In a programme that started only four years ago, 17 school halls for children in have been built or are under construction as part of a social investment pledge by Garden Cities, an 82-year-old property development company based in Edgemead. The halls are all in what continue to be disadvantaged communities of the Western Cape.

The company's CEO John Matthews formed a foundation called The Archway that is dedicated to alleviating the staggering backlog of over 700 school halls in the Western Cape.

But, says Matthews, the efforts of one company are never going to be sufficient to make a significant dent in the backlog, in spite of the willing co-operation of the Western Cape Education Department.

Nevertheless more than 20 000 Western Cape schoolchildren have now got or will soon have a place to gather and to develop skills and talents that are denied to those who don't have the facilities normally considered essential in enlightened communities.

The halls, which are built to plans commissioned by Garden Cities, are enormously flexible and adapt easily to the specific needs of the schools. The building costs of each hall are more than R3 million. In addition to the funding, professional services are provided free as part of the Archway's pledge.

While the Archway Foundation has undertaken to provide R46 million over the next four years - which is 25% of profit - in addition to the money it has spent on providing five of the halls independently so far, it will need the co-operation of like-minded corporates to make significant strides, says Matthews. A major step forward has been the agreement by the Department of Education to have the Foundation build and supervise, at no professional cost, halls for which the government has already voted funds. This allows the full funding to be used exclusively for materials and labour.

Matthews also has strong views on the role of corporate social investment in a company's structure. He says that the marriage of Corporate Social Responsibility with Marketing has prejudiced the work done by corporates that see themselves as members of a community, and therefore responsible, without reward, for the wellbeing or development of sectors of that community. 'Popular phrases such as 'CSI is the new Marketing' diminish the efforts of well-meaning corporates who end up under suspicion of doing good solely in order to gain profile, approval, and market share.'

'Corporate Social Responsibility practiced outside of the Marketing ambit has a different purpose and its rewards are less direct. The rewards are, however, a great deal more sustainable, and can eventually benefit an entire nation. In establishing the Archway Foundation with its purpose to provide school halls for the historically disadvantaged children of the Western Cape, our objective was to eventually contribute to a macro environment of mutual respect, self-esteem and co-operation within the spirit of our founding statement. On a micro level, this is already working. The participating schools, and their surrounding communities are demonstrating a greater sense of civic pride and ownership.

'The abiding principles in providing social assistance, I believe, are co-operation and respect. Eliciting participation from those who will directly benefit from the CSR, results in greater acceptance. Showing appreciation for their input leads to long-term goodwill and relationships that serve as an example for future initiatives, creating an environment of trust in which progress can be made, and objectives achieved.'

Schools that have received halls or are currently under construction, are Kensington High, Hyde Park Primary, Isilimela High, Glendale High, Imzama Yethu High in George, Luhlaza High and Matthew Goniwe High in Khayelitsha, Kasselsvlei High, Phoenix Secondary in Manenberg, Mount View High in Hanover Park, Mzamomtsha Primary in Khayelitsha, Scottsville High in Kraaifontein, Sarepta Secondary in Kuils River, Garden Village Primary, Saambou Primary in Manenberg, and Diazville Primary in Saldanha.

John Matthews can be reached on 082 320 2083.

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I am a former learner of Scottsville. I matriculated last year and I am so glad I had the opportunity to write my finale exams in our school hall. Thank you for making it all possible. - Davedine

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