Community Relations - South Africa

The following organisations are supported by British Airways and receive complimentary tickets, cargo and excess baggage.

Botanic Gardens Conservation International (BGCI)

British Airways supports BGCI’s conservation projects all over the world working to enhance the work of botanic gardens for plant diversity conservation, human well-being, environmental education and the threat to plants of climate change. Of the estimated 400,000 plant species in existence today, over 100,000 plant species are currently threatened with extinction and this is expected to increase as global temperatures continue to rise.

BA supported the 7th International Congress on Education in Botanic Gardens in Durban with free flights to BGCI staff for preparatory meetings in Durban and with flights for BGCI staff to participate in the Congress.

Botanic gardens have moved from being passive deliverers of information to leading institutions for biodiversity education. This congress explored how to effectively communicate plant-based issues to the public through education and public awareness programmes that empower people to take action.

Motivation

Motivation is an international disability charity working in developing countries to positively impact on the lives of disabled people. Motivation's regional office in South Africa is responsible for the coordination, planning and implementation of all programme activities throughout Africa.

An appropriate wheelchair (suitable to the individual’s needs, environment and lifestyle) is the first step to disabled people being able to claim their wider rights. Therefore Motivation Africa is supporting and collaborating with local disabled people's organisations (DPO) to ensure that disabled people's rights are recognised by policy makers. This is key because unless disabled people are able to influence the policies that affect them, their needs will not be met and they will continue to be marginalised within society.

Motivation’s recent 2 year capacity building programme provided training for each African partner DPO in managing, monitoring, fundraising, planning, budgeting and reporting, so that they are better equipped to advocate for the rights of their members.

To date, Motivation has worked with DPOs in Tanzania, Uganda, Zimbabwe, Zambia and South Africa. The planned introduction of DPO partners in Ethiopia and Kenya will further widen the scope and impact of this work.

Save the Rhino International

Registered as a UK charity in 1994, Save the Rhino International (SRI) works to conserve viable populations of critically endangered rhinos in Africa and Asia. SRI recognises that the future of wildlife is inextricably linked to the communities that share its habitat. By funding field projects and through education, SRI’s goal is to deliver material, long-lasting and widespread benefits to rhinos and other endangered species, ecosystems and to the people living in these areas. Save the Rhino International connects conservation and communities by working in partnership with 14 local NGOs in Africa and Asia.

Street Action

Street Action was established in 2007. It is committed to raising support for, and advocating on behalf of street children organisations in Africa.

As a Non Governmental Organisation (NGO) based in the UK, it works with African partners to tackle the complex needs of children living on the streets. Through its advocacy work, it raises public awareness and promotes the work of its partners, building connections and links with a network of Street Action supporters around the world. Through an integrated approach of research, campaigning and lobbying, it seeks to put the issue of street children and former street children back on the development agenda.

Street Action works in partnership with Umthombo Street Children in South Africa. Umthombo is a voice from the streets. It is a unique organisation based in Durban, led predominantly by former street children. It seeks to empower street children to leave the streets and to be re-integrated back into their communities.

The African Pulse

The African Pulse was started in 2002 and is a UK charity working in South Africa. The "Pulse" package consists of a CD-ROM, comic book, video, audio cassettes and live drama for use in the Life Orientation curriculum for 10-13 year-old South African learners.

Through animated stories, games and interactive classroom work, the programme addresses issues around growing up, relationships, healthy living, sex and HIV/AIDS, with a focus on promoting positive values and attitudes.

The African Pulse is a member of the AIDS Consortium and "Make Poverty History" Campaign.

Tools with a Mission

Tools with a Mission provides tools to people in poorer areas of the world which allow them to work and generate income to support themselves and their families. T.W.A.M. works with local vocational training centres that offer life-skills, education and instruction in various trades. At the completion of training each student is given a tradesman’s tool kit. The ability to become self-sufficient increases the feeling of self-worth and creates confidence for a better future.