Impact

Celebrating Women in CSR – Mulemwa Moongwa

in CSR / Featured / Impact / Women's Month  by CSRNZ Media 0 comments

What is your background and how did you get into CSR?

I am a Certified Meetings Practitioner and an Event Strategist , I have worked and earned in the events industry for the past seventeen years rising through the ranks primarily working in social family oriented activities like birthdays to day specializing in business events. I often struggle to explain my job as the industry locally has no defined learning or career paths, I however spent considerable time learning about the industry and today serving not only as a local advocate but for the continent in different spaces.

Managing events for businesses means appreciating their stakeholder interests, by default I have worked in CSR for the past twelve years. My first encounter with CSR was actually working on a training project for KCM in chingola in 2006. I am a very compassionate person so something to feel good, got me interested and I immediately started to learn about it. The most fascinating thing I remember was the manager being female and a chemist, I knew I would never be chemist but I wanted to know how to get a job that was designed to do good for other people. Sixteen years on, I am still at it!

What are you passionate about in your work?

Successful events are categorized by two (2) elements, they bring about change and they have multiple stakeholders. Changing minds and having everyone from their diverse backgrounds is an art form and I take such a keen interest in everything I work on

 

Could you share one or two challenges you have experienced in your career around CSR and how you overcame them?

Making clients understand that CSR is not a marketing campaign and maintaining the human dignity conversations. A ‘helpie’ is a street term describing a pose with someone receiving a lifeline from you. It used to break my heart to watch as clients rushed in with their cameras. I have been vulnerable in my life and I hate being an object of pity, it was a struggle for me to separate my personal feelings and deliver for clients, the solution eventually was to not take on such projects. Today, the projects I work on, adhere to my parameters of comfort, I am not sure I overcame but I find peace working on them.

What has been the biggest challenge you faced in your work during COVID19? How did you overcome it?

I am a person whose job description is to gather people, the declaration of the pandemic in Zambia on 11 March 2020 deleted my job. It’s been almost 2 years of re-skilling, re-tooling and re-imagining my career path. It was the industry disruption caused by the pandemic that exposed that the industry I had worked and thrived in was an informal arena although a part of what was thought to be a very developed tourism sector not only in Zambia. My qualifications were not even recognized in the local qualifications framework so even to get a job is a challenge for me and others from the sector.

The Meetings Industry that is part of the wider Events and Business Tourism industry is a multi-billion industry even on the African continent as evidenced by the continuous investments in its infrastructure. Although most of us worked in it, when COVID struck, there was no data about its actual impact to warrant decision making in our favour. It got personal.

I had never brandished being Zambia’s first certified Meetings Professional because I had been secretly studying to meet the practice requirement and by December 2022. I am on course to hold the most industry specific certifications on the continent.  I have established MICE Academy Zambia to become a centre of excellence for our industry education. The realization that COVID would retire me gave me such a fighting spirit I joined forces with others from the industry at local,  regional and international level. Today I am the founding Vice President of the Events Professionals Association of Zambia, the President of Meetings Professionals International  Africa Chapter www.mpi.org (in development) . Over the past eighteen months I have lobbied as high as the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) and the African Union. I have been appointed to the Council of Events Professionals in Africa and the MPI Emerging Markets Advisory Boards.

I lost loved ones during the pandemic, I overcame the pain by focusing on being the change.

 

What can we do to empower more women to come to the CSR forefront and lead the social and/or environmental impact?

The gender and CSR issues are both business conversations. Organisations that have more women in decision making positions undoubtedly lead in their social impact. Lets increase the involvement of our staff in CSR activities with deliberate policies to ensure increased female participation. I often find female volunteers are easy to mobilise , it is the gender imbalanced boardrooms where decisions about CSR are made that need attention.

 

What is one thing you wish you had been told when you were starting out that you know now?

CHANGE IS A PROCESS NOT AN EVENT! When I was younger I would believe that after an event , the change I desired to see would be implemented and evident , I would be so disappointed when evaluating projects that I often felt like a failure. I quit certain projects because I felt my efforts were wasted , only to see something after 5 years. Looking back I wish this was taught to me, perseverance is a trait I carry but its been a long learning curve.

 

What advice would you give to a woman starting her career or involvement in CSR today?

“Service to others is the rent you pay for your space here on earth”! The words were uttered by the boxer Muhammed Ali in 1979 and have been my guiding light over the past 20 years

Invest in people, the returns are invaluable. Build a network that you can draw from for professional and personal needs

Learning is a life-long process, keep at it!

