Communities

Enterprise development

Bytes Specialised Solutions (BSS) actively assists 442 SMMEs, spending R19 million per year on this initiative – three times more than the requirements set by the dti codes.

See our children blossom

Bytes Technology Group recently took its Project Qhakaza to KwaZulu-Natal. In the spirit of the Zulu word meaning “to blossom”, 10 schools in the deep rural areas on the province now have fully-functional multi-media centres. The R7 million project has benefited some 5 000 children who might not otherwise have had access to modern technology.

Project Qhakaza was first launched in Gauteng in 2004 where a school in Orange Farm was the first to receive a multi-media centre. From there the project moved to Langa in the Western Cape before turning its attention to KZN. To date, 456 computers and eight Xerox copiers have found their way into 10 high schools and nine primary schools.

Project Qhakaza’s beneficiary schools received a science laboratory and the latest ICT tools, including computers, high-speed internet connectivity, an integrated printer/fax/copier/scanner, televisions and DVD players. In addition, Bytes trained educators to make optimal use of the equipment for teaching purposes, and refurbished classrooms to create comfortable learning environments in which the learners can explore the wonders of technology.

“Research and our experience have shown that computer centres are doomed to failure unless they are accompanied by training, mentorship and support, especially during the early set-up phases,” says Skip Franzsen, group human resources manager of Bytes. Skip explains that Bytes’ approach is to “adopt” the schools in which it invests. “We implement a two-year post-installation support plan that includes refurbishment of classrooms and school facilities, security monitoring, paper supplies, ongoing training and infrastructure and technical support. By offering hands-on assistance, we ensure that the schools reap the kinds of sustainable benefits that will translate into improved pass rates, better school administration and enhanced teaching for the future.

The success of soya

Towards the end of 2007, Altron and Bytes donated R80 000 towards a small business development project in Orange Farm, south of Johannesburg. In August 2009, the project phase was concluded with Nambitha Nutritional Products standing on its own feet.

The project aimed to help a group of unemployed young people to start their own small business in the community, built around a machine known as a SoyCow, which makes a variety of nutritious, soy-based products.

The project was managed by Joint Aid Management (JAM), who provided the emerging entrepreneurs with business advice and the necessary training. The project beneficiaries received all the inputs free of charge, subject to an innovative “community payback” component. Instead of having to repay a loan for the equipment, the entrepreneurs were required to donate a portion of their total production to crèches in Orange Farm each week during the project period.

When the project period ended in August 2009, the 10 crèches that were part of the programme had received more than 2 000 litres of soy milk, the equivalent of more than R20 000 worth of sales. More importantly, about 550 children had received nutritious milk on a regular basis.

By the time the project period ended, Nambitha had generated more than R5 000 of revenue for the business. This money has been put into a bank account to build up a financial reserve. As the entrepreneurs were receiving a small stipend during the year, they decided not to use any of their revenue for salaries.

Better health in Hillbrow

The Altrongroup is involved in a wide variety of corporate social investment projects, from helping struggling young ballet dancers into point shoes to a soy milk job creation project in Orange Farm. Now, for the first time, we have decided to pool our resources and focus our efforts on a massive project in the heart of Hillbrow.

The object of our efforts is the Centre for Specialised Services, which will provide medical care to, among others, pregnant women and children infected with HIV/Aids and tuberculosis. The centre will be housed in a building in the Hillbrow health precinct, which Altron, Altech and Vodacom will renovate. Altron and Altech will jointly contribute R14 million and Vodacom the other R14 million needed to complete the project.

The three companies are the private partners in this project. The public partners are the Gauteng Provincial Government’s Department of Health and the Reproductive Health & HIV Research Unit (RHRU).

According to Seara Macheli-Mkhabela, Altron’s group executive: corporate affairs, Altron decided on the Hillbrow project for a number of reasons. “For one, it is a good example of a public/private partnership addressing one of our country’s most urgent health challenges. Secondly, it is a wonderful opportunity to extend the commercial partnership that all our group subsidiaries have with Vodacom into the social arena. Finally, the project affords us a number of excellent marketing opportunities, such as naming rights, as well as ongoing reciprocal business opportunities.”

The renovation of the Hillbrow health precinct is taking place under the auspices of RHRU. Employing nearly 200 people working on about 50 research and training programmes in Johannesburg and in Durban, RHRU focuses on sexual and reproductive health issues and HIV/Aids. RHRU has been involved in five of the 20 buildings in the precinct, which provide medical care to an estimated 10 000 people per week.