NICS Cares: An overview of NICS CSI projects over the past few years

NICS Cares

Introduction

At NICS we recognise that our stakeholder interests are best served through a collaborative, coordinated and integrated approach whose aim is to add and create value.  Our approach of striving to entrench sustainable value creation highlights the interdependent nature of the business we operate, one which understands that PEOPLE are the foundation of our success and that our continued success rests on our ability to build mutually beneficial ties with the communities within which we operate.

In order to achieve our vision in this regard, our CSI focus areas are:

  • Education and Youth Development
  • Sports and Community Development
  • Empowerment for the Physically and Mentally Disabled
  • Women Empowerment and the Development of Rural Girls
  • Support for Abused Women and Children

Education and Youth Development

It is critically important to keep alive the spirit and legacy of the heroes that inspired our democracy, ensuring that young South Africans carry this ethos and spirit of inclusive leadership into the future. To this end, our Chairman Mr Baker Maseko hosted 240 Grade 11 and 12 history students from Mamelodi on Human Right Day for a screening of Kalushi: The Story of Solomon Mahlangu. This is a story of global significance, pivotal to our own nation’s history and one that illuminates the values that have made South Africa a beacon of justice, fairness and peace for all people. In addition, the learners were part of an educational talk about the virtues of inclusive governance and the collective benefits born of individual sacrifices by heroes of yesteryear.

NICS is committed to continued investment in education – from early childhood and beyond – to help address the skills shortage in South Africa and accordingly provides financial support to:

  • Youth Alive Ministries(YAM): YAM nurtures and grooms the youth to be great leaders of the future in their chosen field. They provide leadership development and community outreach through various projects and activities that include youth clubs, camps, training, mentorship, educational support, and seminars.
  • Care Net: An organization that runs Early Childhood Development centres. Care Net is also an administrator of grants by SASSA for orphaned and vulnerable children and assists in the verification process to ensure that the correct beneficiaries receive their grant.
  • Boschkop Primary School: towards the education of selected pupils from disadvantaged backgrounds. The contribution is aimed at ensuring that these students have a brighter future with education as the catalyst.

Sports and Community Development

NICS understands the benefits of an inclusive society and thus we endeavour to ensure that our efforts to deliver social value are closely aligned to those of the communities within which we operate. Through our continued involvement with and support of community-based initiatives, we are able to positively impact as well as strengthen communities whilst building leadership capacity through sports. Established in 2001 as an initiative to facilitate social cohesion, build entrepreneurial skills and to promote a healthy lifestyle in the community of Mamelodi, NICS is a partner and sponsor of the Jab-Jabu 7-a-side Soccer Challenge.

Empowerment for the Physically and Mentally Disabled

In line with South Africa’s commitment to promoting inclusive education, NICS is committed to enabling people with disabilities to live independently and participate fully in all aspects of life. To that end, we provide financial support to the management of Little Eden as part of the Adopt an Angel programme.

LITTLE EDEN is a registered NPO providing life-long care to 300 children and adults with profound disabilities in two custom designed residential facilities – Domitilla and Danny Hyams Home in Edenvale, and Elvira Rota Village, a farm in Bapsfontein.

Women Empowerment and the Development of Rural Girls

South Africa is benefiting from greater female empowerment and gender equality, with women becoming more involved in the industry and becoming leaders who are making their mark in society. Equal opportunities are important to us at NICS and we’re committed to building a South Africa whose workforce reflects the demographics of its operational environment.

Attended by over 100 women from in and around Gauteng, The Daughter of Destiny Women’s Seminar focuses on Women Empowerment, with NICS being the proud Platinum Sponsor. NICS was represented by Ms Helen Malaka, our Quality and Services Manager, as a Guest Speaker.

Support for Abused Women and Children

NICS provides financial support to Compass, a home for abused women and children. The contribution goes towards year long upliftment and skills development programmes for abused women and children, assisting them to be more independent as well as combating poverty and unemployment. This is in line with recognising Youth Month and International Children’s week