Live, do not just exist!

Lastly always be in competition with yourself. Your personal aim should be to do better, than the you yesterday, a year ago or 10 years ago.

 

This International Women’s Day, what is the message that you would like to give out to young women who aspire to break the glass ceiling?

I come from a very lean family structure, I remember passing number 5 in grade 4 and everyone ahead of me was a boy. I remember the conversation vividly with an uncle of mine who asked me why I allowed myself to be surpassed by the other 4! That conversation stuck with me and those that I went to school with will confirm, I have always strived and stayed in the top 3 bracket. In spaces where I have no inspiration, I tell myself that I owe it to the next young person (irrespective of gender) to create a source of inspiration.

Celebrating Women in CSR – Kafula Kutontonkanya

in CSR / Featured / Impact  by CSRNZ Media 0 comments

As we commemorate Women’s Month, we continue our series of “Celebrating Women in CSR“, to appreciate the achievements of women and inspire all of us under the theme “Gender equality today for a sustainable tomorrow”, with yet another interview of Kafula Kutontonkanya, the Business Development Lead, Community Affairs Department of FQML Trident in Kalumbila.

What is your background and how did you get into CSR?

My educational journey so far has been in Banking and Finance at undergraduate level and Business Entrepreneurship at postgraduate level. My career begun at the Lusaka Stock Exchange; a real eye opener for the next six (6) years of my life that would be spent in the Corporate Banking arm of one of Africa’s leading commercial banks. In this role, my business development acumen was stimulated as I regularly went above and beyond my job description to offer financial and business management advice to clients at the Bank. Because of this, when the opportunity to take on a business development role as part of the Community Affairs department of FQM Trident Limited in Kalumbila came my way, I took it! And what an interesting time it has been! Over the last one (1) and a half years, I have had to make a drastic transition from being a Corporate Banker managing multi-national business accounts, to helping people in the most remote parts of the country with setting up, scaling up and sustaining their business. My role is a perfect fit as I have had to use my business and financial background to assess and help develop practical business solutions for the small businesses in our community.

Additionally, being a certified trainer for the “Start and Improve Your Business” training module under the International Labor Organization (ILO) program facilitated by Accelerated Growth for SMEs (AGS), has helped me share and deliver business information in a more simplified way that can be easily understood by MSMEs.

What are you passionate about in your work?

I love working with small businesses, I have always loved that. The goal is to ensure that every small business I engage understands the principles that surround business and what it takes to not only become investor-ready but self-reliant as well. To be honest, I never saw myself having a role to play in CSR, at all. In my mind, CSR was an exercise of scheduled donations for image building for a company or brand. Joining the Trident Foundation team has drastically changed my perception on this. Trident Foundation has created the space for me to use my skills, experience and networks to share business knowledge that promotes sustainable income generation. I am passionate about making a difference and having an impact. Being able to see families fend for themselves and have the dignity of work rather than waiting for handouts is a big motivator to keep on doing what we do at TFL.

Could you share one or two challenges you have experienced in your career around CSR and how you overcame them?

Dependency on the Mine – Working in an environment that hosts one of the largest copper mines in Zambia has seen quite a number of challenges with the major one being dependency on the Mine for business contracts and jobs. Whilst the Mine may be the most attractive option/target for small business houses, low-hanging opportunities that surround the Mine’s operations are often missed. This challenge has not been overcome as it is on-going but I do ensure that whenever I have a chance to engage businesses seeking direct opportunities to the Mine, I make mention of other indirect trickle-down benefits that are available as a result of the Mine’s presence.

Cultural barriers – Coming from a culture that is different from the predominant one in North-Western Province, I have encountered a few challenges with communicating effectively to some community members and fully understanding the culture and beliefs. For instance, I learnt that in the Lunda culture (where I’m working) a younger person cannot say “Hello, how are you doing?” to an older person as it is considered disrespectful. You instead request for the older person to greet you, “Ankoleshi Mwane” meaning “Please greet me”. I have slowly learnt a few basic phrases for greetings and showing appreciation, and my hope is to continue to learn more as I engage with the community. My organization has gone a step further to publish an internal cultural awareness handbook to assist with bridging the cultural gap.

What has been the biggest challenge you faced in your work during COVID19? How did you overcome it?

