ADVERTORIAL
Further training in confectionery is scheduled for early
2012.
partnership with Mobile Payment Corporation and First
National Bank, is aimed at empowering entrepreneurs,
using PPC's social investment model.
Gabaresepe Day Care Centre
Worn-out ?tted carpets in the classroom at this daycare
centre in Old Naledi in Gaborone were replaced with rough
ceramic ?oors which are easy to clean, not slippery and
child friendly. The classrooms were repartitioned into three
rooms to allow children to be grouped by age. Other
improvements included refurbishing the children's furniture,
extending the kitchen by incorporating unused veranda
space and providing a dining room for the children and
reception area.
Bulawayo Cement School
PPC supports education initiatives in Zimbabwe and aims
to help increase the pass rate in the bene?ting schools.
These initiatives include purchasing stationary, textbooks
and school furniture, using local suppliers to help create
employment.
Refurbishment of Lady Rodewell Maternity Hospital –
Bulawayo
According to the Ministry of Health and Child Welfare in
Zimbabwe (2007), maternal mortality ratios are estimated
at 725 deaths per 100 000 live births. Through the African
Union's Campaign on Accelerated Reduction of Maternal
Mortality in Africa (CARMMA), and in response to the
Millennium Development Goals of reducing child mortality
and improving maternal health, PPC embarked on a
refurbishment programme at the seriously dilapidated Lady
Rodewell maternity clinic.
The project offers bene?ciaries the opportunity to start their
own cement outlets. These express outlets are mobile
business so lutions for small, micro- and medium-size
enterprises (SMMEs), which are cost effective and secure.
Each bene?ciary received a start-up package which
included a PPC-branded container; a pallet of 40 bags of
Surebuild cement; a training programme on PPC cement
products, training on supply chain management processes,
and methods to sustain their businesses; as well as a tollfree number to ensure ordering and dispatch ef?ciencies.
PPC CSI manager FrancieShonhiwa says, “The company
identi?ed a gap within the retail sector where emerging
SMMEs were struggling to expand their businesses. As
opposed to providing handouts to supplement their
incomes, PPC opted to empower people and tackle longterm social needs by starting cement supply outlets,
affording emerging entrepreneurs the opportunity to
participate in the formal economy. Playing an active role in
contributing towards job creation and infrastructure
development is core to the way we conduct business.”
PPC believes that job creation and skills development are
vital in the context of addressing high national
unemployment. It is evident throughout their social
investment initiatives that live up to their philosophy of
Investing to Empower!
PPC invested in Grassroot Soccer at Bulawayo Cement
School. This programme uses the power of soccer to
educate, inspire and mobilise communities to stop the
spread of HIV. Given that soccer is almost a universal
language in many African communities, Grassroot Soccer
aims to reach large numbers of young people with HIV
education. About 150 learners enrolled on the Grassroot
Soccer programme in 2011. The plan is to expand the
initiative to Colleen Bawn and Gwanda surrounding
schools.
Phelandaba Stadium
PPC assisted in revamping the Phelandaba Stadium, the
venue that hosted the 9th national youth games in
Matebeleland, South Province of Zimbabwe. PPC provided
gravel, quarry stone, whitewash, billboards and technical
expertise.
PPC Cement Express Outlet pilot project
The recently launched PPC Cement Express Outlet pilot
project provided the community of Soweto with access to
high-quality cement at their doorstep. The project, in
76
CORPORATE SOCIAL REVIEW
77