Published: 1st August, 2021

It has been more than a year since the COVID-19 pandemic brought the world to an almost standstill and Tata International Africa had to, at various stages, suspend and restart operations across the organisation in the sub-Saharan region in which it operates.

Cost-cutting measures to safeguard income and ensure the livelihood of staff and their families were prioritised and put in place, however  there were some unfortunate unintended consequences. Certain programmes had to be placed on hold and the company’s 2020 Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programme was one of the casualties.

Business however has now stabilised and the company is proud to announce that it is reestablishing its CSR programme.

“Since the Tata group was formed more than 150 years ago, it has served as the custodian of public good, calibrating its mission to address the world’s most urgent needs. Corporate Social Responsibility is in our DNA. As a business within the Tata group, Tata International Africa is committed to integrating environmental, social and ethical principles into the core business and in so doing, enhance long-term stakeholder value. The group’s CSR programme aims to be relevant to both local and national contexts,” says Brand.

The tradition of nation and community building within the Tata group was started by Jamsetji Tata, the founder of the groupCommunity development and environment preservation are just some of the projects that the group is involved in. Tata Interational Africa’s CSR programme adds to the commitment and dedication the group has made to uplifting and investing in the communities across the world where it maintains business operations.

The Tata International Africa CSR programme in South Africa for 2021/2022 consists of the following initiatives:

1. The Tata International Africa Scholarship programme: This programme awards scholarships to worthy post-graduate students from the University of the Free State (UFS), University of KwaZulu Natal (UKZN), Nelson Mandela University (NMU) and University of the Witwatersrand (WITS). A total of R2,5 million has been allocated to the project by Tata International Africa. The programme supports Honours, Masters and PhD students in their respective faculties. More than 270 scholarships have been awarded across the university partnerships since the scholarship programme began.

• Operation Smile South Africa (OSSA): OSSA is a non-profit medical service organisation that provides free cleft lip and cleft palate reconstructive surgery. Tata International supports this initiative financially.

• The Bridging for Life Programme: This programme was created in 2010 and is managed by the Valued Citizens Initiative (VCI), an NGO founded in 2001, intending to develop citizenship education in public schools. It is accredited by the Gauteng Department of Higher Education and has been supported financially by Tata International Africa for more than five years.

“A child with a cleft palate faces difficulties in breathing, feeding and speech. Not to mention the potential fear of being othered by society just for looking different. There are many concerns for the child and their parents when it comes to the effects of a cleft palate. The role that Operation Smile plays in trying to alleviate these concerns, is indeed remarkable. It demonstrates an understanding of the potential role a supported child will play in their community. This speaks directly to our group ethos for CSR,” says Brand.

“Young leaders are key to building communities. The objective of our involvement in the Bridging for Life programme, and our own scholarship programme, supports this theory as the participants in these initiatives will become the leaders that serve and uplift the community in the years to come,” concludes Brand.

The return of the CSR programme reflects Tata International Africa’s commitment to support and uplift communities.

Ends