Industry in South Africa has an increasing concern for the community at large and Rainbow is no exception. Corporate social investment is a philosophy of ours and this is evidenced by the many charity organisations we support. As we are a relationship-based enterprise, we take our corporate social responsibilities very seriously, and encourage all our employees to participate where they can. The organisations we support are located in the same areas as our operations. The cornerstones of our social investment program are education and health.
Our commitment to caring is reflected by our involvement in a number of spheres:
Rainbow’s CSI strategy
Rainbow believes that we have a responsibility to assist in improving the lives of disadvantaged communities in the areas in which Rainbow operates. In order to achieve this, Rainbow has developed a corporate social investment (CSI) policy aligned to the company strategy and contributing to our vision.
Rainbow has chosen two focus areas where we can make a significant/long term sustained contribution to disadvantaged communities – education and skills development.
Rainbow supports selected disadvantaged secondary school children, particularly focusing on Grades 10 to 12, through funding the children in improving maths, science and English. This programme is run in conjunction with StarSchools. In addition to the education assistance, Rainbow provides the families of the children with nutrition in the form of chicken.
Rainbow’s skills development work includes assisting skills training institutions that focus on developing technical skills – technical skills training programmes that combine a transfer of both practical skills and conceptual understanding of skills.
Although Rainbow’s focus is on education and skills development, we also understand the need and role that arts/theatre plays in broader education and building self esteem and confidence. Rainbow has therefore been supporting a local theatre in Durban (The Catalina Theatre) and is now the proud supporter of Rainbow Young Performers.
This year we have put on the Show Seussical.
Below is a link to a video that was shot for Coza TV. The video will give you a good idea of what the Rainbow Young Performers is all about.
The Young Performers project is a platform for the youth to showcase their talent. This project has had over 300 high school learners perform on the Elizabeth Sneddon theatre stage, over the past 11 years, many of whom we are proud to say have gone on to become professional actors in the industry, here in South Africa and abroad. The talented cast of 26 kids rehearsed extremely hard during the past few months and we know that the skills they have learned during the rehearsals and during the performance will boost their confidence and increase their proficiency in the future.
http://vimeo.com/26290484
Rainbow realized that although the business has identified the importance of education and skills development in terms of upliftment of disadvantaged communities, Rainbow’s employees may have other interests e.g. support of animals, the aged etc.
Rainbow has therefore launched an internal volunteer programme (for employees of Rainbow only) that supports our employees interests and involvement in charity/upliftment programmes.
Together with our Rainbow people, we are committed to giving back to the community through our CSI programmes.
Rainbow StarSchools
Every year Rainbow holds an awards ceremony at each centre (Hammarsdale, Rustenburg and Worcester) where we run the Rainbow StarSchool programme (assisting kids with Maths, Science and English in grades 10, 11 and 12).
The purpose of the ceremony is to celebrate the successes of the kids from 2012, to welcome the Grade 10 kids onto the programme as well as take the opportunity to thank the parents, StarSchool teachers as well as Rainbow staff who all ensure the success of the programme throughout the year.
The YouTube video’s of each awards ceremony gives one a tiny glimpse of the lives of the kids we support on the Rainbow StarSchools programme and the impact that this programme is having on these kids.
Each of the video's below tells a different story about the work that we are doing around the country … Enjoy!
Rainbow StarSchool awards ceremony in Rustenburg:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rRsmK_yKSbc
Rainbow StarSchool awards ceremony in Hammarsdale:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FxrwdP8UnEA
Rainbow StarSchool awards ceremony in Worcester:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QZ3l6i_Z3Qs
Ikamva Labantu
Ikamva Labantu is a non-government and non-profit organisation and is one of Rainbow’s BEE partners. Ikamva Labantu works with and assists affiliated community based organisations serving various sections of the population - children, youth, adults, families, senior and the disabled.
 Ikamva Labantu July Newsletter.pdf
Ikamva Labantu October Newsletter.pdf
Ikamva Labantu November Newsletter.pdf
Ikamva Labantu November 2010 Newsletter.pdf
Ikamva Labantu March 2011 Newsletter.pdf
Environment Management
We take full responsibility for our environment by charging every Rainbow person to ensure effective use of resources and limit our impact on the environment. In addition we favour suppliers and partners who share our values with regard to the protection of the environment.
In total, Rainbow owns and manages nearly 10000 hectares for our facilities. At each site, an environmental officer has been appointed to measure and manage environmental impacts.
Environmental Policy.pdf
Waste
The main types of waste that our operations generate are wastewater, cardboard and plastic. Other waste, including litter and by-products, is effectively put to use in cattle feed and fertilisers.
Animal Welfare
Rainbow regards animal welfare as a high priority and actively complies with the SAPA Code of Practice (Southern African Poultry Association).
Rainbow subscribes to the British Poultry Council’s Assured Chicken Production Programme that sets the highest standards for the nutrition and welfare of poultry. It covers the rearing, catching, transport and slaughter of poultry to ensure that the birds are handled in the most humane manner possible throughout the supply chain.
Rainbow undergoes internal audits and frequent monitoring on these issues. State veterinarians have unrestricted access to our processing plants to conduct audits or inspections with regard to animal welfare.
An independent third party conducts annual audits in accordance with Animal Welfare and the British Poultry Council’s Assured Chicken Production standard.
Rearing
Rainbow is committed to looking after our birds as well as we can. We rear them in a comfortable environment, allowing them to move about, sleep, eat, and drink freely. Rainbow chickens live in climate-controlled houses to protect them against fluctuating seasonal and weather conditions. The environment is carefully controlled and maintained in order to ensure that high quality birds are produced at high levels of flock health. Within the poultry houses, the chickens are free to roam, and have free access to clean water and nutritious feed 24 hours a day.
Feeding
All Rainbow chickens are grain fed. As they are omnivores, their feed consists of grain and a natural protein source. Rainbow chickens are not given growth hormones or unnecessary antibiotics.
Processing
We ensure that all our birds are handled as humanely as possible prior to and during slaughter. We employ automatic equipment and holding areas that are darkened and electronically ventilated to reduce stress on the birds. Slaughter is carried out in line with international practices, and in compliance with religious and meat safety requirements so as to provide South Africa with a very wholesome, tasty and affordable source of high protein.
After each flock cycle, every chicken house is thoroughly cleaned and disinfected, giving them the distinction of having one of the highest cleanliness standards in the world.
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