Established in 2003, the Sabinet Chairperson’s Fund ensures that Sabinet’s CSR initiatives remain sustainable and capable of delivering tangible long term value. At least ten percent of Sabinet’s pre-tax profits are donated to the Chairperson’s Fund. Educational and social development of deserving communities in South Africa remained the focus of the activities during the 2010/11 period. Formal corporate initiatives were augmented by the efforts of Sabinet staff who contributed generously of their time and personal funds to assist in a number of projects.

Projects undertaken in 2010/11 include enterprise development, Adult Basic Education and Training (ABET), community library assistance, educational sponsorship of school children, mathematics tuition and support for various charities that uplift and empower young people in the community.

These initiatives make a real difference in people’s lives. Our staff are passionate and committed to driving these projects forward and ensuring that communities truly benefit.

Main projects: ABET project In cooperation with Tshwane Community Library and Information Services, the Sabinet Chairperson’s Fund tutors approximately 120 learners in Level 1 training each year. Community library assistance Wespark, Danville and Mamelodi West Community Libraries in Tshwane have been sponsored with equipment and funds for community programmes. The Fund also assists other community libraries, on an ad hoc basis with various projects. Craft Ed Adopt a School Project has a partnership with the Department of Education. Craft Ed have developed a unique child centred programme which is fun and creative and which allows the children to learn through play. Craft Ed supports the teaching of the curriculum through resources, activity guides and lesson plans. The Sabinet Chairperson’s Fund has implemented this programme at the Danville Community Library. A Community Library Competition was held in Tshwane, Johannesburg and Ekurhuleni which highlights the programmes initiated by community libraries for the benefit of their communities. The overall winner was Lyttelton Library. Support for school children Since 2007, a number of school children have been sponsored with school fees, uniforms, stationery and other necessary items. SabiMaths project The Sabinet Chairperson’s Fund, together with the Tshwane Community Library and Information Services hosts a supplementary maths tuition initiative in Soshanguve offering learners extra maths classes. Sabinet has also entered a public-private partnership with the United States Mission to South Africa’s Mae Jemison U.S. Science Reading Room to offer maths tuition to primary school students in Mamelodi. Itumeleng Shelter and Tshwane Place of Safety Sabinet personnel have been supporting Itumeleng Shelter for street children in Sunnyside, Pretoria for a number of years. More recently, the personnel have also supported the Tshwane Place of Safety, who take in abandoned or orphaned or HIV babies, until they can be placed in foster care. In addition to the staff donations, the Chairperson’s Fund donates R1 for every R1 donated by staff. Regional projects The Sabinet Chairperson’s Fund recently invited libraries to submit project proposals, with a view to funding three projects for community libraries (in regions other than Tshwane). Six excellent proposals were received, from which these three were chosen: - Bonteheuwel library project: The aim of this 10 week project is to improve the reading skills of learners. - Macassar library project: The aim for this project is to promote literacy levels amongst adults in the community. - Rocklands library project: The aim of this project is to empower the community through reading, holiday and literacy programmes as well as AIDS and drug awareness workshops. Biblionef Biblionef is a recognised, well established and highly credible organisation with proven results which are in line with our mission. Various projects are sponsored on an on-going basis. In 2010, the Sabinet Chairperson’s Fund supported the Vuwani Art of Knowledge Community Library project with book stock. Vuwani Art of Knowledge Community Library is situated in Vuwani Township, Makhado Municipality, Vhembe District, Limpopo Province. Future projects The Sabinet Chairperson’s Fund will in the coming year focus on expanding those programmes that have delivered tangible value to communities, particularly the enterprise development projects and regional projects. Others Several ad hoc donations were made throughout the year to organisations such as Oliver’s House, Criminon, Jicama, Mohau Aids Orphanage Centre, SA Medical Foundation, Hearts of Hope, Boys and Girls Town, Joy and Joy and Thandanani.