Catch the rebroadcast of ITS AFRICAS TIME Season 1 Episode 4 on Saturday 25 October at 12:00pm WAT on WeTV Nigeria. In Episode 4, we look at the role which the financial services industry plays in the economy of any country, and the substantial impact in creates on different scales and at various levels of society. Eradicating poverty, combating HIV&AIDS and ensuring environmental sustainability are three of the 8 United Nations Millennium Development goals. In episode 4 we look at the interventions of 3 financial services institutions and their contribution to these goals through impacts on both small local communities and national economic development. Sanlam The objective of the Sanlam Foundation is to contribute towards the upliftment of South African society, with an emphasis on building a healthy nation and facilitating a sustainable future for all. Education therefore is a key focus of the Sanlam Foundation and HIV&AIDS education forms part of this commitment, “IT’S AFRICA’S TIME” visits Centenary High School in Durban to look at the Sanlam sponsored HIV&Me program and to see how this innovative schools based intervention is impacting on participant educators and learners. We also learn about HIV&Me’s extended community engagement through the Family Support Program and how this contributes toward the holistic provision of HIV prevention and management education in these communities. Mutual And Federal Mutual & Federal is Southern Africa’s oldest short-term insurer and another key player in the region’s financial services industry. The Tswelopele project is the first agricultural socio-economic development project of this nature undertaken by Mutual & Federal and links closely to the company’s core business specialization in agricultural asset insurance. The project was established on land donated by the Bekker Agricultural Boarding School with the aim of providing additional employment and fresh produce to the dependents of their staff members. “IT’S AFRICA’S TIME” visits the Tswelopele farm to see how the project has been implemented. We also discuss how this small scale farming is helping to alleviate poverty and create employment in the area, and learn about its social and commercial plans for the future. Industrial Development Corporation The primary objectives of the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) are to contribute to the creation of balanced, sustainable economic growth in South Africa and on the rest of the continent; promoting entrepreneurship through the building of competitive industries and enterprises based on sound business principles. Investment in such ventures also includes an increasing emphasis on social development and environmental sustainability as part of the core business strategy. Ohorongo Cement in Namibia is supported by an industrial loan from the IDC and is the sole cement producer in the country and the biggest employer in the region. “ITS AFRICA’S TIME” visits the plant to take a look at how the local economy has benefited from job creation, infrastructural and social development. We also learn about the plant and how its innovative design and use of alternative energy sources have made it the most CO2 efficient cement producer in the world. “IT’S AFRICA’S TIME” is produced by Regency Foundation Networx in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme - UNDP. itsafricastime.org
Posted on: Sat, 25 Oct 2014 08:00:00 +0000