The biggest challenge was not being able to host trainings and capacity building programs. We had to postpone and cancel a lot of programs that required physical community engagement. Working in a rural set-up makes it even more challenging because the community in which we operate is not fully conversant with technological tools and platforms.

With a reduction in Covid-19 cases, we have resumed our capacity building programs whilst still adhering to official state health guidelines. Our Trident Health team has done an amazing job in creating awareness on issues surrounding Covid-19 and this has helped with implementation of local business support programs in the community.

What can we do to empower more women to come to the CSR forefront and lead the social and/or environmental impact?

There is a need to encourage more women to take up leadership positions not only in CSR but all sectors. Women are known to be caring in nature and have better foresight when handling complex tasks. Professional trainings, skills development and mentorship programs are required to ensure that women are equipped with the necessary skill-set to handle respective lead positions be it in CSR or other fields, including but not limited to handling social and/or environmental issues.

Inviting more women to participate in information sharing events also provides a good base to gather knowledge and learn from the experience of those in different or similar sectors. This on its own is empowerment as well because the networking platforms open up new business relationships that are meaningful to stakeholders and help implementation of CSR activities without having to reinvent the wheel.

What is one thing you wish you had been told when you were starting out that you know now?

That it is not always about working hard but working smart also. Hard work on its own may not guarantee success but working smart most definitely gives you an edge.

What advice would you give to a woman starting her career or involvement in CSR today?

Don’t assume that you know everything. Sometimes academic theories may not work in certain situations and you may need to rely on “logical” instinct. Intuition comes to play a lot in the field of CSR because most times the beneficiaries of this support may not be able to understand certain global standards or international practices. It is our duty to break this down to a comprehensible level without undermining the beneficiaries. The satisfaction of seeing communities develop in a sustainable way due to your involvement in improving their lives is immeasurable!

This International Women’s Day, what is the message that you would like to give out to young women who aspire to break the glass ceiling?

Step up and Step out. The first step to breaking the glass ceiling is realizing that there is no glass ceiling. Women have to step up in the sense that we can no longer afford to continue waiting on activists and women’s movements to give us the opportunities that we want and deserve. We have to step up to challenges and provide real solutions that make us relevant to our spheres and earn us a seat at the table. We have to step up in the sense that opportunity is not going to come where we are, we have got to step out and take it!

There is a saying that goes “The comfort zone is a great place to be…the problem is, nothing ever grows there”. Stepping out for me, has meant challenging preconceived ideas that I had about my education, experience and career path. An education should not be a prison that confines you but a platform that promotes you. I challenge all women to step out of their comfort zones and step into the world of the unfamiliar, because that is where progress lives!

 

Celebrating Women in CSR – Selina Nyirenda Kanyuka

in CSR / Featured / Impact  by CSRNZ Media 0 comments

We continue our series of “Celebrating Women in CSR“, to celebrate the achievements of women and inspire all of us under the theme “Gender equality today for a sustainable tomorrow”, with yet another interview of Selina Nyirenda Kanyuka, the Community Liaison Officer from Munali Nickel Mine operated by Mabiza Resources Limited.

What is your background and how did you get into CSR?

My names are Selina Nyirenda Kanyuka, currently working for Mabiza Resources Limited operators of Munali Nickel Mine as Community Liaison Officer. I currently acquired my master’s in environmental management with my thesis focusing on Sustainability practices and Corporate Social Responsibility in manufacturing industries. I have been into CSR for close to 8 years now, with experience from both the private and public sector.

What are you passionate about in your work?

I’m very passionate about social interactions within local communities and creating a memorable impact on their lives. Community engagement and stakeholder consultancy is key for me as it helps strengthen relations between ourselves and various stakeholders particularly the community. For instance, in 2021, the mine through stakeholder engagement was able to facilitate for two student teachers from the UK that conducted a reading project at Munsangu Primary and Secondary School, a local school, donated a sum of K100,000 and in excess of 200 reading books to the school. The K100,000 was contributed towards the construction of a girl’s hostel at the school.

 

Could you share one or two challenges you have experienced in your career around CSR and how you overcame them?

The Challenge of unforeseen costs and high implementation costs that arise during or before execution of projects or initiatives.

This has been overcome by simply increasing the budget for CSR projects for the year 2022 and an allocation of emerging opportunities was introduced alongside the main budget. Emerging opportunities cater for eventualities that were not planned for in the budgets. These two budget allocations have reduced on the delay of implementation of CSR initiatives due to high costs or the risk of projects being abandoned mid-way.

