Individual Social Responsibility

The obligation of an organization’s management towards the welfare and interests of the society in which it operates.

It is through careful attention to impacts on society and the environment that organizations achieve sustainability. Behaving in a transparent and ethical way ensures an approach that helps protect the long-term success of society and the environment.

What does it mean?  It is about an individual becoming responsible in his/her actions that have to affect on communities outside his/her immediate circle.  The immediate circle being family and friends.

What is ISR?  The individual social responsibility includes the engagement of each person toward the community where he lives, which can be expressed as an interest towards what’s happening in the community, as well as in the active participation in die solving of some of the local problems.  The individual social responsibility also could be expressed in making donations for significant society causes – social, cultural or ecological.

Is ISR practical?  It has to be as the trends show that the biggest growth for big charitable organizations in the world is coming through individuals and not through corporations and governments.

What is being ethical?  Ethics is a set of beliefs about right and wrong.  The beliefs are dependent on personal experience, family background, religious background, and education.  The integrity of your beliefs is an important element of being ethical.

Is ISR practical, especially the ethical bit?  Difficult but possible, making decisions based on what is good for greatest number of people.  Promoting individual self-interest as long as it does not harm others.  Making decisions with a belief that everyone has a fundamental right that should be respected and protected.  Making decisions which treat everyone fairly and consistently.

I know CSR, how is ISR different? 

  • ISR is at the roots of CSR because a corporate comprises of individuals and hence determines the social responsibility culture it follows.
  • As CSR is being increasingly viewed as a tool to push wares a greater need for ISR is expected.
  • The example of kiva.org in giving people the power to empower is a big indicator of the shift.
  • If ISR becomes a way of life CSR may be an automatic end result.

ISR is a tool for social change, powerful and practical

Sources:

“The Inconvenient truth about corporate fundraising” by Sean Triner

www.sofli.org

Workshop for Civic Initiatives Foundation (WCIF), Bulgaria, a position statement on Social Responsibility.

http://www.wcif-bg.org/en/sr

 

How To Save Money For Travel

Want to travel the world for a while? Or just take an epic vacation? You don’t need to be rich, but you’ll need to get creative about saving money for travel.

Become Financially Responsible

Saving up enough money for travel, or anything for that matter is tough on the soul and demands sacrifice, which is why so few people succeed. The right mindset is everything!

Track Your Spending

Tracking expenses is an important part of learning where you can cut back, or even eliminate your spending.

Budget Ruthlessly

There are two types of budgeting: The first is budgeting your trip. The second is budgeting your life.

Reduce Unnecessary Spending

Life is messy and the best-laid plans have a habit of fraying at the edges or falling apart completely.

“The world is a book and those who do not travel read only one page”

 

Agricultural road to Karreekloof

The world we live in today, we sometimes miss the little things in life that actually provide life itself.

The food we eat, the food animals live on and clothing that protects our bodies. Take the time to appreciate the beauty of agriculture.  So, start thinking:

Once in a while maybe, just maybe in a totally impulsive moment, you decide on taking a road trip and of course, it must be one to be planned to perfection, one not to be forgotten easily.  Not everyone has the same taste in destinations on where to go. But what if your decision is based on taking route N12 into the upper Karoo to a farm not far from a little town called Strydenburg. By now your head is spinning and thinking but what to do and see while taking this route to this farm I need to see, to spend some quality time and to understand the history of the name Karreekloof.

Agricultural things to do on your route to Karreekloof:

Stimulus your taste by taking a little detour to Jacobsdal where a peaceful and calm atmosphere Landzicht Winery will greet you and where you as a visitor are welcome for tasting and a tour through the winery.  Landzicht Winery has two cellars – one in Jacobsdal and one in Douglas.

Or, what about something a little bit sweeter maybe something a little bit Italian?  A brand-new Farm-Foods-Fabric opened at Modderivier next to the N12 where you can find nice pasta and delicious cookies.

