BTC Sets Itself Apart In The Corporate Social Responsibility Sphere

By Chedza Mmolawa

Since 2009 Botswana Telecommunication Corporation Limited (BTC) has committed to inspiring corporate involvement in adopting solutions for the challenges that impact Botswana’s underprivileged communities. Its Corporate Social Investment (CSI) is driven by a firm belief that while corporate growth and profitability are essential, corporations must pursue societal goals; specifically, those relating to sustainable development.

And in 2014, the organization established the BTC Foundation to manage and coordinate its CSI programs. The BTC

Foundation is a legal entity registered through a Trust Deed and administered by a Board of Trustees. It is a non-profit initiative that seeks to be responsive to the needs of the communities in which BTC and its partners/suppliers operate. The foundation's mandate is to impact the lives of communities in pursuit of social, economic, and environmental sustainability, with an emphasis on impact and longevity.

ABOUT THE FOUNDATION The BTC Foundation's current three-year strategy for 2020 complies with International Standards (ISO26000). This framework focuses on stakeholder engagement, materiality, monitoring and evaluation, and reporting of projects and activities. Furthermore, the framework emphasizes efficiency, effectiveness, and employee engagement when carrying out projects.

The foundation projects and activities are essential stakeholder engagement platforms for the company. Employees are integral to the culture of socially responsible conduct and are involved in BTC Foundation initiatives.

Its investments are garnered through partnerships with Non-Profit Organisations, sponsorship of CSI projects, and direct donations to support causes in line with its focus areas. The BTC Foundation's key focus areas are charitable donations, environmental protection, entrepreneurship and innovation, arts and culture, and wellness and sports.

Even though BTC has engaged in numerous CSI projects, in this issue, The Responsible Citizen Magazine focuses on 3 of its most recent and prominent initiatives highlighted by the company's Head of Stakeholder Relations, Lesego Goitsemang.

BTC AND THAPONG VISUAL ARTS CENTRE SEND YOUNG ARTISTS TO ZIMBABWE BTC, in collaboration with Thapong Visual Arts Centre, sponsored two artists on a learner exchange program in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe, for five (5) days. Mpho Tlotlo Maleke won the 2020 Phonebook Cover competition, and Gosego Motlogelwa clinched the 2021 Thapong

Artist of the Year Award, respectively.

The artists will be hosted by the Centre of Contemporary Arts in Bulawayo to learn more about the creative industry. While there, they will tour monuments such as the National Gallery, Mzilikazi Art & Craft Center, and the National Museum, and other artists' studios.

The exchange program is part of the partnership between BTC and Thapong where the two entities came together to support and help grow the arts as a professional opportunity and that artists may use to earn a living.

The 3-year partnership covered the annual BTC Phonebook cover competitions, Thapong Artists of the year awards, training and development for artists, and a contribution to Thapong Visual Arts Centre.

BTC has sponsored the exchange program to the tune of P30, 000 to cover the artists' expenses. Through this initiative, the artists will gain international exposure, widen their scope, and sharpen their talent to be competitive.

Goitsemang added that the Thapong Visual Arts Centre Coordinator, Mr. Reginald Bakwena acknowledged the positive impact of the sponsorship on artists and the creative industry. He stated that the five days won't only be informative but will prepare the artists to be well-rounded business people.

BTC REWARDS EXCELLING JCE STUDENTS IN MOLEPOLOLE The BTC Foundation also honored and rewarded excelling Junior Certificate Examination (JCE) students in Molepolole at a prize-giving ceremony held at Dithejwane Junior Secondary School. The organisation invited the Minister for State President Honourable Kabo N.S Morwaeng to be a guest speaker at the prize-giving ceremony. While there, he expressed that he was happy and proud to be amongst those who came to honor and celebrate the outstanding educational outcomes of the collective hard work of teachers, non-teaching staff, parents, JCE students, and the community of Molepolole.

The BTC Foundation, through its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) wing will be rewarding twenty-five (25) students from eight (8) junior schools in Molepolole for achieving merit and first class in the 2021 JC Examinations with 25 tablets. In addition, BTC honoured Dithejwane JSS with a computer, printer, cartridge, and internet connectivity for one year.

The prize-giving ceremony ended with a demonstration of the BTC digital education solutions that have been praised for its contribution to the excellent results in Dithejwane JSS. The digital education solutions are connected to the WIFI/Internet for real-time research and integration with Botswana Curriculum Content on Classmate, allowing BTC to offer training accredited by Botswana Qualifications Authority (BQA) to empower both learners and teachers.

The digital education platform brings ultimate attention to both the student community and teachers as they replace traditional blackboards, thus offering an interactive solution that draws attention of the students; allowing multiple displays, technical adjustments, audio-visual setups, video conferencing, and other web-related functions for the education sector.

BTC SPONSORS UB GOLF DAY Botswana Telecommunications Corporation Limited is also the platinum sponsor of the 15th Annual University of Botswana (UB) Fundraising Golf Day. The UB Golf day event raises funds for the Graduate Scholarship Endowment Fund through which the Foundation provides scholarships to deserving students.

The Chancellor of the University of Botswana, Her Excellency Ambassador Tebelelo Mazile Seretse, announced that BTCare, (initiation under BTC Foundation) has been the platinum sponsor for two years at an annual amount of P150,000.00, bringing the total sponsorship value to P300 000 for the years 2022 and 2023. This was not the first time BTC had supported the UB Foundation, it previously supported Golf Day by sponsoring teams and purchasing dinner tickets for their staff members.

The Trust, which was established in 2000, is a non-profit making entity, and through the UB Foundation, it organises annual fundraising events in support of various activities and programs at the University of Botswana. Through the Endowment Fund, that was established in 2003, the Foundation has been able to award scholarships to 318 students.