In what might be construed as a vote of confidence for the power of social media, the United Nations has just launched a new group of high-profile Internet users to inspire and involve social media audiences in the effort to combat malaria.

Although we suspect that many tourists flocking to the country for the 2010 FIFA World Cup will be drinking mineral water by the gallon, the Minister of Water and Environmental Affairs Buyelwa Sonjica has given the tap water in all 2010 FIFA World Cup host cities a clean bill of health.

Human trafficking is big business. In fact, it’s worth between US$7 billion and $12 billion dollars annually, making it the third most lucrative criminal activity after the narcotics and weapons trades. Yet, the penalties for human trafficking in most countries are much less severe, or non-existent. That’s why South Africa has created a new Bill.

In the midst of National Water Week comes good news for Gautengers – the Department of Water Affairs and Rand Water has forced Gauteng's Emfuleni municipality to manage and treat its sewage, helping to avert a potential environmental disaster in the Vaal River.

As National Water Week kicks off this week, we are reminded of the responsibility that comes with living in one of the 30 driest countries in the world. Instead of looking to government net for answers it seems that we need to first question our daily behaviours. 

Here’s a bright idea amidst the global energy crisis – a project that turns a child’s love of soccer into a way to generate and store energy for later use. It’s called sOccket, and it’s coming to a level playing field near you.

KFC, South Africa’s biggest quick service restaurant brand, recently published a report explaining KFC’s success in Africa, outlining the many ways it involves both staff and customers in reaching out to the communities in which it operates.

To the 75% of South Africans who are fortunate enough to be employed in a recession, CAF Southern africa asks that you roll up your sleeves and give something back by volunteering in their annual Employee Volunteer Week, which will run 15 to 21 March 2010. So hurry!

We live in a society that considers skilled senior citizens irrelevant in the workplace and yet our current workforce doesn’t have the skills or experience to get the job done. Do we see a potential match here?

Fancy saving the planet but fneed some basic skills and principles to get you started? You need an urgent Evoke. Watch the video to find out more...

Did you know that South Africa, along with Egypt, are the continent's leading producers of conventional weapons, with most other African states relying on imports to meet their growing needs? So when a recent report by South Africa's Auditor-General revealed a serious lack of controls over exports of massive arsenal of conventional weapons, you have to wonder – are we keeping Africa in a state of war?

A few years back, we were inundated with reports of the serious problem of overcrowding in prisons. So how have we progressed? Well, if we take the Eastern Cape for example, in the past three years the total number of offenders accommodated in its 44 correctional centers fluctuated from 19500 to 20000.  But why so little change?

Can we change the world, 5 minutes at a time? In this video, witness collaboration and innovation put into action by a group of Aussie school children. They may sound like "know-it-alls" but they are actually part of a new generation of "do-it-alls" which take the initiative to make a difference. Good on ya mate. 

Ask any non-profit or community-based organisation what their biggest challenge is an inevitably it comes back as one word – funding. Whether they apply to the National Lotteries Distribution Trust Fund (NLDTF) or the National Development Agency (NDA), the time it takes to actually apply and then receive (hopefully) the funds can mean life or death for many small operations, with the real affect being felt by the people they support.

When times are tough companies cut budgets, especially in their marketing and CSI spend. So it came as quite a surprise to learn that Transnet will be doubling its CSI budget to a massive R175 million. So where will this money go? Not on a gravy train we hope.

For nearly 12 years one of two independent women’s funds in South Africa has worked with women in low income communities to find local solutions to build local communities, and leadership amongst women.

Three of the country’s top magicians, Jacques le Sueur, the only person to ever successfully steal (and return) former President Nelson Mandela’s wrist-watch (twice), Andrew “Magic Man” Eland, one of the most experienced and well-travelled magicians in the country and Marcel Oudejans, recognised both locally and abroad as one of the busiest corporate event entertainment specialists in Africa, will delight audiences at a charity benefit hosted by the UPliftment Programme at the Grand West Casino on 20 February. 

When you hear the word “craft” what do you think of? Hawkers on the side of the road peddling beaded keyrings? Cute toys made of veldt and bowls made of chewing gum wrappers? While these are currently the iconic images associated with SA craft in SA, one local company is trying to craft art and entrepreneurship into these stereotypical images.

It’s criminal. Every day over 7 million children go to school without shoes. But it doesn’t have to be that way. Bob Skinstad is willing to go to jail for the cause, what will you do?

It’s always great winning competitions, but even better when you know that your entry has helped eradicate poverty in the process. Now that’s a prize worth aiming for.