Victoria Falls adventure holiday, Zambia

Victoria Falls adventure holiday, Zambia

How this holiday makes a difference

Environment

Sun International has implemented an active Environmental Management Committee at both the Sun City Resort and at their Zambian Development. The committee has set objectives and goals and these include recycling, conservation, energy management, waste management, occupational health and safety, resorts grounds management, and fire management.

Environmental Management Projects:
- Water Management - Water is probably the most precious commodity on the continent and Sun International has developed a water recycling system at each of their resorts. A sewage plant treats and filters water that is then reticulated and where necessary is used to irrigate golf courses. No effluent leaves the golf courses. Recreational dams have also been built to further enhance the recycling process and to alleviate strain on the local water authorities. In the case of Sun City Resort, due to the sophisticated water management system, the local water supply authority has been able to reticulate water to nearby villages and townships.
- Energy Management - Sun International’s Engineering Department has designed a programme for the conservation of energy. The hotels and resorts have implemented the programme and the following apparatus’ ensure the efficacy of the programme: Power factor correction for the high tension electrical reticulation, automatic load shedding of non-essential plant over electrical peak periods. This includes water heating, pool heaters, water reticulation pumps and sewage works plant, time clocks for air-conditioning and pool plant, time clocks on all external lighting, the maintenance and replacement on all hot water pipes lagging – ongoing, programme for the replacement of incandescent with low energy lighting.
- Waste Management - Sun International has ensured that the various resorts situated in Southern Africa including Wild Coast Sun, Sun City Resort, Zimbali Resort, Royal Swazi Valley Sun, and the Falls Resort in Zambia are totally self sufficient in waste management. A landfill site for waste disposal has been installed at each resort and waste materials are recycled daily.
- Hazardous substances are managed and recycled as follows by the disposal of medical waste in accordance with legislation, fluorescent light fittings are crushed and held in sealed containers and disposed of by a licensed contractor, used cooking, engine and air-conditioning oils are collected and recycled via our licensed contractors, refrigeration plant is replaced on an ongoing basis to comply with the Montreal Protocol, utilising ozone-friendly gases.
- Occupational Health and Safety - An annual Risk Management inspection takes place with a comprehensive report submitted by Sun International’s auditors, Glenrand MIB.
- Natural Environment Preservation and Management - Sun International has injected millions of rands/dollars into conserving and improving the natural vegetation at each of their resorts. This is particularly evidenced at their Zambian development and Sun City Resort where the resort gardens are specularly special and indigenous.
- Hydroponic Farm - The Hydroponic vegetable farm instituted by Sun International is situated in Ledig, approximately five kilometers from Sun City. The farm regularly supplies Sun City kitchens and the local grocer with exotic lettuces, tomato’s and strawberries. The Victoria Falls is recognised as one of the seven natural wonders of the world, and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, therefore ensuring minimal environmental impact was one of the prime considerations, in the initial development of the resort.

Whilst the resort was under construction, careful preservation and rehabilitation of the existing ecosystems was the subject of an environmental management programme (EMP) which resulted from an exhaustive impact assessment (EIA) by the CSIR. The EMP is still in effect and will continue to be sustained.

There are 3,200 different plant species of which 70 % have never been cultivated before. Seed cultivation originated from as far a field as Australia, Zimbabwe, the Comores, Mozambique and Madagascar. The need to preserve water resulted in 75% of the plant species’ being indigenous to Southern Africa.This vast valley of vegetation and botanica is a testament to Sun Internationals commitment to the environment.

A variety of environmental projects are also in place at each of the resorts.

Only 5:1:5 organic fertiliser is used and sewage farms sludge is combined with stable menu aged and used for top dressing. Garden waste and cuttings are converted to mulch.

A programme to remove alien vegetation has been implemented at each of the resorts. Approximately 800 indigenous trees are planted at each resort annually. The majority are propagated on site and those that are not planted are donated to local schools and communities.

