One of the first companies in South Africa to implement a comprehensive HIV/AIDS Workplace Programme in 2000, MBSA realised at an early stage the heavy toll that the disease could take on its most precious resource – its employees – if left unchecked. As early as 1991, the company followed the framework set by its German mother company, Daimler AG, to prioritise HIV/AIDS by instituting policies and procedures to protect infected employees from discrimination and stigmatisation. With a string of accolades from as far back as the 2002 Global Business Coalition on HIV/AIDS Award, to the most recent 2010 international Stevie Business Award, MBSA has provided a proven formula for tackling the disease from a collective and co-operative perspective, and has taken one step further on this journey by extending its support and expertise in the area to vulnerable communities.
Projects funded by MBSA's CSI programme are:
Enquiries regarding corporate social investment can be directed to: csrpta@daimler.com
Keiskamma Trust
Working in an impoverished rural area of Peddie, with
around 2000 inhabitants,
the Keiskamma Trust focusses on encouraging healthy individuals, families and
communities. This Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) has a strong track record
of innovative and multi-faceted community development projects.
Through
their work, the Keiskamma Trust works to foster hope amongst the most
vulnerable communities, through practical, holistic and creative programmes and
partnerships that address widespread poverty and disease.
Mercedes-Benz
South Africa began its association with this programme in 2012, providing
funding to establish a sustainable skills development and job creation project
in an area where unemployment and HIV/AIDS have a devastating impact on
surrounding communities.
For more info: www.keiskamma.org
Sange Child and Youth Care Centre
Sange Child
and Youth Care Centre is a sanctuary for the homeless children of Mdantsane,
South Africa’s second largest township, and its surrounding areas. The centre
was founded in 2010 and aims to provide developmental welfare services to
children in need of care and protection, as well as those infected and affected
by HIV/AIDS. In addition, the centre focusses on family preservation programmes,
and providing social relief.
The
objectives of the organisation include:
- Housing vulnerable children from 0 – 18 years.
- Rehabilitation and therapy for abused children, supported by
professional social workers.
- Placement of children in suitable schools.
- Equipping children with social and life skills.
Situated in
an area with high levels of unemployment and heavily affected by HIV and AIDS, Sange
Child and Youth Care Centre reaches out to children who roam the streets due to
lack of parental care. MBSA aims to make a positive impact in this
community through its partnership with Sange by to promoting basic education for
children who grow up in an environment where crime, alcohol and drug abuse are
rife.
MBSA has
strong links to the Mdantsane region, as a large portion of the company’s
labour force are drawn from this area.
For more info e-mail: project_sange@yahoo.com
Ekukhanyeni Relief Project
Mercedes-Benz South Africa has been supporting this HIV/AIDS project since 2009 in an attempt to assist a community ravaged by the socio-economic impact of the disease. Formal Early Childhood Development programmes are currently presented in 15 creches with high numbers of beneficiaries affected by the disease. Additionally, a Perma-Culture project ensures the children at the crèches are kept healthy, while a community leg contributes to food security and income generation in the area.
Skills development training for crèche employees and unemployed community members improves their potential for employment. Employees from the group of companies participate in further activities with the beneficiaries. This interaction will be broadened in 2012, for example through an adopt a child programme, and by sharing knowledge and skills.
For more info: http://www.ekukhanyeni.org/
Siyakhana Health Trust
The Siyakhana project is an international benchmark initiative that provides 30 participating small and medium sized companies in the Eastern Cape with tangible HIV/AIDS awareness, counselling, testing, treatment, care, support and impact mitigation. The project is an innovative partnership between Mercedes-Benz South Africa (MBSA), the Border-Kei Chamber of Business and German development agency, Deutsche Investitions und Entwicklungsgesellschaft (DEG) that commenced in 2006. MBSA has partnered with the Siyakhana Health Trust since its inception. The objective of the company’s commitment is to empower disadvantaged communities to become more healthy, secure and self-sufficient, which ultimately contributes to a stability of the economy. It is recognised that businesses can only continue to thrive in a healthy, stable and prosperous society.
During 2012, East London based HIV/AIDS peer educators and other employees will be interacting with the SME’s to share their knowledge and skills, and form relationships with the beneficiaries
For more info: http://www.siyakhana.com
Trucking Wellness
Corridor Empowerment manages this initiative which is a collaboration between Mercedes-Benz South Africa, the organised road freight industry, government, the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA), the National Bargaining Council of the Road Freight Industry, and the SA Business Coalition on HIV/AIDS (SABCOHA). It aims to improve the lives of truck drivers by providing advocacy on prevention, treatment and care with regard to HIV/AIDS. A holistic approach to health and wellness is taken, and other life-style diseases are also addressed at a series of roadside and mobile clinics.
The programme focuses on the provision of basic clinic services on major routes in South Africa and is a combination of fixed and mobile clinics. There are currently 22 fixed clinics operating from refurbished containers at highway truck stops, as well as specially-equipped mobile clinics that travel to warehouses and depots for the long haul fraight industry. Other vulnerable communities, such as sex workers, are also accommodated. Mercedes-Benz South Africa’s support of this project stems from its vested interest in the road freight industry, which is the lifeblood of the commercial vehicle business. The company’s Peer Educator programme, aimed at promoting healthy lifestyles in the company, will also expand to include visits to Trucking Wellness clinics.
For more info: http://www.truckingwellness.co.za/