Extending Corporate Social Responsibility beyond the bounds of the IT industry
Shoden Data Systems has a long and proud record as a good corporate citizen, generously supporting many needy causes in the past. With social responsibility continuing to remain high on the agenda, Shoden has decided to support defined community projects this year. Such an approach will enable it to reach the most disadvantaged and challenged in South Africa, while continuing with its already successful socio-economic development projects.
The Shoden Academy, which was first established as an enterprise development initiative in 2007, is fast becoming self-sustainable. It has received critical acclaim from Isett Seta representatives and from the learners who have emerged as graduates, following a two-year programme designed to prepare them to be tomorrow’s industry leaders.
The main objective of the Academy is to provide accelerated technical, business, management and entrepreneurial training and education to talented black graduates with tertiary diplomas in IT-related subjects. By instilling the correct IT foundations within these students and demonstrating the practical applications of skills to them, Shoden aims to assist in overcoming the chronic skills shortage in the IT sector.
However, it is not enough to focus on developing skills in Shoden’s own market sector – the company is adamant that it needs to broaden its horizons in terms of the manner in which it remains socially responsible. With this in mind, Shoden has chosen to focus on providing assistance to the underprivileged in the crucial area of healthcare.
Nazereth House (Johannesburg)
Nazareth House is owned and run by the Sisters of Nazareth, a Catholic religious order of nuns founded in England in 1857, which came to Johannesburg in 1894.
Having looked at the incredible work performed by the sisters – often under trying circumstances – Shoden was moved to assist in caring for abandoned HIV+ babies.
Currently the institute cares for 30 HIV+ orphans and Shoden has contributed a donation of R75 000 to support this worthy project.
Somerset Hospital (Cape Town)
Somerset Hospital is the oldest hospital in Cape Town, having been established in 1856 and works in the main with the underprivileged, with most patients travelling from as far afield as Vredenburg, up the West Coast.
The hospital is presently setting up a Mothers’ Ward, enabling mothers of babies in paediatrics to stay at the hospital while their children are being treated; they would otherwise be unable to afford the transport to and from the hospital.
Taking both this and the fact that the hospital is determined to set up a Spontaneous Miscarriage Ward/Uterine Evacuation facility, Shoden has stepped in to assist with paediatric surgical equipment. In a hospital where every operation is urgent, delays of any kind can be life threatening, so a facility of this nature is vitally important. Shoden hopes that its donation of R75 000 to Somerset Hospital will assist it in implementing these facilities and continuing its good work with the underprivileged.
Joy Special Educare Centre (Mitchells Plain)
Joy Special Educare Centre was launched more than 20 years ago by a group of mothers wanting to create a place for disabled children, due to an existing lack of facilities in the area.
The centre currently caters for 15 children under the age of 21 from Mitchell’s Plain, with various disabilities, ranging from Down Syndrome to Cerebral Palsy.
Shoden has donated R70 000 to the centre which has assisted it to purchase a new suction machine, special bath equipment and special beds.
Corporate social responsibility is undoubtedly the duty of every organisation in the country, and Shoden is proud to be playing its part in assisting marginalised communities in both the educational and health needs of future generations of South African citizens.
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