Thought Leadership Archives - Page 9 of 14

Direct School Support in the Time of Covid-19

The Department of Basic Education has announced that there will be phased-in return to school in South Africa, starting with Grades 12 and 7, from 1 June 2020. A lot of planning went into this decision. There is very little available scientific data to draw on in terms of the virus and its real spread, which makes modelling ambiguous and unreliable at best and complete speculative ganders at worst. There are a number of priorities that need to be balanced against each other such as the need to maintain the academic year as well as keep children in schools so that their working caregivers can be at work. In certain schools, there is a need to maintain nutrition programmes because children are genuinely starving and facing malnutrition, even prior to Covid-19. These competing priorities create a tension minefield that is impossible to navigate without stepping on at least some of the mines.

Covid-19 reminds us to respect, admire and learn from social welfare organisations

When Covid-19 first landed in South Africa, exposing the entire populace to the global pandemic, the social sector was amongst the first to be galvanised into action. By the time the call for social distancing was made, these organisations, who are in the main non-profit organisations, had already thought of (and began implementing) solutions to continue their work under difficult conditions and tendered support to all spheres of government. When government declared a National State of Disaster, these organisations had already established networks of collaboration, response measures and appeals for support to address the social challenges that would inevitably present themselves in a national lockdown. The proactiveness from the social sector was due to their understanding of the crisis of inequality in South Africa, and the particular challenges facing South Africa’s poor and most vulnerable populations.

Long-term thinking and agility in community development

Community development is an interactive process where community members, local government and development partners collectively take action to solve problems facing a specific community. The aim of community development is to co-create sustainable, stronger and resilient communities. Tshikululu partners with mining and renewable energy clients across the country to invest in the development of the communities around their operations. Tshikululu’s approach to community development enables these clients to partner effectively with communities to generate and measure meaningful and sustainable social impact.

Using adaptive management to improve learning

SOCIAL INVESTMENT SPECIALIST SAYS CORPORATE SA CONTINUES TO PLAY A LEADING ROLE IN IMPROVING EDUCATION

The next decade needs to see that funding into education starts bearing positive results. Reflecting on the National Senior Certificate (NSC) results for 2019, Sibusiso Lukhele, a social investment specialist at Tshikululu Social Investments, South Africa’s leading social investment manager, says that while there are ongoing challenges within our education system, it is important to celebrate the achievements of the 2019 class.

The end of a decade

As this decade draws to a close, many South Africans are still basking in the glory of winning the 2019 Rugby World Cup. The 2019 Springbok team is a remarkable case study, demonstrating the value of a long-term transformative game plan, the importance of investing in young talent, the value of setting big hairy audacious goals and the importance of leadership, especially when the stakes are high. It speaks to team work, drawing on various resources to create a winning squad and a resilience that even when the game plan does not pan out on the day it is vital to pause, reflect, tweak and to never lose sight of the end goal.

Social investors should not forget the welfare sector

Care work is a public good that is largely undervalued in the South African economy. It is essential to protecting vulnerable communities, including abandoned, orphaned and abused children; the frail and aged; people with disabilities; victims of sexual and gender-based violence; and refugees. In South Africa, this work includes both preventative and rehabilitative services.

The importance of strengthening caregiver-child relationships in low-income households in South Africa

“If children feel safe, they can take risks, ask questions, make mistakes, learn to trust, share their feelings, and grow.” ~ Alfie Kohn. The first 1 000 days in a child’s life holds the key to unlocking his or her life-long potential. By the age of five, almost 90% of a child’s brain will be developed. These are the formative years, where factors such as adequate healthcare; good nutrition; quality childcare and nurturing; a clean and safe environment; and early learning and stimulation will, to a large extent, determine a child’s future.

Top lessons learnt for social investors’ COVID-19 response

How to drive social impact and receive a financial return – what every CEO needs to know

With the world facing serious challenges in attaining the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG’s) (now also known as the Global Goals), society is increasingly turning to the private sector to respond to broader societal challenges. As such, the public expectations of your company have never been greater.

To grow, school children have specific milestones to accomplish first

From the moment of conception, a series of development phases unfold in children, effectively shaping the course of their lives. These development milestones mark critical tipping points in the learning and growth of children. If a particular milestone is not fully reached, a child’s chances of doing well in the next phase or reaching their full potential are severely limited. It is imperative for parents, caregivers and teachers to understand these milestones so they can play their respective roles in enhancing the learning and development of children.