Community

Projects you can be involved with on this trip include:

Linda: Outdoor gardening interactive activity - The Linda and Mapenzi farming blocks are owned and run by the blind and partially sighted with the support of Sun International and ASNAPP. They grow a variety of fruits and vegetables that are sold to Sun International Zambia and elsewhere within the Livingstone community. Spend a day at the Linda site, helping to plant, weed and harvest crops with the residents of Linda. Then enjoy making a traditional homemade meal with the community and finish the rest of your day in the garden.

Global Samaritans - A day with the orphans of Global Samaritans Global Samaritans is an orphanage supported by Sun International with 52 children. Spend the day with the children; as you help prepare meals, play with the children and participate in their classes. The afternoon will be spent hill climbing and will end with a picnic on the hill.

Liwomad: An artistic day - Tailoring and tie and dye project. Community projects aimed at empowering women (widows living with HIV) in the Livingstone community are one of our core objectives, and include groups such as Livingstone Women Make a Difference (LIWOMAD), Dambwa Central Women’s Project, Luhapa Women’s Project and the Malota Women’s Project. Sun International Zambia provides support through tailoring equipment, tie and dye materials and linen. The groups are already producing curtains, doormats, men’s shirts, women’s attire and holdall bags, which they are selling to tourists and within the local community. Join the women’s group as they make a variety of tie and dye items; spend the day listening to their stories and learning their trade.

Other projects we are involved with:
- Livingstone Hospital Children’s Ward - This project funds the sourcing of incubators for the neo-natal ward of the Livingstone Hospital and the renovation of the children’s ward at the hospital.
- Sports Club - Sun International Zambia provides support to Sun Chester Football Club, which is registered with the Southern Province Amateur Football Association of Zambia. The team is currently on top of the Soccer League and is thriving with the help from Sun Hotels.
- Training - Since the development of the Falls Resort, nearly 300 Zambians have been recruited to work in the two hotels and their peripheral operations. Basic training is undertaken by the new recruits and includes, deportment, grooming and people skills, aside from instruction in the hotel operations. Further basic training includes product knowledge, bar stocktaking procedures, wines and service, cocktails and mixed drinks, procedures and standards in a beverage outlet, and restaurant skills. Training placements are offered to students working towards qualifications in the hospitality field. Sun International continuously assists hotel school students from approved institutions by placing and employing them for assignment purposes. At least five students are attached to the Falls resort every month.
- Old Age Home - The aged and sick benefit from the five star luxury of the Royal Livingstone Hotel, from where the complimentary slippers provided for guests are passed on to the local hospital and home for the aged by the hundreds. Protecting bare feet from the cold concrete floors of the hospital or old age home, the slippers have been one of the most successful assistances to the local community.
- Road Maintenance - Maintenance of the surroundings of the resort is also a priority for Sun International and the company periodically carries out maintenance work on the road between Victoria Falls, the resort and Livingstone. The local town council does not have the necessary funding to carry out this work.
- Culture & Art - Local art is supported and Sun International Zambia was the venue for an art exhibition by the Lusaka based “Rockston” studio gallery. More than 30 sculptures from the gallery are displayed in and around the resort’s fence for guests to buy.
- Sun International’s corporate sponsorship has included the reintroduction of the endangered African wild dog and the introduction of Elephant Back Safaris. Sun International has assisted in preserving the lives of six elephants all of which were orphaned as a result of reduction exercises in Zimbabwe in the 1980s.
- Borite Primary School - The school is situated in the village of Mabele a Pudi, approximately 10km from Sun City. Sun International constructed the school because students where forced to walk long distances to attend primary school in neighbouring districts.
- Sandfontein Clinic - Sun International built the Sandfontein Clinic, which services the needs of the local community. It has a labour room, a primary health care facility, and consultation rooms and a reception area.
- Craft Planet - Craft Planet is located in the village of Phokeng, is a joined project between Sun City, the Royal Bafokeng Women’s Club and CSIR. The project is based on recycling discarded linen from Sun City such as sheets, pillow cases, table cloths and serviettes and transforming this redundant linen into high quality curios. The Bafokeng women create attractively patterned cushions, throws, place mats, curtains and bath mats. The women have been trained in various skills ranging from sewing, dyeing and screen printing cloth to hand weaving and needlepoint.
- Mmapelo Early Learning Centre - Sun International constructed the centre in 1997 and today, Mmapelo provides the young people of Ledig with a strong foundation for their education. The Centre also provided job opportunities during the construction phase.
- Deaf learners - The deaf Learners project was initiated in August 2001. The project is a joint venture between Sun City and the Deaf Institute. The project is aimed at integrating the disabled into the current infrastructure.
- Holy Family School - The school is situated in Mogwase, ten kilometers from Sun City and has been converted from a primary school to a high school by Sun International. It has twelve classrooms, one administration block, two blocks of toilets, a library, a Science laboratory, Home Economics facility and a fully equipped Computer room.
- Child Protection Center - The Child protection center is located in the center of the town of Rustenburg and was opened by Sun International in 1999. The center consists of offices and overnight facilities. It is a joined venture between Sun City and the South African Police Department. The responsibility of the police is to assist children who have been abused and whom they then refer to places of safety.
- The Sun City Police Station - This project is a joint effort between Sun City, the South African Police and the community. It operates as a community service station and is open for twenty-four hours. The station serves various communities around Sun City.
- Mphoto Middle School - This project involved a joint venture between Sun City, the Department of Education, Amplats and the Catholic Mission in Mogwase which involved the building of 10 additional classrooms to the existing school. Sun International strives to improve and socially uplift the economies of countries in which the group operates, primarily through the investment of financial resources and also by providing skills and leadership within these communities. Financially it supports an extensive corporate social investment programme and numerous community development projects, as well as sporting events, conservation endeavours and the Arts & Culture Trust of South Africa.

