SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY AND ENTERPRISE DEVELOPMENT

Van Schaik Publishers embraces the need to give back to the community which it serves, and which has been part of the company’s success. To this end, we maintain a positive involvement in Corporate Social Investment and Enterprise Development programmes. Van Schaik Publishers has demonstrated this commitment in the following ways over the last few years:

The Thuthuzela Care Centre

We recently adopted the Thuthuzela Care Centre in Mamelodi as our social responsibility partner. They are a non-profit organisation and made up of a team of qualified professionals who provide holistic care for victims of rape and sexual assault. They not only provide professional care to victims, but they offer hope and solace to the most vulnerable. This centre caters not only for adult victims but, sadly, for children as well. By working closely with the centre we have an opportunity to give something back to our local community.

Shanduka Black Umbrellas

Shanduka Black Umbrellas is a non-profit enterprise development incubation organisation partnering with the private sector, government and civil society to address the low levels of entrepreneurship and high failure rate of 100% black-owned emerging businesses in South Africa.

The programme focuses on promoting entrepreneurship as a desirable economic path, and nurturing 100% black-owned businesses in the critical first three years of their existence through the provision of nationwide incubators. They have eight incubators located in six provinces supporting over 300 businesses.

We have created the Van Schaik Publishers’ start-up reference library for small businesses and we donate library packs to Shanduka for distribution to these small businesses on an ongoing basis. You can read more about Shanduka Black Umbrellas’ efforts to support black-owned emerging businesses at http://shandukablackumbrellas.org/.

POPUP (People Upliftment Programme)

POPUP (People Upliftment Programme) is a non-profit organisation with a holistic approach to the upliftment of underprivileged communities, thereby ensuring that all the needs of individuals are addressed – mentally, physically, emotionally and spiritually. POPUP renders services to all persons living in Tshwane and the surrounding areas regardless of race, culture, gender or religion. Currently POPUP’s main centre is situated in Salvokop and Soshanguve.

Among the many services offered, POPUP provides skills development and enterprise development training programmes. We provide support by donating relevant books to the organisation. You can read more about POPUP at http://www.popup.co.za/.