and their families to know about their rights when seeking justice. The NCVT accompanies vulnerable children and women to court to ensure they receive fair treatment without fear of being further victimised.
School wellness programme
The Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, which is the highest law in the country, says that the child’s best interests must be considered in every decision made about the child.* “We run school wellness programmes where we engage with children through dialogue and help raise awareness, about children’s rights and responsibilities, child abuse and domestic violence,” shares Mthombeni. Children spend a large portion of each day of their formative years in school, the adults in these environments have a duty to care for and protect the children entrusted in their care. “Most victims don’t realise that they are being abused until someone explains what abuse is, and the different ways in which children can be abused. The more people know, the better equipped they are to make informed choices and speak out,” says Mthombeni.
Capacity building for stakeholders
The NCVT boasts a team of five qualified social workers who form part of the South African Council for Social Service Professions (SACSSP). This team is supported by an additional eight auxiliary social workers. These social workers assist in training frontline care workers in victim empowerment and trauma management. “We also provide basic counselling to our stakeholders to help them manage similar trauma or abuse cases that they may encounter,” concludes Mthombeni.
For more information about NCVT and to find your closest NCVT social worker, visit www.ncvt.co.za or contact +27 11 705-1960 | 079 390 1775. To make donations or volunteer towards the work NCVT does, contact ncvtprojects@iafrica.com.
*http://www.justice.gov.za/vg/cj/2010_cj_booklet_a6.pdf
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Released by Reputation Matters
Media contact:
Morongoa Mohloba
Mobile Number: 081 411 6089
morongoa@reputationmattersco.za
About The National Children and Violence Trust [NPO Number: 008-861-NPO]
The National Children and Violence Trust (NCVT) is a non-profit organisation that supports women and children who have been abused; people who are unemployed and those living with HIV.The NCVT works with youth (in and out of school), women and families affected by violence and HIV/AIDS in some of the most impoverished informal settlements and farming areas in Gauteng. These include areas subject to high incidences of violence and trauma such as: Diepsloot, Loss My Cherry, Riverband, Lanseria, Musawawa, Thabo Mbeki, Nooitgedacht, Zandspruit, Itsoseng and the new settlement of Cosmo City.
Adieu AVE, we have moved on
Has your media outputs been as impactful as you had hoped it would be this year? How are you keeping track of your media coverage? As you strategise and plan for 2016, why not use this time to invest in understanding this year’s media outputs and see what can be changed to take it to the next level next year.
One of the many challenges faced by the public relations (PR) and communication industry is showing the value of all the communication efforts to the powers that be. It can be quite tricky to illustrate the return on investment because it is very seldom possible to say that a specific article or radio interview generated a certain number of sales. The overall media exposure works towards building a solid reputation, which takes time. Assuming you are strategic, with a carefully sculpted message sent through to key media, which you know will speak directly to your target audience, how do you measure the value of that article?
For years communication professionals have used what is known in the industry as the Advertising Value Equivalent (AVE). What this means is that the size or length of the article or interview is measured and the equivalent advertising value is calculated. For example, your company is mentioned in a newspaper article, the AVE is the amount you would have had to pay to advertise in that space. Many PR professionals show this AVE as the value they have generated in their monthly client reports.
Unfortunately this is not a very reliable way to communicate media outputs. It is purely a quantitative metric. It provides no insight into the quality of content and whether an organisation’s key messages were communicated. “As part of the ECCO International Communication network, we are seeing more and more of our international colleagues totally doing away with AVE measurements because it is not a credible way to illustrate media value created,” says Regine le Roux, Managing Director of reputation management and research agency, Reputation Matters.
“Understanding the quality of media coverage, be it online, print or broadcast portrays a very different picture than the mere AVE value. It gives an organisation insight into what messages the target audiences receive and enables communication teams to adjust and improve their business’ communication strategies,” explains le Roux.
“Our core focus at Reputation Matters is to provide reputation research support for the PR and communication industry, and we have developed a media analysis support service using the Barcelona Principles* as a base,” adds le Roux. These principles are a set of seven guidelines for measuring and evaluating communication; established and supported by the PR industry. The principles were agreed upon in 2010 and were updated this year to the Barcelona Principles 2.0 in Stockholm at a conference arranged by the International Association for the Measurement and Evaluation of Communication (AMEC) and its partners.