 

What has been the biggest challenge you faced in your work during COVID19? How did you overcome it?

Covid-19 has not spared any organization. Most CSR activities at Munali Nickel mine had to be slowed down. Physical interactions in the community were briefly stopped at the increase of the pandemic.  However, the company has proactively engaged in various CSR activities, particularly in the fight against COVID-19 such as donating of face masks, sanitizers, and disinfectants to local schools. CSR activities have since been carefully evaluated prioritizing which activities can be undertaken with strict guidelines being followed.

 

What can we do to empower more women to come to the CSR forefront and lead the social and/or environmental impact?

There is need to invest more in women empowerment programs within local communities. Intensifying more on sensitizations and encouraging women to break free from their traditional roles and gender stereotyping.

 

What is one thing you wish you had been told when you were starting out that you know now?

In community service, its not just the big leaps that count. I wish I knew that It’s not just big steps or rather projects that will create a big impact on the community.  Now I have come to realize that small steps have the power to make big changes. What we deem as little and meaningless steps create an impact on some individual out there.

 

What advice would you give to a woman starting her career or involvement in CSR today?

Develop CSR initiatives that relate to the challenges and needs of the community. Ensure the initiatives are attainable.

 

This International Women’s Day, what is the message that you would like to give out to young women who aspire to break the glass ceiling?

For every woman that wants to do exploits, believe in yourself.  You can do more than you think. Don’t let anyone or any surrounding situation limit or define you.

Celebrating Women in CSR – Rhoda Daka

in CSR / Featured / Impact  by CSRNZ Media 0 comments

We continue our series of “Celebrating Women in CSR“, to celebrate the achievements of women and inspire all of us under the theme “Gender equality today for a sustainable tomorrow”, with an interview of Rhoda Daka, the CSR Superintedent from Lubambe Copper Mine.

What is your background and how did you get into CSR?

I am a holder of Bachelor of Arts Degree in Social Sciences from the University of Zambia, with 18 years working experience in community related work, 9 years of which I have served the Communities under Lubambe Copper Mine.

I started my work career with an NGO called Zambia Children Education Foundation in 2000 where I was employed as a Community Mobiliser, thereafter I joined Lubambe Copper Mine in 2012 as an Assistant Community Liaison Officer where I served diligently, that by 2014 I was elevated to Community Liaison Officer. In 2016 I was promoted to CSR Superintendent the position I hold to date.

I got into CSR after I reacted to the Job advert in the national newspaper in which the Mine needed the services of an Assistant Community Liaison Officer

What are you passionate about in your work?

I am passionate about helping the disadvantaged attain an improved economic status in life, because I understand what it means to lack basic necessities

 

Could you share one or two challenges you have experienced in your career around CSR and how you overcame them?

Managing community expectations and Community Over dependency on the mine.

 

What has been the biggest challenge you faced in your work during COVID19? How did you overcome it?

Failure by Community members to adhere to Covid 19 protocols, eg coming for a meeting without a mask

We moved with masks in our bags to distribute to community members attending meetings without masking up

 

What can we do to empower more women to come to the CSR forefront and lead the social and/or environmental impact?

  • Expose more women to empowerment strategies
  • Educating a girl child and supporting fellow women
  • Advocating for women colleagues

 

What is one thing you wish you had been told when you were starting out that you know now?

That a successful CSR must be lady-driven.

 

What advice would you give to a woman starting her career or involvement in CSR today?

There is no limit to what we can accomplish as woman once we put our mind to it. We are the real architects of our communities. Find something you are passionate about and hold on to it and I can assure you that not even the sky will be the limit!

 

This International Women’s Day, what is the message that you would like to give out to young women who aspire to break the glass ceiling?

My encouragement is that, let us believe in ourselves more. Let us be confident in the decisions that we make. It helps to have a variety of mentors both male and female. Also, as women let us stop competing against each other, let every woman know her worth and be proud of it. Let us create a network of women so that we may encourage and cheer each other on. Let us step out of our comfort zone, promote ourselves and strategies to succeed.

Virtual Demo – Exciting New STEM Learning Platform

in Community Development / Featured / Impact  by CSRNZ Media 0 comments

We are delighted to announce a unique upcoming live event hosted by Open Energy Labs, on 2nd June 2021 at 09:00 Hours. Open Energy Labs is a successful Zambian-based start-up which provides STEM education to improve access to electricity. To register for this exclusive event, click here: https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_cGDEJatATFmAO-Vj8zgzkQ

During this event, you will see a live demonstration of a new mobile application and connected hardware, which can provide both education and power to rural communities.

