Join CAF Southern Africa’s Employee Volunteer Week 2009 and…

This is a call to all employed South Africans to embrace Employee Volunteer Week 2009 and in turn, to impact meaningfully on the many serious development challenges facing the country.

In 2009 CAF Southern Africa asks all South Africans to “volunteer for change”. Volunteering or people willingly donating their time and skills without remuneration for the benefit of others, is a characteristic feature of South African society and indeed, can be seen as the ‘social glue’ which holds communities together in the face of needs or adversity.

Volunteering takes on even more importance right now, with South Africa feeling the effects of the global economic downturn. Our economy, the biggest and strongest on the African continent, has posted its lowest quarterly growth in a decade. Spiralling petrol, food, electricity and transport costs have hit South African households and consumers, hard. Consumers paying off a bond or who have borrowed money, are feeling the pinch of interest rate hikes. Unemployment rates are high. While so many South Africans are feeling disheartened and pessimistic, there is no better time than now for employed South Africans, to give back to the wider South African community and keep the spirit of volunteering alive. Volunteering brings South Africans together.

CAF Southern Africa’s Volunteer Week has multiple benefits for those who want to participate and share in the experience of giving back to the community. It will increase employees’ interaction and general community awareness as well as contribute to an understanding of specific community issues. Employee volunteering also has benefits for the employees. It helps enhance the work performance, social interaction and leadership skills of employees. As many participants of previous Employee Volunteer Weeks will attest to, it creates a shared sense of purpose and loyalty amongst employees, helping foster employee teamwork and cohesion.

In 2009 Employee Volunteer Week has a specific emphasis on skills transfer i.e. the empowerment of local people and communities to improve their well-being through the transfer of appropriate knowledge and skills. CAF Southern Africa will connect volunteers with a wide range of activities aimed at matching the skills and interests of

volunteers with the critical needs of communities. We will also use our expertise in the field of employee volunteering to inform and enrich the great work being done by our volunteers.

Whether you belong to a large corporation or you are self employed, Employee Volunteer Week has a place for you! Do join Employee Volunteer Week 2009. Call CAF Southern Africa and we will assist you every step of the way.

Employee Volunteer Week runs from 9-15 March 2009, so please play your part and ‘volunteer for change’. We look forward to hearing from you!

Contact

Mamo Mohapi
mmohapi@cafsouthernafrica.org

(011) 726-1148

Annsilla Nyar
annsilla@cafsouthernafrica.org