The updated principles state that the measurement of media resulting from PR initiatives, overall clip counts and general impressions are generally meaningless. The principles underline that AVEs do not measure the value of PR and do not inform future activity; they measure the cost of media space or time and are rejected as a concept to value communication, media content, earned media and PR.
Instead, media measurement, whether in traditional or online channels, should account for impressions among the stakeholder or target audience; quality of the media coverage, including tone, credibility and relevance of the medium to the stakeholders; message delivery; inclusion of a third party or company spokesperson; importance as relevant to the medium; and sentiment, be it negative, positive or neutral.
“The new guidelines afford the industry and profession the opportunity to be more comparable than ever before. It allows us to use the same units of measurement across media types including basic qualitative measurement units and ultimately shift thinking from perception to reputation,” says le Roux. “This evolution brings about new rules of engagement by providing an innovative framework to the measurement landscape,” she adds.
For more information on Reputation Matters and their in-depth media quality analysis, please visit www.reputationmatters.co.za or call 021 790 0208. Reputation Matters is also on Facebook www.facebook.com/yourreputationmatters and Twitter @ReputationIsKey.
* http://amecorg.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/Barcelona-Principles-2.pdf
Youth of Cosmo City share their challenges with Deputy Minister and community councillor
In keeping with this year’s theme for the campaign, ‘Count me in’, the NCVT Youth Choir welcomed guests with their melodic voices and sang celebratory songs to symbolise how important each community members’ involvement within their community is.
Deputy Minister of the Department of Telecommunications and Postal Services, and founder of NCVT, Professor Hlengiwe Mkhize joined the discussion and shared the grave social effects that abuse and violence has on the community, especially if it is unreported.
SAPS Warrant Officer Ramalatso of Social Crime Prevention, added concerns about the large number of withdrawn cases at the local police station, especially domestic violence related ones, and encouraged community members to join the movement in fighting against crime. “It’s a challenge and very frustrating for officials to see cases through when victims of abuse retract their statements or close the case reported due to it being doubtful or mending their relationships with their partners,” he shared. “We do everything in our power to keep witnesses safe and ensure that the process is conducted efficiently to keep them safe,” he explained. Ramalatso went on to advise the community to be more vigilant and safe during the festive season as violence and crime rates increase during this time.
“The law should protect women and children against violent crimes so that they don’t lose their femininity and dignity,” said Mkhize as attendees observed a moment of silence for the women who have lost their lives to violence.
Taking to the podium and representing the youth of Cosmo City, 21 year old Community Health Worker, Tsholofelo Kgomonngwe, shared challenges that she felt the youth of her community faced, specifically touching on unemployment and education. “When we are unemployed or robbed of opportunities, we turn to violence, prostitution or substance abuse out of frustration,” said Kgomonngwe. “We plead with our government to help combat nepotism and unfair appointments of officials across the board. We believe that these are the primary contributors to the increasing unemployment rate and want to rectify this in order to give the youth of South Africa a fair chance in building our beautiful and diverse country up to the potential we know that it has,” concluded Kgomonngwe.
The day ended on a solution-based approach as members of the Service Providers Forum (SPF) encouraged dialogue with the guests. Attendees alerted the panel to issues ranging from service delivery to local economic development in Cosmo City. Community members and the youth were mostly advised to equip themselves with knowledge about activities and opportunities available locally and were directed to the Community Liaison Officer or Local Municipality for more information.
“We are nearing the end of our 16 Days of Activism Campaign and as we reflect on the year, we are extremely satisfied with all of our community outreach programmes conducted thus far. We definitely won’t stop here and will continue to offer support to as many victims of abuse in Gauteng as we possibly can,” concludes Bridget Seabi, NCVT Social Worker.
To make donations or volunteer towards NCVT causes, the public can contact ncvtprojects@iafrica.com | +27 11 705-1960 | 079 390 1775. For more about NCVT, please visit www.ncvt.co.za.
Deputy Minister celebrates World AIDS Day with Gauteng crèche
Deputy Minister of the Department of Telecommunications and Postal Services, Hlengiwe Mkhize,was welcomed to a World AIDS Day celebration yesterday at Mompati Crèche in Diepsloot. As part of their 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence Campaign, and encouraging a 0% HIV/AIDS new infections rate the event was co-ordinated and hosted by the National Children and Violence Trust (NCVT) in conjunction with New Start, South Africa's largest non-profit HIV prevention programme.
