Corporate social responsibility that works: How CSR can empower lives in Sub-Saharan Africa
Looking to make maximum impact with your CSR programme? Our CSR partnerships give corporates and commercial businesses an opportunity to make meaningful change by providing light and power to off-grid and remote communities living without electricity.
Across Sub-Saharan Africa, almost 700 million people lack access to modern energy. Namene partners with corporate enterprises and businesses who sponsor the delivery of solar lights and chargers to these families, giving them first-time energy access. This creates measurable positive social and environmental impacts, aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals, through the benefits of our clean energy products.
Corporate Partnerships in South Africa: Absa Bank and Namene
We recently worked with Absa, a pan-African financial services provider, who sponsored the delivery of over 15,000 Namene solar lights as part of their corporate social responsibility efforts.
Absa donated the lights to students in schools in South Africa’s rural regions, with a small number of the lights being used for their marketing and sponsored events – boosting their brand visibility and shining a light on the incredible impacts their CSR efforts are making.
Justin Schmidt, Head of Manufacturing, Renewable Energy, Transport and Logistics at Absa Relationship Banking said: “At Absa, we are passionate about supporting youth and being a force for good in the communities in which we operate, and it is paramount that we are part of the solution.
“We strongly believe that as a financial institution we have an important role to play in helping South Africa build sustainable energy sources. It is our hope that these solar lights will help students succeed and thrive.”
Lighting up Charity Trek4Mandela with GENESIS ENERGY GROUP
African energy infrastructure development and asset management company GENESIS ENERGY GROUP partnered with the Imbumba Foundation, to help light up the trek to the peak of Kilimanjaro in Tanzania with a generous donation of Namene solar lights.
Founded by the Imbumba Foundation and endorsed by the Nelson Mandela Foundation, the annual trek embodies the essence of Mandela’s vision for Africa: unity, resilience and the pursuit of a better future for the continent.
GENESIS ENERGY GROUP donated Namene SM200 solar lights to support the trek. This not only provided vital lighting for the team, but also helped promote sustainability and clean energy.
Babalwa Bungane, GENESIS ENERGY GROUP’s Head of Communications and Marketing said: “I was immediately impressed by the potential and impact of the solar lights. We were very happy to have purchased the solar lights from Namene as their mission aligns closely with GENESIS ENERGY GROUP’s own values and fundamental principles of power, people and progress.”
“The lights were perfect for the Trek4Mandela because they are powered by the sun, while also being very tough and practical – they can be worn on the trekkers heads with the head strap.”
Working together for people and planet: Become a Namene partner
At Namene, we help companies like Absa and GENESIS ENERGY GROUP in their mission to be a force for good through CSR.
Our corporate partnerships drive long-term impact and provide practical solutions that make a difference to the lives, health, homes and finances of some of the poorest households across Africa.
Drawing on our network of trusted community-based charity partners and distributors, we offer companies tailored packages to purchase our portable solar lights and chargers and deploy them efficiently to communities they want to support, wherever they are.
To find out more and become a Namene partner today, contact our in-country Sales Teams:
Zambia: Tariro.karira@namenesolar.com
Namibia: Bruce.salt@namenesolar.com
Zimbabwe: Jeffrey.Muderere@namenesolar.com
South Africa: Ian.Mills@namenesolar.com
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