Your Turn to Change the World for the Better

Think of ten people who have changed the world…before you start counting off names like Mother Theresa and Mahatma Ghandi, try looking a little closer to home. Ten ordinary South Africans have spent the past year making a major difference to various communities around the country through the first ever Vodacom Change the World programme, Vodacom’s unique initiative that mobilises skilled professionals to take time out and work for a community or nonprofit organisation for one year. Now the opportunity to change the world by donating your talent and passion to a charity is available to You.

Vodacom is, once again, giving 10 South Africans the unique opportunity to donate their time and expertise as volunteers at one of 10 nonprofit organisations that serve various local communities, for a period of 12 months.  The 10 volunteers will get the chance to share the skills and experience that they possess and which are so desperately lacking by the identified non-profit organisations.

The 10 nonprofit organisations taking part in the next leg of the Vodacom Change the World programme and the nature of skills they need include:

• Association for People with Disabilities (APD) Polokwane, Limpopo: A Project Marketer/Fundraiser is on this NPO’s wish list to help it promote the advancement of persons with physical and/or mental disabilities. The person would be responsible for strategically and operationally managing fundraising and marketing activities to create awareness about the APD and its services, market its products and raise funds. This will assist them to attain their maximum level of independence and integration into the community;

• New Beginningz, Tshwane: To ensure that the organisation is able to continue to provide programmes and services to abandoned, abused and neglected children living, working and begging on the streets in and around Tshwane, this NPO requires the services of a Project Manager. This role involves taking full ownership of three of the organisation’s major projects, including programme planning and execution, managing staff, liaising with partners and evaluation;

• Jo’burg Child Welfare Society, Johannesburg: Driven by the belief that every human being deserves a childhood free from abuse and neglect, the JCW is in need of a Research and Community Development Coordinator to help it extend vital care and support to underprivileged children, families and communities in Johannesburg. This person will need to build a sustainable support service to managers of Community Based Organisations (CBOs) and develop an advocacy toolkit for them, as well as conduct research and social impact studies;

• The Smile Foundation, Johannesburg: Over the past 10 years, the organisation has put smiles on the faces of over 600 children with facial abnormalities through providing them with free corrective plastic and reconstructive surgery. Given the trauma that some of these families have faced, the need for a Psychologist is evident. This role involves streamlining processes directly related to the Psychological and Social support structure offered by the Smile Foundation and involves skills such as clinical examination, education and capacity building, research and evaluation;

• Free State Residential Care Centre, Bloemfontein: Created to provide a safe living and working environment for intellectually challenged adults, the Centre empowers its beneficiaries with the power to make a meaningful contribution to society through its five sheltered employment workshops. The Centre believes that work is therapeutic and helps boost self-esteem. With 156 residents and 38 disabled day workers needing training on a daily basis, a Workshop Manager is essential to coordinate and support all the activities of the workshop, manage production, and oversee quality control of all projects;

• Nurturing Orphans of AIDS for Humanity (NOAH), Umhlanga: There are currently about 3.7 million orphans in South Africa. NOAH was born out of a need to take responsibility for these children and aims to give them an opportunity to grow up to be emotionally, psychologically and physically healthy adults. To realise this ideal the organisation is seeking the expertise of an Early Childhood Development Specialist who will be responsible for developing a comprehensive ECD programme; training, mentoring and providing support to staff responsible for running the programme; and providing assistance with maintaining a safe and stimulating environment for young children at the arks;

• Algoa Bay Council for the Aged (ABCA), Port Elizabeth: This non-profit organisation provides diverse services to older persons and those with similar needs with the aim of promoting their independence and empowering them to lead meaningful and fulfilled lives. A Professional Nurse is required to help bring relief, comfort and decency to the lives of the Eastern Cape’s elderly;

• Tertiary School in Business Administration (TSiBA), Cape Town: The unique, private, nonprofit business school provides emerging leaders with the opportunity to study high quality, accredited academic courses that are focused on developing entrepreneurship and leadership. A Marketer/Fundraiser is needed to create awareness around this innovative learning community and enable more entrepreneurial leaders to graduate by advising on and implementing brand building strategies for student recruitment and fundraising;

• Ndlovu Care Group, Groblersdal, Mpumalanga: As an innovative, multi award winning community development group, this organisation has been implementing their model for Community Health and Development in rural areas throughout South Africa. A Social Worker is desperately needed to take responsibility for those within the organisation’s Treatment and Orphaned and Vulnerable Children programmes. This role includes counselling, supporting and training other counsellors, involvement in awareness campaigns, educational programmes and community work projects;

• FAMSA, Upington: This NPO is dedicated to promoting human dignity and worth by assisting individuals, couples, families, ‘work place families’ and communities to achieve functionality. To manage the organisation’s programmes that tackle urgent social issues such as Family Violence, Alcohol and Drug abuse, Women Empowerment, Poverty Relief and Prevention of AIDS, a Project Manager is required. This person would be responsible for the management of community development initiatives and the implementation of family preservation programmes in communities through activities such as training, strategy development and development of project material;

On top of providing these organisations with an experienced volunteer whose skills, experience and of course, personality best matches the participating NPO, Vodacom will provide a grant of R70 000 to each organisation hosting a volunteer as part of this programme. A further R10 000 per month, to cover project related costs to be managed jointly by the NPO and volunteer, will also be provided.

Vodacom will offer each participant a monthly stipend of R25 000 to cover their living expenses. Each volunteer will also be provided with a laptop, mobile phone and pre-paid credit so that they can share their experiences with the world and inspire others to make a difference as well.

Entries to take part in the 2012 Vodacom Change the World programme will be open from the 8th of January to the 10th of February 2012.

So, if you are a skilled professional who wants to give back to those in need, visit www.vodacom.co.za/changetheworld to find out more about the NPOs involved, the positions available, necessary qualifications and to submit an online application form.

“Opportunities that allow those with experience to share constitute an innovative way of giving. If you have the skills and the time – why not throw your name into the hat and contribute towards a better South Africa?” says Mthobi Tyamzashe, Executive Director: CSI at Vodacom.

To view other NGO press releases, refer to www.ngopulse.org/group/home-page/pressreleases.