Not all Management Executives Motivated by Money

In light of recent controversy over Ireland’s Management Executives, it is refreshing to see not all are motivated by financial reward. One of the country’s most successful Directors has decided to embark on a career break to South Africa in order to assist in the provision of housing and community supports in one of the world’s poorest areas. Leon Swart, Associate Director with leading Irish and international Construction and Management Consultants, Healy Kelly Turner & Townsend will travel to South Africa in the coming weeks to assist Respond! Housing Association with their new housing and community projects.

According to John Hannigan, Respond! Spokesperson:
“Corporate greed has sullied the image of Ireland all over the world, but Respond! is one of many Irish organisations working to restore our image as a caring and hard working country. When we first visited Kokstad, a very poor region of South Africa, we were horrified at some of the deprivation we encountered. We had never witnessed that level of hardship before even though we have been working to relieve poverty in Ireland for the past 27 years. Absolute poverty, coupled with inadequate housing, widespread HIV/Aids, lack of medical facilities and high rate of orphaned families where the head of the house was as young as 8 years old, simply compelled us to react. With Leon now on board we will be able to deliver real hope to some of the poorest people of South Africa who are forced to live in conditions unimaginable to most of us, even in these recessionary times.”

At a time when corporate greed dominates the headlines in Ireland Mr Swart is leaving his comfort zone to work with those in absolute poverty. While most organisations talk about Corporate Social Responsibility, Respond! demonstrates that it is more important now, in a time of severe economic downturn, to make real the promises of social responsibility. Ireland’s largest housing association will work closely with Mr Swart, South African State Bodies and community organisations in order to create a coherent and long-lasting response to some of the housing and social issues facing the poorest regions of the country. This includes providing state subsidised and affordable housing, group housing with resident “foster parents” for orphaned children (especially those with HIV/Aids), a Resource Centre and a Skills Training Centre.

“Leon will relocate to his native South Africa for a six-month period and will co-ordinate our housing and community projects on the ground” added Mr Hannigan. “Leon shares our ethos of building communities by putting in place relevant support structures and community development initiatives, not just housing. We will deliver long-term measures that will provide people with the skills and knowledge they require to improve their lives and the lives of their families” concluded Mr Hannigan.