Archived News > Sun International – Making Sustainable Partnerships Work

		Community Development
	– Sun International – Making Sustainable Partnerships Work

Sun International properties found in Southern Africa are often used for Green Route groups as they meet the high standards and service delivery expectations set by Green Route and anticipated by our clients.

In addition to top-quality service, Sun International also runs a strong Corporate Social Investment programme which spans the countries in which they work. Sun International’s CSI aim is to set clear focus areas which give rise to initiatives that are relevant, make an impact and, most importantly, ensure sustainability.

Their main CSI focus areas are health and welfare, which includes education and HIV/Aids. To a lesser degree, projects relating to community development, sports, arts and culture are also given consideration. In South Africa, the Sports Trust and the Arts & Culture Trust are just two ways in which they are making a difference to countless people’s lives.

By engaging in public/private partnerships with community based organizations, they are also able to enhance community impact by encouraging involvement at community level and providing the necessary catalyst for change.

Sun International has numerous initiatives in place, run on a continuous basis, which address the needs of the various communities surrounding their operations. Although Sun International does engage in one-off projects, the general drive is to select medium to long-term projects where more involvement is possible and noticeable change can manifest itself over a period of time. The Sun International employees (many of whom originate from the surrounding communities) are also encouraged to participate in this movement for positive change. They do this by volunteering in specific projects or by identifying potential new community projects for Sun International to adopt.

In South Africa, their projects vary from supporting regional and national organizations such as the NSRI and “Blisters for Bread” to providing funds, equipment and other infrastructure to schools, hospices, crises centres and wildlife centres country wide. Beneficiaries such as the Tapologo Aids Hospice and Pilanesberg Wildlife Trust near Sun City, the Khanya E-learning project and the Eziko Cooking School in the Western Cape, Emanuel’s Haven for abandoned babies in the Eastern Cape, the Mahatma Gandhi Crises Centre in KZN and the Sentahle Home Based Care Centre in Limpopo are a just a few of the beneficiaries of Sun International’s support.

Further afield, they support projects in Botswana, Namibia, Swaziland, Lesotho and Zambia – many of which are orphanages or HIV care and support facilities. One notably successful community based hydroponics project in Zambia, which was set up by Sun International, provides employment for the blind. The community is then able to sell their produce back to Sun International properties in the area, in order to support themselves – a true example of a sustainable partnership at work.

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