Corporate Social Investment (CSI)
Philosophy and why it is important
Hulamin is committed to improving the quality of life of the people in the regions within which it operates, with particular focus on historically disadvantaged communities. Hulamin continues to direct its efforts primarily towards education, health, development of community skills, welfare, environment, and crime prevention.
Hulamin regards itself as part of the community within which it operates and therefore believes that it is imperative to make a difference by adding value to the development of these communities.
Responsibilities
The Chief Executive Officer is ultimately responsible for corporate social investment (CSI) but this responsibility is delegated to the Human Resources (HR) executive for execution.
As one of the elements of the BBBEE scorecard, CSI is verified by an independent and accredited verification agency. The latest verification exercise was concluded for the period up to 31 December 2010.
Approach
The Hulamin board, the local community and the community-based organisations and employees are the stakeholders who contribute to defining the CSI strategy.
Hulamin consults with all potential beneficiaries in order to evaluate their needs and the impact to the community. An evaluation is also undertaken to test if the requests are aligned to business priorities and fall within the Hulamin CSI strategy.
Targets and performance against targets
The target for CSI expenditure in 2010 was 1% of profit after tax (PAT).
Total CSI expenditure for 2010 was R1,3 millionLA, which spend represents approximately 2% of PAT.
Key CSI projects undertaken in 2010
In 2010, Hulamin contributed R1,3 million towards CSI projects, which included many beneficiaries such as health care-based organisations, crime-fighting initiatives, and child and family welfare initiatives.
Donations have been made to Edendale and Greys Hospitals, Pietermaritzburg and District Community Chest, Business Fighting Crime, Safe City, PROTEC, Ekukhanyeni Special School, and iThemba Projects, amongst others.
The company has supported the Pietermaritzburg and District Community Chest for many years and in 2010 earned the title of top corporate donor for the third successive year.
Funds raised by the Chest benefit numerous local registered welfare organisations in the Pietermaritzburg region ranging from Child and Family Welfare, care of the homeless and the disabled, poverty alleviation, care of those suffering from HIV/AIDS, education of learners with special needs, crime prevention, and prevention of substance abuse.
PROTEC (Programme for Technological Careers) Pietermaritzburg Academy provides quality Maths and Science enrichment education to children from disadvantaged backgrounds in grades 9 to 12. English tuition and career guidance and lifeskills training are also provided. These programmes are held on Saturdays as well as through the vacation school tuition arrangement. Hulamin has contributed towards these education programmes since the inception of PROTEC in 1989. Over the years, the company has also awarded tertiary study bursaries to post-PROTEC students, some of whom are now employed by Hulamin.
Ekukhanyeni Special School, a boarding school facility situated in Imbali Stage I, provides education and support to severely intellectually impaired learners and other children with multiple disabilities. The majority of learners are from underprivileged homes, many are either orphans or abandoned children.
iThemba Projects operates within the Mpumuza (Sweetwaters) area, on the outskirts of Pietermaritzburg, where a lack of investment in basic infrastructure has resulted in poverty, lack of education, and the absence of facilities and services. Children form a large percentage of the population in the area and iThemba's purpose is to create an enabling environment for these children through education and training, with a specific focus on Early Childhood Development.
