ABOUT  THUSO LINKS

Information is Power. Hundreds of thousands of people, young and old, who need information which can change their lives, or which can change the lives of others, just don’t know where to find it; or how to make use of it when they do. This is where Thuso Links come in. Our name says it all.

Thuso Links was born out of a realization that a lot, an unnecessary lot, of really important efforts by so many people, organizations, companies and individuals that are useful and valuable are not sufficiently known and appreciated; because it’s all happening quietly, without fanfare below the public’s radar; it’s all happening, in our opinion, too quietly and is therefore relegated to the inconsequential; mainly because it is not sensational, or is not considered as bling, a new word in our ever-changing South Africa. What a pity. What a loss. What a waste. What shortsightedness.

This is the result of information not being readily accessible; not being found in one place; not being understood easily; and people in need of that information not knowing where to look – or how to look; or not sure if there is a reason to look for some hope, or to hope for something.

This applies especially in the domain of CSI and BEE, otherwise known as Corporate Social Investment and Black Economic Empowerment. Sometimes in our country with its baggage from the past, these are referred to as Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and Broad-based Black Economic Empowerment (BBBEE). We intend to look carefully at the role played by these two vehicles for change in the challenging society of post-apartheid South Africa, to better realize the thinking, rational, motives and agendas of the different role players. To approach the issues as people based, and people-orientated. We will try to unpack what CSI(R) is all about – and what B(BB)EE is leading us towards, by soliciting the views of the givers and the beneficiaries. The policy makers and the role players; the policies and projects, will also come under scrutiny without fear or favor, while giving full attention to the benefits to society, perceived or real.

Both are crucial elements in the reconstruction and development program of our country, involving mostly the business, labor, the NGO sector, as well as government structures. In the centre of all these are the needy people of this country; and those providing and controlling the resources towards change. The central issue binding all these players is the need for transformation of our country; and making the tools of this transformation easily accessible to those in need. A crucial element is information.

These are some of the observations that led us to ask ourselves what is to be done. The answer was found in the African idiom: Hands Wash Each Other! Matsogo a Tlhapana! Izandla Ziya Hlambana! This gave rise to Thuso Links, in order to link people in need with the resources provided; and the resources provided with the people in need; but also to connect the people in need with each other; and resource providers with each other, in a dynamic relationship of recognizing that we all need each other – the old-age adage of Umntu ngu Muntu Nga Bantu; Motho ke Motho ka Batho.

That is the idea behind Thuso Links. And it can only become meaningful if we recognize the crucial need for people to recognize our interdependence on each other; like the relationship between human beings and plants, which give us oxygen in exchange for our carbon dioxide. The idea belongs to all of us who want to contribute towards change, starting with ourselves, with others; and for ourselves and others.  We insist and repeat: “Motho ke motho ka batho; Umntu ngumntu ngaBantu” and we believe this simple African belief will take us to where we all need to be.

Thuso Links intends to be one of the links towards realization of those noble beliefs; by building partnerships with companies, NGO’s, labour, the faith communities and government; as well as with individuals, families, and like-minded organizations towards instilling the sense of self-help among ourselves; towards changing our communities; towards more meaningful relationships among the various people of our country. Thuso Links is a small contribution in that direction. We believe we can, and we believe together we can do even better.

The people of South Africa are a generous people, and we wish to say and show it with dignity and without blushing or any shame, in spite of, or because of the huge differences in their access to wealth, privilege, education and opportunities. Thuso Links will play its part in becoming a vital, even if a small, vehicle for change to address the imbalances which we sometimes acknowledge, underestimate, exploit or ignore in our midst. The public’s involvement will be crucial as we pursue our goals, as full partners; as we move towards making life meaningful for all the people of this country. “Slowly, slowly catchy monkey” said Confucius. And we agree with him.

We know that Hands Wash Each Other.