In addition, you will hear from:

  • Director of Dept. of Energy – Ministry of Energy
  • Director of Technology and Innovation – Ministry of Higher Education
  • Director of Communications – Power for All

Topics to be covered include:

  • Empowering communities through education and energy
  • Engaging women and girls in STEM
  • Reaching a global audience by engaging with exciting projects

Attached is a brief overview of Open Energy Labs’ work to date.

If you have any questions please do not hesitate to get in touch with them by emailing samson@openenergylabs.co

Fenix Power Solar Kits Light Up Kasisi Orphanage

in CSR / Impact  by CSRNZ Media 0 comments

Engie Energy Access Zambia, the leading provider of homebased solar solutions called the Fenix Power Solar Kits, on Holy Saturday 3rd of April 2021 donated Four (4) Fenix Solar Kits, COVID-19 essential supplies and assorted household goods to Kasisi orphanage in Chongwe district.

Priding itself in providing solar solutions which improve the quality of lives and livelihoods, Engie Energy Access also donated a Fenix TV Deluxe that comes with GOtv to provide entertainment for the children at the orphanage which due to Covid 19 Health and Safety measures are practicing restricted social interactions with the outside world.

Receiving the donation from the Orphanage in Chongwe, Kasisi sister-in charge Sister Mariola Mierzejewska said the solar kits will assist in meeting the energy deficit resulting from load shedding which negatively affects the well-being of the children at the orphanage.

Sister Mariola further thanked Engie Energy Access for the donation of hygiene products which she said where critical in preventing the orphanage from recording any Covid-19 cases.

And presenting the donated items, Engie Energy Access Marketing Manager Tiwongi Makungo said the Engie Energy Access, whose core business is to provide lighting made the donation was made to commemorate Easter, a special occasion when Christians reflect on the death and resurrection of Jesus which ultimately brought light to the world.

Mrs. Makungo said Engie Energy Access remains committed to providing the best solar solutions to improve the quality of life for customers through inclusive energy.

Women in CSR – Nsanshi Art, Creating Shared Value through Art.

in Community Development / CSR / Impact / Women's Month  by CSRNZ Media 0 comments

The need for a viable and sustainable women’s empowerment project inspired the establishment of Nsanshi Art Studio in Solwezi, North-Western Province.

The women-run workshop is adding value to local minerals, promoting employment and raising living standards for vulnerable women and girls in the community.

Riding on the rich history of mining in the province, First Quantum Mineral’s community wing, the Kansanshi Foundation, set up a jewelry factory that seeks to empower local women while adding value to the copper that the mining firm produces.

This community-based programme is adequately tailored to provide employment, skills training, and improving value chains in the province.

“Nsanshi Art Studio provides employment to these young women during a two-year apprenticeship, while raising funds for vulnerable women and girls in the community, via sales of the products made in the workshop, and adding value to local minerals,” said Kansanshi Foundation Manager Bruce Lewis.

Over the years, there has been an appeal from various stakeholders for value-addition in Zambia’s mining industry. In the main, Zambian copper is exported in raw form.

It is encouraging that Nsanshi Art Studio is changing this narrative. All the copper used in the workshop comes from Kansanshi Mine’s plant. The team get it as off-cuts and odd pieces.

“We put these in the furnace and convert them into copper bars. From there, we work the bars into flat or round pieces, or wire, depending on what we are making. We design the piece, decide what material is needed, and then work it through the roller,” explains Michele Scholtz, who has been spearheading the training.

Currently, there are 10 women undergoing a two-year course in metal smithing. These ladies, all from Solwezi, are supported by the mine with student wages.

Six of the girls were selected by his royal highness Chief Kapijimpanga while the other four (4) came from the vulnerable.

The training started with making spoons with a view to teaching them the basics of sawing, doming and soldering. They then moved onto making rings of various forms.

“They have since advanced to making bracelets and other items. Currently, they are being taught how to make various settings to incorporate into jewelry pieces,” Scholtz elaborated.

“We hope they can acquire a skill to support themselves and be self-reliant in the future without having to rely on a husband,” she added.

The money generated from jewelry sales goes to the Young Women’s Christian Association (YWCA) for the running of the One Stop Centre for Gender-Based Violence at Solwezi General Hospital and the Safe House that have been built by the mine. These facilities provide support to girl child marriage and abused women victims.

