SAP backs Young Heroes

SAP has contributed technology and education-related donations to Young Heroes, a non-governmental organisation (NGO) that supports HIV/AIDS orphans.

The donations coincide with SAP Africa’s mid-year employee meeting that is being hosted in Manzini between July 8 10 and is part of SAP Africa’s corporate social responsibility (CSR) programme.

The devastation of HIV/AIDS is creating a generation of orphans in Swaziland. Though it is one of Africa’s smallest countries, Swaziland has the world’s highest rate of HIV/AIDS infection. According to the 2012 HIV Incidence Measurement Survey, 31 percent of adults ages 18 to 49 have HIV. Nearly 125,000 Swazi children have lost at least one parent to the epidemic. Already, more than 15,000 households in the country are headed by children who are trying to raise their little brothers and sisters by themselves.

In addition to supporting Young Heroes with education activities, SAP Africa has contributed software licenses and hardware donations, as well as consulting services, to help support the functioning of Young Heroes day-to-day operations. With SAP’s support, including the donation of SAP Sybase Replication Server software to overcome bandwidth challenges, the Young Heroes staff members can process overseas donations rapidly and efficiently. The increased response time to operations means the Young Heroes staff now have more time to directly interact with and support the children.

Working with U.S.-based company Storm Code, a Web and content management solutions provider, SAP has developed a system through which Young Heroes staff can work offline in real time, with the work replicated to the server during nighttime hours. SAP’s donation of time, expertise and hardware has already proven invaluable. To date several hundred HIV/AIDS orphans have found continued sponsorship via the Young Heroes website. With the continued support of SAP and resulting efficiency improvements, those numbers are expected to increase.

‚”SAP recognises the vital role we play in empowering, educating and improving the welfare of the communities in which we operate. Supporting Young Heroes goes a long way toward helping orphans and child-headed households affected by HIV/AIDS,‚” said Pfungwa Serima, CEO, SAP Africa. ‚”This CSR initiative exemplifies SAP’s mission to help the world run better and improve people’s lives. We do this by delivering new technology innovations that we believe address today’s and tomorrow’s challenges without disrupting business operations.‚”

SAP Africa has committed to the support of HIV/AIDS orphans and families by continuing to invest in Young Heroes. For example, next year SAP plans to develop a mobile app for the annual Bushfire Festival, a music and arts festival in Swaziland, to help festival visitors learn more about Young Heroes and facilitate online donations.

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