MEA July 2017

52 MEA MARKETS / July 2017 , Ithala Development Finance Corporationmanages fully-integrated business activities that provide a range of financial and property services throughout KwaZulu-Natal. In this special feature, we profile the firm’s marvellous work in enabling dreams and delivering hope. Enabling Dreams and Delivering Hope Ithala Development Finance Corporation manages fully- integrated business activities that provide a range of financial and property services throughout KwaZulu- Natal. The corporation’s core developmental activities are carried out by three Strategic Business Units (SBUs), namely: Ithala’s financial services • Business finance; • Micro finance and; • Insurance. Ithala Properties • Property development and; • Property asset management Ithala Limited • Savings and investments; • Home loan finance; • Home improvement loan finance; • Development loan finance and; • Commercial loan finance. Other strategic business units • Corporate services; • Group strategy; • Finance; • Information technology; • Marketing and; • Group audit and risk assurance services Ithala corporate social investment Ithala’s vision is to create economic growth in the province, through the delivery of sustainable development, leading to the socio-economic upliftment of especially the historically disadvantaged. Our approach to CSI is committed to investing in the development and empowerment of projects, that supports our development mandate. To create a sustainable environment, it is critical to our overall strategy that there is an interaction with businesses, government and community at large. Ithala school enterprise challenge 2015 More than 100 low resource schools across three districts in KwaZulu-Natal participated in a unique school enterprise programme as part of a global initiative to accelerate socio- economic development and empowerment among the youth. The School Enterprise Challenge is a student-led, business start-up competition for schools around the world. In addition to being a key sponsor of the initiative, Ithala Development Finance Corporation, KwaZulu-Natal’s provincial development agency, contributed significantly to the mentorship and upskilling of the participants. Participation in the annual competition is free and open to learners of all age groups. The objectives are to guide and support teachers and students to set up tangible school businesses. The initiative enables students to develop essential business and entrepreneurial skills in a practical, entertaining and innovative manner. In this way, schools can generate an income which they can invest towards developing their school or a social cause of their choice. Following careful consideration by an esteemed panel of judges, the Hope Ithemba Hope team from Hope Valley Farm School in the uMgungundlovu District was declared the overall winner. The learners, many of whom are orphans, illustrated an innovative beaded jewellery making business idea through a detailed five-year business plan which contained a sample of the bracelets to be sold to tourists and volunteers visiting the area. “I learnt a lot from the school business. I used to struggle with accounting, but as a team we helped each other out. This is now something I would like to do in the future and the school business has helped me to broaden my career options,” said Siphindile Nzama, Hope Ithemba Hope team leader. “My biggest personal achievement has been to gain confidence. I am now able to talk to new people and communicate clearly. Before being involved in the school business I did not speak clearly and was often told to speak up. The school business also taught me to present myself well.” Remembering the legacy The overarching objective of Mandela Day is to inspire individuals to act to help change the world for the better, 1704ME07 and in doing so build a global movement for good. Ultimately it seeks to empower communities everywhere. “Take Action; Inspire Change; Make Every Day a Mandela Day.” The organisation has always been participating in the CSI Madiba Day initiatives. Ithala will continue to nominate deserving recipients within our communities. In the year 2013, as part of the 67 minutes for Madiba initiatives, Ithala extended a helping hand to the Sithokozise Noah Centre, a community based non-profit organisation providing support to orphans and vulnerable children in the R Section Umlazi. Following the identification of a vast number of orphans and vulnerable children in the area, due to issues such as family members dying from illnesses including HIV/AIDS and poverty and other rising issues within the area including high unemployment rate, crime, and drug and alcohol abuse the need to establish a centre. This was to provide care and support, servicing approximately 300 vulnerable children, providing the following services. • Daily meals, ensuring that the children receive at least one daily nutritious meal; • Day Care Centre for young early childhood development; • Family home visits, to access family living situations and provide support and referrals where needed;