Corporate social investment

Datatec's origins are firmly entrenched in South Africa and the company has always been conscious of its responsibilities towards the community and economy that fostered its initial growth. The Datatec Educational & Technology Trust was established in March 2000 to support educational organisations with a specific focus on uplifting the standard and talent in the fields of mathematics, science and technology within previously disadvantaged communities. 

In South Africa, the Datatec Educational & Technology Trust has actively supported the following initiatives: 

CENTRE FOR INNOVATION
Based at Hilton College in the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands, the Centre for Innovation brings mathematics, science, entrepreneurship and computer skills training to local schools and communities. The centre is also used by Protec, a national organisation involved in technology skills training within disadvantaged communities. 

THE MATHS CENTRE
Professional and accomplished teachers are essential to any educational structure. The Maths Centre, which is based in Braamfontein, Johannesburg, aims to uplift the standard of mathematics, science and technology teaching in government schools. The Maths Centre offers a vibrant and practical hub for learning these disciplines and serves as a resource base for teachers in those curriculums. 

SIYAKHULA COMPUTER LITERACY AND SCHOOLS ENRICHMENT
Situated between the economically depressed areas of Ivory Park and Ebony Park in Gauteng lies the small, but ambitious, communitybased non-profit organisation, Siyakhula. Siyakhula is about empowering underserved and under-resourced communities through educational initiatives. For eight years, Siyakhula has offered practical and accessible computer literacy training as a stepping stone towards further study, learnership, employment and/ or entrepreneurial opportunities.

The vast majority of Siyakhula's students have no previous experience of working with computers and Siyakhula is helping bridge the "digital divide" through targeted and effective interventions developed specifically for the South African development context.

In addition, Siyakhula's Schools Enrichment Programme aims to provide support to both educators and learners in nearby high schools by means of educator development, career guidance and mentoring, and supplementary tutoring. Siyakhula is currently engaging over 4 000 learners from two partnering schools and over 140 educators. Siyakhula is guided by the steadfast conviction that quality education is the most effective tool for establishing a more equitable, prosperous and peaceful South Africa. 

OLIVER'S HOUSE
Based on Gauteng's East Rand, Oliver's House provides free after-school education to learners and the community in the Benoni CBD and surrounding areas. Tuition includes five matric subjects as well as computer literacy and adult literacy classes. 

EDUCATION ALIVE
The Education Alive training centre in Wynberg, Cape Town, offers tuition to learners who struggle with maths, science and technical subjects. The centre also offers literacy classes and is part of Applied Scholastics International, a body that trains teachers, educators, parents, learners and college students in disadvantaged communities. The recently launched Work Readiness Programme is aimed at unemployed Commerce Graduates who wish to enter the financial workplace. The programme consists of Education Alive courses followed by an "internship" period with established accounting practices. To date, 80% of the trainees have been offered full learnership contracts. 

Of course, Datatec's philanthropic endeavour is not limited to South Africa. Through the Group's various subsidiaries around the world, many initiatives, both internally driven and locally focused, have received support.

WESTCON
Westcon follows a dedicated policy in the form of charitable donations. They support various causes with the main focus on family health and wellbeing. Initiatives that were undertaken during the 2008 financial year included breast cancer awareness, blood drives, disabled children, ASPCA, Toys for Tots and a number of food drives. Westcon has sponsored many charities over the years including the American Parkinson Disease Association, Cure Autism Now, NY Families of Autistic Children, and The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, to list a few. 

In addition, Westcon sponsored a charity payroll deduction and matching programme up to $500 for its employees. Westcon has also held various fundraising events and provides support to volunteers by allowing them paid volunteer leave. 

LOGICALIS
Logicalis' policy is to encourage its various operations to make their own contribution to the communities within which they work. Not only does this approach ensure operational buy-in at a local level, but it also means that monies are fed directly into the community that might otherwise be overlooked. All employees are encouraged to bring suitable opportunities to local management for review. The following is a list of just some of the initiatives supported over the past year. 

Logicalis US has made donations and held fund-raising events for the following charities: Big Brothers, Big Sisters of Metropolitan Detroit which provides one-toone mentoring to at-risk and disadvantaged children; American Red Cross which provides relief to victims of disaster and helps people prevent, prepare for, and respond to emergencies; and Earth Share, which engages individuals and organisations in creating a healthy and sustainable environment. 

For the second year in a row, Logicalis UK committed to making annual donations to the Berkshire Community Foundation, an independent charity supported by a number of major companies, which provides grants to small local voluntary groups that tackle needs at the grassroots of the community. This commitment will continue for a minimum of three years. For example, the foundation supports children and young people with special needs, people with long-term disabilities, the elderly, homeless and people with mental health needs. 

ANALYSYS MASON
Analysys Mason has supported local and international charities of all sizes. They have ranged from a local project, The Marsha Phoenix Trust, empowering homeless young women, to international charities such as Oxfam whose efforts are recognised worldwide. Analysys Mason has also continued to support Friends of Londiani in Kenya that they have donated to over a number of years. Funds raised for this have come directly from the company as well as donations from staff of both their time and money.