Unifying non-profit organisations

Community Hours SA, Greenpeace and the University of Johannesburg’s Department of Strategic Communication will be hosting a non-profit organisation (NPO) Think Tank. The event will take place at the University of Johannesburg’s Soweto Campus from 8.30am to 3.30pm on 21 March. The event will stress unity among NPOs and improve concepts surrounding volunteerism at NPOs.

Director at Community Hours SA Karn Landi was thrilled at the opportunity to be part of these think tanks. “For the last few years, we have noticed two trends in South Africa among non-profit organisations; the first is that we tend to work in silos, while trying to achieve the same goal and the second is that volunteerism is taking South Africa by storm, but more direction is needed from within organisations, in order to harness this potential. We are particularly interested at how youth engagement at all levels of society can be maximised to take volunteerism to greater heights, with positive engagement from teens and students,” she said.

Community Hours SA, UJ and Greenpeace Africa have identified the need for a think tank, designed around finding solutions and forging pathways for partnerships in order to maximise our impact, and overcome the daily challenges we face in the third sector.

Coming from different sectors (education, environment and community), the three organisations are hopeful that this day will be an opportunity for organisations to meet and exchange ideas with their potential partners and allies, and learn from key players in the third sector.

Offline mobilisation campaigner at Greenpeace Africa Dianne McAlpine was optimistic that this event will provide an ideal opportunity for organisation to come together as one. “We are very excited to be part of this event. This think tank is an opportunity for NPOs to come together under one cause, which I think will lead to powerful social change,” she said.

These organisations have pointed out that they want to include the following sectors in the think tank – Environment, Animal Welfare, Education, Gender Based Violence, Health, Food Security, Substance Abuse, Human Trafficking, Vulnerable and Displaced People, and Community Safety and Security. Different chairs have been chosen to discuss the different topics according to their expertise.

Landi pointed out that they aim to provide a clear channel through which NPOs can operate in South Africa, “We trust that this Think Tank will provide

much-needed direction for the South African third sector to re-invigorate their work and passion through harnessing the power of volunteerism and youth,” she said.