Corporate Social Investment (CSI) takes the influence of Sun International into the heart of the communities in which it operates. A visible demonstration of the group's commitment to education, job creation, health, and community welfare means that it is not only a financially sound corporate citizen but that it is also a socially conscientious one. Sun International is also extremely mindful of its role in protecting and conserving Southern Africa’s innate beauty and natural resources. Sun International ensures that the sponsorships of sports and cultural events dovetail with its economic and social initiatives in order to strengthen the social structure of the South African community.

Financial Contributions: Each year, 1.5% of the groups annual after tax profits are made available for CSI projects. Wherever possible, grants and donations are made directly to the organisation or community, which will ultimately benefit. Funds are allocated on the following basis:
- 40% Health and Welfare (including HIV/Aids projects)

- 30% Education

- 15% Community Development and Job Creation

- 10% Sports, Arts and Culture

- 5% Other projects Management of CSI Projects and Environmental Issues: Each Hotel and Resort is responsible for 50% of their CSI Budget, and the balance is managed by the Group Employment Equity Manager. A Corporate Social Equity Manager is employed at each of the Hotels and Resorts and funds are directly targeted towards local bodies and charities, which are of specific interest and significance either locally or regionally. Group level CSI is primarily concerned with national organisations and charities that are of interest or significance to the Group as a whole.

Group CSI Projects: Projects embarked upon on a national level and on an ongoing basis include the following:
- South African Sports Trust - Sun International donate an annual sponsorship towards this organisation that assists with the development of sport within the country.
- Disability Sports South Africa - Sun International give an annual donation towards this organisation that assists with the development of disabled sports within the country.
- Arts and Culture Trust - Sun International is a founder member of this organisation that supports the development of Arts and Culture in South Africa.
- Bursaries to students from previously disadvantaged communities - The Company on an annual basis donates bursaries to second and third year students at Universities, which traditionally catered mainly for previously disadvantaged group. These bursaries are only awarded to previously disadvantaged students. On successful completion of their studies, these students will be considered for the Company’s Graduate Management Trainee Programme.
- Acres of Love - The Group financially supports this orphanage for HIV positive children. Children are taken in from birth with the intention to assist them through primary, secondary and tertiary education. HIV treatment is supplied to the children.

Victoria Falls adventure holiday, Zambia