The Deputy Minister Hlengiwe Mkhize inspired guests to look for solutions within the community to combat HIV/AIDS. She also encouraged community members to register co-operatives (co-ops) to help develop and uplift the community in which they are living. “The Department of Telecommunications and Postal Services aims to leverage off of different channels of communication to promote awareness and encourage prevention of the spread of the disease,” said Mkhize.
New Start was on site demonstrating how to use different contraception methods, including the newly introduced female condom. The non-profit organisation (NPO) shared the importance of consistent HIV/AIDS treatment to extend one’s life expectancy. “Parents attending the event were also encouraged to disclose their children’s HIV status to their educators as this information could save another child’s life,” said Bridget Seabi, Social Worker at NCVT.
During the session, attendees raised concern as to what to do if their partners did not want to be tested. In response, members of NCVT and New Start emphasised communication between partners and offered voluntary HIV/AIDS counseling and testing.
“We are grateful to everyone who took the time to come and commemorate World AIDS Day with us. NCVT provides counselling to survivors of gender-based violence and child abuse in Diepsloot and other communities; we were very happy to visit Mompati Crèche in order to help educate and equip community members with much needed information to help combat social issues such as HIV/AIDS,” said Seabi.
To close off the event on a healing note, NCVT Senior Social Worker, Judith Mthombeni, led the candle lighting ceremony in remembrance of those who are infected and affected by HIV/AIDS.
The NCVT invites the youth to attend a Community Dialogue at Cosmo City Multi-purpose Centre tomorrow, 03December 2015 as part of their 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence Campaign. Surrounding NGOs are welcome to join forces with the NCVT to help reach out to more people. Food parcels and other basic necessity donations are welcome.
To make donations or volunteer towards NCVT causes, members of the community can contact ncvtprojects@iafrica.com | +27 11 705-1960 | 079 390 1775. For more about NCVT, please visit www.ncvt.co.za.
Five tips for maximising your marketing spend in 2016
There is a global trend towards being more socially conscious; active consumers define themselves in part through brands, and yet believe they have a responsibility to purchase products that are good for the environment and society.* Purpose-driven marketing is, therefore, as important for agencies and marketers as it is for consumers. Michael Baretta, founder and Managing Director (MD) of [dot]GOOD, shares five essential tips on how to maximise your marketing spend, while at the same time making a positive impact for people and the planet. When planning your marketing initiatives for 2016, why not consider these five guidelines and bridge the gap between the greater good and the bottom line?
Creativity in marketing drives brand growth – companies these days need to be more innovative and engaging in order to stand out and be noticed in our constantly connected and over stimulated world. Corporate Social Investment (CSI) is no longer simply about putting aside a portion of your annual budget and then giving the money to a charity or cause close to your heart. These days, there are highly innovative ways to marry marketing and CSI in such a way that you are not only creating sustainable change in the community you wish to support, but also creating real value for your company, in terms of earning B-BBEE points, driving sales, building your brand and marketing your service or product – to name just a few.
At the forefront of innovative marketing and CSI strategies, is [dot]GOOD. This leading for-good marketing company is built on a philosophy of socially-conscious marketing that leads to better communication, better relationships, better business, and ultimately, a better world.
Founder and MD, Michael Baretta, shares five tips on how to select smart marketing projects that bridge the gaps between ‘doing well’ and ‘doing good’.
- Impact Matters: There is a global trend towards sustainability. Giving back is not simply about giving, but rather about creating sustainable change; making a tangible impact on the community. Combining your marketing and CSI efforts pools resources and creates a sustainable change in the community you wish to support while creating real value for your company.
- Family Matters: When considering a marketing and CSI campaign, think further than the immediate beneficiary – ask how the initiative can extend to their family.
- Community Matters: Always look for strategies and activities that will have a positive sustainable impact on the broader community.
- Connectivity Matters: Companies need to embrace marketing strategies that are focused on two-way communication. It is vital to connect with your customers and beneficiaries on a human level – today’s beneficiaries could be tomorrow’s consumers. Also important is that you involve and inform your stakeholders of what you are doing in the community – this includes staff, consumers, clients and the media.