Funding channelled into the project is as follows: building – $75 021; tools – $22 928; laser engraver – $62 771.

The state-of-the-art laser engraving machine has the capacity to engrave a photograph on to any metal. The beauty about this empowerment programme is that it will continue to generate funds even after the mine has closed.

Success stories include the export of 30 sets of ear rings to Panama. The students also took part in a design competition from Association of Women in Mining in Africa (AWIMA) and one of them was selected as part of the top 10 designs, a great achievement for the project.

Nsanshi Art Studio is indeed creating a range of unique and inspired copper items that are certain to gain a huge market in Zambia and beyond.

Celebrating Women in CSR – Wezi Njovu

in CSR / Featured / Impact / Women's Month  by CSRNZ Media 0 comments

As part of International Women’s Month to celebrate the achievements of women, we continue our series to appreciate Women in CSR with another interview of Wezi Muyembe Njovu, the Head Marketing and Corporate Communications at UBA Zambia:

 

Briefly describe your role and responsibilities, and the number of years you have been CSR practitioner.

In my role as Head Marketing and Corporate Communications at UBA Zambia Limited, I am to ensure projection of the UBA brand as one of the top pan-African institution. My role also involves developing effective communication campaigns, managing stakeholder relations, media relations and network, brand visibility, impactful corporate events/ sponsorships and corporate social responsibility initiatives.

It feels like I have been in CSR since I was a toddler and this is because my mother has always believed in impacting the society through community goodwill.

Tell us about someone or something (mentor, friend, hero, incident) who or that affected or influenced your CSR journey, and how.

My mother, Mrs Tamara Chirembo Muyembe would be the first person who has influenced greatly on my CSR journey. My mother has always believed in changing lives of people in our communities especially women in the rural areas as well as disadvantaged women through different ways like teaching them skills such as knitting, sewing, cooking in order to help them generate income and being a teacher herself, she teaches these women how to read and write.

In my professional career, I would definitely owe my inspiration to the founder of the Tony Elumelu Foundation and UBA Chairman, Mr Tony Elumelu who is a visionary entrepreneur and philanthropist. Mr Elumelu also believes that we all can play a role in our communities in order to better the lives of our people in society.

 

How has CSR/CSI evolved at your organisation?

CSR has certainly evolved in UBA Zambia to a point that all staff members as well as the UBA Zambia board members have jumped on the bus with great interest and enthusiasm to make a difference in the community. Our main initiative which is the Read Africa Initiative under the UBA Foundation has had staff believe and participate more in the initiative. Read Africa is an initiative of UBA Foundation aimed at rekindling the dwindling reading culture amongst African youths. Our children no longer read; their passion for reading informative and educative books is fast eroding and this is part of the ills we want to correct in the continent’s educational sector.​

These children are also distracted and challenged by the presence of electronic social media — Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and others. There are other factors militating against the Zambian educational system as well as Africa as a whole. Having identified the need to curb the trend, especially in response to the declining culture of reading in post primary institutions across the continent, UBAF came up with the ‘Read Africa’ project, designed to resuscitate the reading culture amongst our youths across the African continent. Conceived and introduced in 2011 by the foundation, the project involves the provision of recommended English literature for junior and senior secondary schools students across Africa.

 

Can you share a recent accomplishment you are especially proud of?

This will definitely have to be the recognition/award presented to UBA Zambia by the CSR Network Zambia for outstanding achievements in corporate social responsibility and responsible leadership under Education support for the Read Africa Initiative.

Secondly, I would like to make mention that the Corona virus (COVID-19) pandemic has been a global health and societal emergency that has required effective immediate action by governments, businesses and the society at large.

To aid this collective effort and in line with our Corporate Social Responsibility, UBA Zambia partnered with the Government in dealing with this challenge with a donation of K2,650,000 to the Government Of The Republic Of Zambia for Covid-19 relief support.

UBA Zambia remains committed to working with the Government in other spheres of the economy. We have therefore, formed partnerships with different players in the ecosystem including Co-operatives and the Government; we are currently providing payment solutions to over 5,000 women beneficiaries under the Supporting Women Livelihood project by the Ministry of Community Development in partnership with World Bank.

The bank through the Tony Elumelu Entrepreneurship programme has also been supporting young Zambian entrepreneurs by providing them with an opportunity to have access to funding for their start-up businesses. Since 2015, 142 Zambian entrepreneurs have each been given $5000 non-refundable seed capital for their businesses.