In light for a movie feeling? But this time the movie takes you to greener pastures. Biggie Popcorn and country shop in Hopetown, has been popping the most scrumptious, crunchiest and the freshest popcorn.

Getting in the mode for that farm feeling.  Britstown Farmstall sells jams, chutneys, canned fruits, dried fruits, quince sweets, fruit sweets, homemade ginger beer, lemon syrup, rusks, biscuits, spices and much more.

Or just take a break at Victoria Trading Post Stop in Victoria Wes for some ginger beer, succulent biltong, and preserves, only because you want to take in as much as possible fresh air, after all, it’s a road trip to your final destination, Karreekloof.

Live your journey!!

BENEFITS OF SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

 

  1. Positive Workplace Environment

When corporations exhibit philanthropic behaviour, they are more likely to provide employees with a positive workplace. Consequently, employees feel engaged and productive when they walk into work each day.

Instilling a strong culture of corporate social responsibility within every employee from the top down will help to create a positive and productive environment where employees can thrive.

Corporations that care about the lives of people outside the walls of their businesses are more likely to create a positive environment.

  1. Increase in Creativity

Employees who know that their employer is committed to bettering the local and global communities feel a stronger connection to the company. Because of this close relationship that employees share with their company, workers feel more inclined to be productive and creative.

Employers have identified creativity as one of the most important leadership qualities that an employee can possess. Creative employees enjoy working for companies that they can believe in and stand behind.

  1. Encourages Professional & Personal Growth

When companies have a culture of corporate social responsibility, they can easily promote volunteerism to their employees and encourage them to donate to non-profits.

When employees contribute their time and money to worthy causes, they develop professionally and personally.

By helping those in need and volunteering as teams, employees learn to work better together on important projects. Employees also experience a sense of pride when they know that they work for a company that cares about the community and encourages them to be passionate about worthy causes.

  1. Promotes Individual Philanthropy

When employees notice that the company they work for is involved in charitable endeavours, they play follow the leader and begin to engage in their own philanthropic activities.

If a company encourages group volunteerism and matches donations to non-profits with a matching gift program, an employee is more likely to take advantage of those programs and become more individually philanthropically minded.

Why Consider a Self-Drive Holiday

The benefits of a self-drive holiday are multiple and should be considered before choosing your holiday.  One of the most important benefits of such a holiday is that it is the most cost-effective way to travel in Southern Africa.  Not only is it more cost effective, but you get to see a side of Southern Africa that will keep you coming back for more.  South Africa especially is known for its vast different landscapes and activities across the provinces.  Even more so, South Africa is known for its hidden treasures.  Beautiful quaint places that one do not see as part of an organised tour. 

As mentioned (by www.audleytravel.com) “one of the drawbacks of an organised tour is being shunted along with lots of other people to tourist attractions but then only having a limited amount of time to appreciate them, or spending time in the confined quarters of a coach, bus or train with people you have little or nothing in common with.”

Here are some more reasons why you should consider a self-drive holiday
  • You decide the overall pace of the holiday.
  • Regardless of the car type you choose, you have the total freedom and flexibility to get to places off the beaten track, and then spend as much time as you want there.
  • You can enjoy greater comfort and privacy.  This is especially appropriate for if you have a young family.
  • You get to experience the different cultures,people

    and facilities in their everyday lives.

  • You have to option to choose where you want to spend more or less time, depending on your own interests and experiences.
  • If you enjoy photography, a self-drive holiday is recommended.  You might, for instance, return to the same destination, but at a different time of day to catch the sunset or sunrise.
  • You get to choose your own type of accommodation.  Some people prefer staying in the hub of things, whilst others prefer a more secluded or scenic stop-over.

These are some of the benefits of choosing a self-drive holiday.  You can now enjoy the flexibility to decide for yourself to what degree this will suit your needs.

Sources

https://www.audleytravel.com

https://www.africantravel.com

http://www.thetravelparadise.net