- Context Matters: In a world where consumers are bombarded with hundreds - if not thousands - of messages every day, it’s important to consider when, where and how your message is being delivered. How can you deliver your message in such a way that it stands out, encourages personal interaction and aligns to your brand’s voice?
A recent example of socially-conscious, smart marketing is a project undertaken by [dot]GOOD in partnership with the Imvula Education Empowerment Fund, a 100% black-owned broad-based trust that facilitates the education of promising underprivileged youth at the fund’s Maharishi Institute.
[dot]GOOD selected and trained a group of students to participate in a long-term, volume driving campaign to promote the full range of Tastic products and build long-term relationships with its consumers.
“The collaboration between [dot]GOOD and the Imvula Education Empowerment Fund constitutes a virtuous circle,” says Baretta. “Practical training was provided to the students in a real-world situation, while at the same time, giving Tastic products a sustainable and financially advantageous brand-building solution – a great example of a true win-win situation.”
The umbrella campaign gave the Tastic brand an opportunity to comply to B-BBEE requirements and reach sales objectives, while at the same time contributing to the learning and skills of the participating Maharishi students.
“This partnership demonstrated how B-BBEE can be used to achieve business objectives, while also creating positive change within the community,” said Maharishi Institute founder, Taddy Blecher.
For more information about [dot]GOOD contact 011 447 0427 / info@dotgood.co.za or visit http://www.dotgood.co.za/. Join [dot]GOOD’s Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/dotgoodmarketing.
*From Obligation to Desire: More than 2 Billion Aspirational Consumers Mark Shift in Sustainable Consumption,” BBMG, http://bbmg.com/news/obligation-desire-2-5-billion-aspirational-consumers-mark-shift-sustainable-consumption/.
Novus Holdings setting the pace with reducing carbon emissions thanks to Sustainable Heating
Minister of Economic Opportunities, Alan Winde attended the grand opening of the impressive biomass steam facility at Paarl Media Cape, the flagship plant of Paarl Media, known as the print division of Novus Holdings. Novus Holdings prides itself on its environmentally sound business practices focused on delivering the highest quality work with the least impact on the environment.
“At Novus Holdings, we do business the sustainable way and take into account energy costs. With constant electricity tariff increases and load-shedding occurrences, the Biomass Boiler reduces production costs in the long run and creates a buffer against electricity inflation, while working towards creating a neutral carbon footprint in developing steam for our gravure press,” says Peter Metcalfe, Novus Holdings Group Executive: Sales.
The steam plant is constructed, owned and managed by renewable energy company Sustainable Heating, their third installation in South Africa.
Paul Gorremans, Founder of Sustainable Heating mentions that there are numerous benefits of the newly constructed biomass steam plant, which operates on woodchips as opposed to fuel or paraffin. “Through the biomass facility, we will see an approximate 218 000 tons of carbon reduction over 15 years. The plant is 85 - 90% energy efficient, with fuel only being used to transport the woodchips.”
Their facility at Paarl Media Cape took a mere 17 weeks from inception to completion – a great achievement for Gorremans and his team. “It is a team effort, at one point there were 120 workers per day on the construction site to complete the facility.”
The company, who is funded by the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) and Mergence, has long-term agreements with sawmills, pallet factories and manufacturers with wood offcuts. “We have a strong untreated wood supply and the efficiency of our machines keep the emissions at the lowest,” says Gorremans. “The wood ash produced by the plant can also be easily reused to make bricks and is acceptable for composting.”
Through this Biomass Steam Plant, Sustainable Heating has created over 12 permanent jobs such as boiler artisans and operators, managers, general helpers, drivers and waste handlers. Each installation supports local entrepreneurs in various fields ranging from waste handling to engineering.
The facility is completely owned and managed by Sustainable Heating where they sell the steam output to Paarl Media Cape for their print manufacturing.
Through this model, Sustainable Heating’s clients experience massive savings in electricity, fuel and carbon emissions. All steam plants can be controlled remotely from a computer or laptop enabling the Sustainable Heating team to tend to any problem, anytime, anywhere.
All businesses who need heat output can benefit from biomass boilers, including hospitals, fisheries, dairy plants and chemical processors. “Our team is striving to do better and be better and we are aiming to complete our next project in nine and a half weeks,” concludes Gorremans.
For more information on Sustainable Heating, please visit www.sustainableheating.com or contact Paul Gorremans on 072 657 6736.
