Community

Holding Hands - the volunteer programme in Brazil

This year employees donated close to 100 hours in the volunteer work programme - Holding Hands. Currently several activities are in place including computer and chess classes for needy children; English and literature classes for adults; and campaigns for the underprivileged.

Local community development a key issue for sustainable development

Local economic development in Argentina and Brazil (see box in the Community Review 2005 section)

Hearts of Gold programme launched at corporate office

In South Africa corporate office, about 60 employees participated in a 'give-as-you-earn' and matched volunteerism programme - Hearts of Gold, with close on R250,000 having been distributed as a result.

Integrated development action plan for Sadiola and Yatela

A three-day communication and consultation workshop was held at Sadiola mine between the 16 and 18 November 2005. A quarterly activity programme was established by the IDAP executive team, focusing mainly on agriculture.

Progress on recommendations will be reported at next year’s communication and consultation workshop.

Making a difference - the AngloGold Ashanti Fund and Trust

See case study in the Community Section: The AngloGold Ashanti Fund and Trust

Closure consultation with communities at Ergo

Ergo has formally withdrawn from the Community Forum, after interest from the Tsakane/Kwa-Thema and Kingsway Lindelani communities dwindled, especially upon learning that the mine could not offer jobs.

Ergo has also formally withdrawn from the Springs Chamber of Commerce, whose Business Linkage Centre aims to empower small enterprises by linking them with bigger businesses. The operation is still a member of the Ekurhuleni task team and continues to attend the Ekurhuleni Mining Forum which convenes every quarter.

No progress has been made on Project Hloekisa since the last report.

The Local Area Committee of the AngloGold Ashanti Fund has now been dissolved. However, the AngloGold Ashanti fund is still active in the community through the Ergo programme.

Ergo programme focuses on maths and science

The Ergo Community and Education Programme, which was established by the AngloGold Ashanti Fund in response to Ergo’s closure, was formally launched at Tlakula High School in Kwa-Thema, on the East Rand, on 12 September 2005. Around 2 000 school learners and 40 teachers, mainly at secondary school level, are the beneficiaries of the education component of the programme.

The programme, which is running for a three year period, focused on grade 10 in 2005; its focus for 2006 and 2007 will be grades 11 and 12 respectively.

The community care component of the programme to assist orphaned children is being run by St George’s Home through its ‘Rearabilwe Programme’. Referrals are received from the Springs and Tsakane Child Welfare Societies, the South African Police Service (SAPS), as well as schools and clinics in the area.

Since Rearabilwe starting receiving referrals in March 2005, more than 200 cases have been registered on its database.

Geita community benefits from Australian surgical mission to Tanzania

A second visit by the West Australian Surgical Mission is due to take place in June 2006 when doctors will conduct surgery on 25 new cases in both Dar es Salaam and Mwanza. Geita mine is to hold discussions with the Geita District Medical Officer to create community awareness of this next visit so that patients can be identified and referred to Mwanza for treatment. The mine is also planning a visit to the children who were operated on in 2005, to see how they are faring after their surgery.

Geita formulates policy to assist artisanal miners

See case study in the Labour section: Understanding artisanal mining

Rehabilitation at Geita

Unfortunately the tree planting programme which continues until April 2006, was delayed because of drought. As a result only 110,000 of the targeted 180,000 trees have been planted. Some trees, which died during the drought, also had to be replaced. The three nurseries each cultivated more than 60,000 tree seedlings. To date 271 hectares of land have been rehabilitated, leaving 27 hectares still to be restored.