 

If you had the power to make one major change at your company or in your industry, what would it be, in line with CSR?

I wouldn’t really say I would like to change anything, instead I would say I would like to enhance and push our current initiatives with focus on the Read Africa initiative in order to have more Zambian schools and youths benefit from this. I would like to see more partnerships among businesses with the goal of improving the lives of our people in various ways possible.

 

What is the best advice you have ever received in your career?

Believe! Just Believe!

 

How can CSR activities be used to empower women?

As the saying goes, when you empower a woman, you empower a generation. CSR activities are like gifts that go exactly where they are needed. We need to continue protecting and empowering women by equipping them with skills and offering training, education, counseling, love, medical care and financial literacy. Women can rise from grass to grace, from zero to hero and from nothing to something.

 

Describe your perfect day.

My perfect day is when I know I have made a positive impact and a difference in another woman’s life, and this can be through a positive compliment, encouragement, offering a shoulder, offering guidance and just letting her know that we are on this journey together.

Celebrating Women in CSR – Katongo Chilufya

in CSR / Featured / Impact / Women's Month  by CSRNZ Media 0 comments

As part of International Women’s Month to celebrate the achievements of women, we continue our series to appreciate Women in CSR with another interview of Katongo Chilufya, the Communications, Public Relations & Corporate Social Investment -Manager at Atlas Mara:

 

Briefly describe your role and responsibilities, and the number of years you have been CSR practitioner.

I am the Communications, Public Relations and Corporate Social Investment Manager at Atlas Mara bank.

I have been a CSR practitioner for over 8 (eight) years with experience in various roles during this time.  Some of my roles and responsibilities as a practitioner is to ensure visibility, awareness for our products and services as well as internal and external stakeholder management for the organisation. To achieve this we use different platforms and I am always keen and excited to develop, implement effective Corporate Social Investment strategies that resonate with communities across Zambia.

Tell us about someone or something (mentor, friend, hero, incident) who or that affected or influenced your CSR journey, and how.

I know this will sound cliché but I have always had a passion to want to help or lend a helping hand ever since I could remember. Consequently, I have always gravitated towards situations that require assistance and try to render support in the best possible way by using my immediate network or tools.

My hero would be my sister Kasonde Priscilla Chilufya, in her small ways always found means to assist people in different circumstances and most times improving their well-being through her deeds. I learnt that one does not need to be an Oprah Winfrey my other hero, to make a difference, it is dependent on of all us and not only organisations to make the much needed difference in our society.

 

How has CSR/CSI evolved at your organisation?

CSR is usually seen as an organisation initiative but as a Bank we strive to make certain we also get staff members’ participation across our 50 branches, as this helps spread good-will across the country. For the Bank, Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is one of the biggest tenets for Atlas Mara’s vision. This means ensuring continuous improvement in the communities that we operate in.

We strive to be responsive to the needs of society and the communities, hence there is need to develop strong and relevant CSR programmes in partnership with like-minded organisations or individuals that have a passion to uplift communities and help mitigate the various challenges they face.

The Bank’s CSR programmes are anchored on four main pillars namely; Education, Health, Entrepreneurship as well as Water and Sanitation. Beyond these, we have also sought other opportunities to deepen the impact especially in deprived rural communities with effective CSR. Hence our presence across the 10 provinces in Zambia.

 

Can you share a recent accomplishment you are especially proud of?

Atlas Mara Bank in partnership with World Sun Stream has been running a programme called #SolarForSuccess. A programme to donate portable 101,000 solar kits with lighting and mobile device-charging capability to economic and social sectors which included Education, Health, Tourism, Entrepreneurship as well as to under-privileged members in communities across the 10 provinces in Zambia.

This was due to power deficits in the country that has impacted everyone, therefore support is required in various communities, to help contribute to the growth of individuals, businesses, communities at large.

I am excited to say that over 98,746 people in various communities have benefitted so far from solar kit donation.

The donation is a recurring initiative which will assist various communities and sectors with solar kits and mobile device-charging capability.

 

If you had the power to make one major change at your company or in your industry, what would it be, in line with CSR?

Create more empowerment initiatives and activities for young people in communities that are disadvantaged, this will help alleviate poverty levels and help create a beneficial cycle effect.

 

What is the best advice you have ever received in your career?

To know exactly where I want to be in life, identify my goals and ambitions, which will in turn direct my path and decisions to get to my ultimate objective.

