Importance of Giving Back to the Community

No matter how tough you think your life is there’s always someone who has to face challenges that are even tougher than yours.

And it goes in many different directions. Not only basic things like making money, getting food, or having a place to rest at night, but also the possibility of taking part in some entrepreneurial projects or getting a proper education.

‘We make a Living by what we get, but we make a Life by what we give’ – Winston Churchill

Long ago, when we were all little, young and just a child, the best things were to play outside. Look into each hole and inspect all the various insects. Without knowing, that the inspection of the little insects stimulated your brain every second. What did this teach us? If the prickly pear thorns have stung you once, you will never touch it again.

If there is a rock in the road and you bump your toe, you will think twice when walking along the same path to look out for the rock in the road.

Every little child deserves to learn from their mistakes. Building up world knowledge is power. Every child has this idea what they want to be when they grow up. Let’s teach them their idea!

Sometimes the right of teaching refrains from us, sometimes there is an open path for teaching, but it is not grabbed with two hands. In the end, it’s awesome to know there are so many different opportunities in life to choose from and the best one is the one you choose!

Karreekloof chose the open road and are going to grab it with both hands. For us, education is very important especially for every child who cannot wait to go to school in the morning. Just so that he or she can learn something new every day.

For Karreekloof, the word “community” plays a major role, and to return is not much demanded.

 

Corporate social responsibility

Ever wondered what social responsibility means for a company and the success they strive after?  Here are a couple of interesting facts.

Corporate social responsibility (CSR)

One of the most important business ethics quality for an organization to become successful.   The reputation of an organization is very important and implementing social responsibility can increase positive satisfaction results towards stakeholders and customers.

Different organizations have framed different definitions – although there is considerable common ground between them. CSR is about how companies manage the business processes to produce an overall positive impact on society.

A business’s CSR can encompass a wide variety of tactics, from giving away a portion of a company’s proceeds to charity, to implementing “greener” business operations.

There are a few categories of social responsibility that many of today’s businesses are practicing:

  1. Environmental efforts: One primary focus of corporate social responsibility is the environment.
  2. Philanthropy: Businesses also practice social responsibility by donating to national and local charities.
  3. Ethical labor practices: By treating employees fairly and ethically, companies can also demonstrate their corporate social responsibility.
  4. Volunteering: Attending volunteer events says a lot about a company’s sincerity. By doing good deeds without expecting anything in return.

 Examples of corporate social responsibility

Shoes, another notable example of a company with CSR at its core, donates one pair of shoes to a child in need for every pair a customer purchases.  How about donating money to an individual, for example, every ten plastic bags/bottles or cans that are being picked up.

 Practicing what you preach

Undertaking socially responsible initiatives is truly a win-win situation. Not only will your company appeal to socially conscious consumers and employees, but you’ll also make a real difference in the world.   “Engage your employees [and consumers] in giving back. Let them feel like they have a voice.”

 

Small things in life to keep you going

“You’re looking for solutions that work for everyone in the company. While it’s true that you can’t please everyone all of the time, giving people choices, rather than a rigid set of rules to follow, will ensure a feeling of empowerment across teams.”

Keep happiness in mind

A happy employee is a productive employee, and it’s an entrepreneur’s job to ensure that they are caring for their staff.

“Above all, keep in mind that a business is a collection of people,” Branson says. “If your people are not happy and healthy, they your enterprise’s prognosis isn’t good enough. But if you make sure they have the time and support they need, you’ll set them and your company up for success in the long term.”

(Richard Branson)

Balance in the workplace

Work-life balance involves juggling workplace stress with the daily pressures of family, friends, and self. Modern employees demand greater control over their lives and a bigger say in the structure of their jobs. According to a recent Business Information Review publication, “The search for work-life balance is a process in which people seek to change things in accordance with changes in their own priorities, physical, psychological or both, and these can be triggered in their turn by factors such as: age; changes in working conditions; the demands of new technology; and poor management.”

Studies have shown that employees who have a positive work-life balance do a better job at work, so promoting this balance is beneficial to individuals and the company. This is a practical guide for employers who want to promote a healthy work-life balance for their teams.

Company Outings

One of the best ways to boost employee morale and help workers get to know each other in a non-stressful capacity is by offering an occasional company outing.

For example, you could organize a company-paid lunch either to be catered into the office or at a favorite group-friendly restaurant nearby. Happy hours, holiday parties, birthday celebrations, and park days are other fun ways to get out of the office and bond in a non-traditional setting.

Sources :For more discussion on all things related to employee wellbeing, check out the Disruptors section of Virgin.com

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.

The Donations of Wag ‘n Bietjie Lodge as part of Social responsibility

Donation

Simply means opening of hearts. Not a difficult word to understand. In some cases ultimately the best thing that can be given for those who do not have any. As a result we can give so much more back to our communities.

 

Education is a vital part of helping children build brighter futures. 

Owner Wiaan van der Linde opened a Pre-Primary School to give local children the opportunity to receive schooling in their preschool years and for children whose parents do not have the financial capacity to send their children elsewhere. No need to walk far and they have a much capable teacher at the school to teach the most important part of life’s stepping stones.

“Education is not preparation for life; education is life itself.   -John Dewey-

By helping and supporting schools on different levels academic, sports and culture events are a donation by itself. To contribute money to schools for fundraisings to make teaching much easier. More possibilities to buy equipment for children to grow mentally and physically. Transport for learners to participate in sports and various cultural activities.

Donating to wildlife

Animals need to be fed and looked after if injured. At the Wild Hearts Rehabilitation Centre Wiaan van der Linde is the main sponsor. Where the focus is on injured and orphaned animals and to be re-introduce in their national habitat.

We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give. -Winston Churchill

 

Meat parcels

Leftover meat that is still in good quality we send to the surrounding churches in Jacobsdal and Richie that takes the meat parcels to the less fortunate communities.

Just by donating small things in life, makes those things become big by itself. We are proud to be part of the small things.

The measure of a life, after all is not its Duration but its Donation -Corrie Ten Boom-