The Flight Centre Travel Group South Africa will formally launch its Brighter Futures programme on August 1, 2019. Brighter Futures will be the group’s new corporate social impact and engagement programme, combining the activities of the Flight Centre Foundation, Worldwise, Environmental Sustainability and FCTG People.
“The Flight Centre Travel Group (FCTG) Brighter Futures programme brings together everything we do as a company under one central element,” says Roxy Gonsalves, Recruitment Business Leader, who will head up the project in South Africa.
“Building brighter futures where we live, work and travel is one of the group’s most significant philosophies,” says Gonsalves. “The programme will make sure FCTG has an impact and will bring this philosophy to life.”
The group’s existing CSI projects will also fall under the FCTG Brighter Futures umbrella.
The Flight Centre Foundation has been focussed on empowered giving. Associated projects, such as #kili4kids, the SolarBuddy solar lights initiative with the Adopt a School Foundation and Workplace Giving, encouraging Flight Centre employees to donate towards a CSI initiative, remain ongoing.
“We also take part in standalone CSI initiatives, such as Mandela Day. This year, Flight Centre stores nationwide got involved in making 101 items or giving 101 minutes of their time, due to the fact that Nelson Mandela would have celebrated his 101st birthday this year,” says Gonsalves. “Stores from across the country created care packs, collected 101 sanitary towels for teenage girls and deodorant for boys and made food parcels, amongst many other initiatives.”
Brighter Futures has partnered with the Adopt a School Foundation to work on more education and school projects.
“Andrew Stark, FCTG Managing Director Middle East and Africa believes education is so important in South Africa and, as a company, we wanted to partner with an organisation that feels the same,” says Gonsalves.
“The Adopt a School Foundation has a massive footprint just like us. We have worked closely with them in the past on various initiatives, such as our ongoing project at Qhobosheane Primary School in Soweto. #kili4kids and other events raise funds for the building of a library at the school.
“More collaborative socio-economic projects will be released later in the year,” says Gonsalves.
Events include a quiz night on September 6, 2019 at Randpark Ridge, with all proceeds being donated to the Qhobosheane Primary School library project.
A fundraiser movie night has also been planned on October 12. The beneficiaries and details will soon be confirmed.
Worldwise is now the second pillar in the FCTG Brighter Futures programme, and its focus is on responsible travel. Their work ensures that the group does not support activities such as elephant riding, Gonsalves explains. Tour routes and itineraries worldwide have already been changed to promote responsible travel, she notes.
FCTG People, the third pillar, is building brighter futures through egalitarianism and unity.
“The personal and professional development of our people will always be our number one goal to building brighter futures,” says Sam van Gool, Flight Centre Travel Group Peopleworks Leader. “Our diversity across the board, 74% of females in senior management roles, fast track leadership development opportunities and the Flight Centre Business School all firmly empower and inspire our people towards success.”
FCTG Environmental Sustainability is the fourth pillar.
“We aim to make our daily operations as environmentally friendly as possible by reducing, recycling and re-using everything from coffee cups to thinking about how much paper we use,” Gonsalves concludes.
The Flight Centre Foundation website will soon be revamped. For details on all events and projects of FCTG Brighter Futures, visit the website at: http://fcfoundation.org.za/