 

How can CSR activities be used to empower women?

“I always say that an empowered woman is an unstoppable force to reckon with”

There are so many way CSR activities that can be used to empower women, this can be achieved by creating opportunities and initiatives that empower women. This in turn will help create employment through the various initiatives, foster diversification of the economy with different initiatives contributing to various sectors and which will ensure self –sufficiency among women. This also ensures continuous development in various communities

For instance, Atlas Mara recently sponsored the Buyantanshi and Kamimbe Co-operative initiative, a women and youth empowerment fish farming start-up pilot program. This program ensures that the cooperatives achieve benefits not only at individual levels but at community and national level as well.

Atlas Mara also pledged to provide financial literacy training and business development support services to the camp which is the residence to local small-scale farmers and large international producers as well.

 

Describe your perfect day.

Being at home on a quiet day reading a good book or watching my favourite series with cup of coffee in my hands.

Celebrating Women in CSR – Sarah Banda-Ortiz

in CSR / Featured / Impact / Women's Month  by CSRNZ Media 0 comments

As part of International Women’s Month to celebrate the achievements of women, we continue our series to appreciate Women in CSR with another interview of Sarah Banda-Ortiz, the Corporte Affiars and Communications Manager at Lafarge Zambia Plc:

 

Briefly describe your role and responsibilities, and the number of years you have been a CSR practitioner.

My role is to ensure that we (Lafarge Zambia) have shared value with our communities and partners across the plants in which we operate. It is also important that the Company be a good corporate citizen in the community, I have been in the CSR/CSI space for over 3 years now.

 

Tell us about someone or something (mentor, friend, hero, incident) who or that affected or influenced your CSR journey, and how.

My grandmother influenced my CSR journey. From the time I can remember she has always quoted the following “If you can’t do great things, do small things in a great way”. This quote speaks volumes to me and affects what I do on a daily basis with regards to CSR, it is not about the big things but rather the small things that make an impact.

 

How has CSR/CSI evolved in your organization?

It has evolved in the sense that we have a symbiotic relationship with our communities. We are partners in this journey of CSR, gone are the days when it was just about giving and receiving, my organization is about uplifting our communities and empowering them with the necessary tools that will last a lifetime.

A great example of this is the UNZA ventilator project that we are supporting in partnership with Zambian Breweries. A huge part of the project is being managed by students at the School of Engineering who are putting together the first ventilator made in Zambia for Zambians. How rewarding will it be, when we will look back and see that as a nation we came up with local solutions to a local problem? This excites me.

 

Can you share a recent accomplishment you are especially proud of?

I am very proud of the work that we did in 2020 when the Covid-19 pandemic first hit the country. Our CSR was mainly community-centric and was centered on spreading the right information to our communities about the pandemic. We noticed very early on that our communities were not too cognizant of the virus we thus went into markets, schools, and open areas to educate them on the virus. This led to an award that we received from the CSR network, for the company’s communications strategies within our communities.

 

If you had the power to make one major change at your company or in your industry, what would it be, in line with CSR?

At Lafarge Zambia, we have a CSR graduate trainee program called Step Up. The main aim of Step Up is to build a strong talent pipeline for key roles in the business. Even though this program has been extremely successful with an 85% success rate, there is one thing that I would change and it would be to have more women graduates applying to more technical roles. Our industry is predominantly male as there are few women in such technical and industrial positions in the Company. As our industry is becoming more eco-friendly and low carbon emission focused, I feel as though women are needed to drive this ambition and initiative globally. I was reading an article from the World Economic Forum titled “building a more sustainable world will need more women engineers” It went on to say that attracting and supporting more women in engineering benefits everyone by increasing the potential to develop inclusive, innovative solutions for the complex problems the world is facing. We need women on the negotiating table not just for inclusion and diversity purposes but also for innovative and effective solutions.

 

What is the best advice you have ever received in your career?

Never take no for an answer and always be yourself.

 

How can CSR activities be used to empower women?

They can be used to empower women with the necessary skills needed to make an impact in their homes and society. As mentioned earlier, we need to start engaging in more CSR initiatives that teach people how to be independent and less dependent. In my view, an initiative that teaches someone to fish is more impactful compared to one that just hands out the fish. As the effects of that initiative will be felt from generation to generation.

 

Describe your perfect day.

My perfect day is one where I feel like I have added some sort of value to my organization and community.

wpChatIcon
wpChatIcon