Corporate social investment and staff volunteerism

introduction

The Nedbank Group actively seeks out opportunities to contribute to local communities and non-profit organisations as part of its sustainability commitments. We consider it a privilege to be in a position to Make Things Happen for those less fortunate than ourselves, and our bank is blessed to have a concerned and caring staff complement who feel the same and who are never shy to roll up their sleeves in support of others.

2008 HIGHLIGHTS AND HAPPENINGS

Nedbank Group operates in a country in which vast sectors of the population remain beset by poverty, illness, unemployment and a lack of education. We are acutely aware of our responsibility to contribute towards uplifting the lives of these people. And we do so through an accessible, cooperative corporate social responsibility programme that encourages staff involvement and strives to deliver sustainable, life-changing benefits to those it touches, rather than merely being a financial handout.

Over the past year Nedbank Group was able to build on its reputation as a caring and giving bank, and our primary goal in 2009 is to continue in the same vein. We look forward to many more years of making things happen and making a positive contribution to the lives of those in need as we continue to proactively identify developmental needs, particularly in those provinces where we have thus far enjoyed less representation and involvement.

• Nedbank donated R53,5 million during 2008 to community development programmes.
• Numerous projects were undertaken, including the following: Technology Research Activity Centre SA; Phomolong Secondary School; Readathon; Thokomala Orphan Care; South Coast Hospice Association; Furniture Technology Centre; Intsika Beneficiation Project; Nedbank Youth Centre; and Construction and ICT Training.
• Staff responded positively, participating as community volunteers in programmes such as Team Challenge and Local Heroes.
• Staff took time to build five additional houses for vulnerable children affected by HIV/Aids in the North West Province.

 

2009 SUSTAINABILITY GOALS

It is Nedbank Group’s aim to become a benchmark of effective corporate social investment (CSI) and, to this end, the coming year will see us reinforcing and expanding our flagship projects and ensuring that our CSI focus is even more closely aligned to the government developmental strategies.

 

GRI – Financial Services Sector Supplement: FS2, FS3, FS5, FS6 and FS7