BHP Billiton and Telkom Foundation get behind Kaelo - Stories of Hope as headline sponsors

"We're delighted that BHP Billiton and the Telkom Foundation have come on board as headline sponsors," says Sarah Campbell, managing director of Kaelo Engage, the company that produces Stories of Hope. "Raising the profile of social responsibility projects and the organisations that support them enables the expansion of this significant work. Our platform created by their involvement means the projects that we profile can achieve new heights well into the future."

With a reach of over one million viewers, Kaelo - Stories of Hope is a powerful platform for private and public sector to promote the message that they are serious about CSI and social development. But it isn't only the viewership numbers that gives the show credibility; it's the content that brings an engaging message of hope through the collaboration between business, public and civil sector and the communities, that shows how South Africans together are truly making a difference in this country.

BHP Billiton is committed to sustainable development and it is this commitment that has led to its investment of over R500 million across a broad range of projects in Southern Africa over the past five years. These projects are committed to making a long-term difference in the areas of health, social and youth development, education, environment and enterprise development. "The foundation of our success, as a resource business and in the wider context of being South Africans, rests with our people. It is imperative, therefore, that we invest ourselves in the sustainable development of the communities in which we operate" says Dr Xolani Mkhwanazi, BHP Billiton SA chairperson .

The Telkom Foundation and BHP Billiton, through their sponsorship of Kaelo - Stories of Hope, will be afforded the opportunity to profile their own CSI projects, ultimately resulting in increased funding, brand awareness and possible partnerships. CSI initiatives are seen as fundamental to responsible corporate citizenship, and therefore generating interest among the public and other organisations is a priority for corporations who seek to raise awareness of the work that they are doing.

The Telkom Foundation was set up in 1998 and registered as a trust in 2002 and seeks to uplift communities mainly through education. "The Telkom Foundation aims to make a meaningful contribution to the communities in which we operate," says Sarah Mthintso, head of Telkom Foundation. "Kaelo - Stories of Hope highlights the good work that we are proud to be involved in, acting as a platform for us to create awareness, and hopefully as a result, extend and strengthen our projects."

This kind of active participation in promoting responsible corporate citizenship is an indication that the notion is coming of age in South Africa. "Big business is no longer simply concerned with turning a profit, but has acknowledged that business sustainability is about taking care of the communities and the environment of our country," says Campbell. "Communication of the efforts made in this regard is vital to the success of the projects, and we believe that Kaelo-Stories of Hope provides the ideal platform for this communication."

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Kaelo - Stories of Hope, on air from Tuesday, 3 July, only on e.tv at 17h30.
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