•

Mary’s Orphanage – is a home for abused and abandoned children located in Orange Farm. We will be investing in the creation of a vegetable garden for consumption and re-sale. We are also exploring ways in which to get the local women involved in beading and other income generating projects, this creating skills and helping Mary’s become self sufficient.

•

Yithuba Lami – is a registered non-profit organisation, founded in 2003 by Fr. Laszlo Karpati who began a regular outreach program on the street. Since then a multi-purpose centre and shelter (called Dinaledi House) has been established in Rossmore, west of Johannesburg. The house has been transformed into a home for “children-at-risk” and children living on the streets. The centre’s most urgent need is to obtain a remedial teacher for the boys due to the disruption caused by their living on the streets for long periods of time. For the 2009 School tear a remedial teacher monthly salary will be sponsored by the company.

•

•

Greening Policies
Global Conferences Africa subscribes to the principle of sustainable environmental tourism. To this end, the company aims to ensure that any negative impact that the business may have on the environment is minimised.

Conference Greening

OFFICE

• Where possible all office supplies and kitchen stock are locally sourced, made from sustainable materials and recyclable
• Paper and plastic are separated and recycled
• Documents are printed double sided where possible and 1-sided prints are reused.
• Where possible we minimize consumption of lights and air conditioning
• Where possible we either scan documents to our PC for email or use fax to email in order to send and receive information electronically instead of on paper.  This reduces paper use and is more cost effective in terms of paper and ink.
• Increasing use of laptops rather than desktop workstations: laptops typically use 10% less energy than a regular desktop computer
• Choosing future electronic equipment that is multifunctional such as a printer / copier in one.  This saves on electricity use as it only has one plug using energy rather than three
• Placing living plants in office open areas

COMMUNICATION & MARKETING

• Using the conference website as the main tool of communication to minimize printing and the transport required for posted materials
• Use of our on-line registration system ensures that the registration process including booking conference attendance, accommodation, transport, tours, etc. is all electronic
• Making all conference materials and handouts available online and encouraging delegates to print only what they need, instead of indiscriminately printing or publishing copies for all delegates.  This includes papers, slides, delegate lists etc.
• Giving memory sticks or CD ROMs with all conference materials pre-loaded, which is also a sponsorship opportunity
• Discourage sponsors from distributing printed marketing materials
• Use directional signage without dates or sponsors where possible , encouraging re-use
• Bring a “green sponsor” on board to financially support the event’s greening initiatives and a greening on-site representative.
• Evaluate the success of the event using a paperless online survey and get a better response to more detailed questions in the process
• Keeping all participants informed of the green policy and all the ways they can assist in reducing the event footprint as well as the footprint of their personal participation in the event 

TRANSPORT

• Discourage car tips through hotel selection and by providing maps to encourage walking
• Use appropriately-size buses (no empty seats) where possible for airport, hotel and other transfers through careful planning
• Use local suppliers and products to minimize packaging, shipping and transport requirements

ON-SITE PROCEDURES

• Choosing recycled content for conference proceedings and paraphernalia e.g. name tags, hand outs, program handbooks, exhibition binders, etc
• Ensuring that conference bags are made form recycled material or using cloth bags that can be reused and sourcing locally
• Placing a box at the exit for delegates to donate their conference bags and unused stationary to a school or charity if they do not wish to keep them
• Encouraging delegates to return their conference lanyards, name tags and plastic pouches for reuse and recycling
• Giving locally sourced promotional and speaker gifts that are made using sustainable materials and have no or minimal packaging e.g. Beadwork, wire crafts, etc..

VENUE

By using a venue that takes environmental sustainability as a serious criterion when implementing policies and procedures like:

• Setting up a recycling center on-site
• Carefully choosing a seasonal menu
• Serving water from jugs only or distributing sponsored water bottles that can be refilled at water stations, instead of disposable plastic water bottles and not using disposable cups
• Similarly for coffee and tea, sponsored travel mugs can be refilled each refreshment break to minimize washing
• Serving condiments, sauces, milk & sugar etc, from refillable containers instead of individual packages
• Using cutlery, crockery and glass etc, instead of plastic or paper
• When disposable is necessary using recyclable, biodegradable or compostable items
• Using cloth or recycled paper napkins
• Minimizing the use of tablecloths and unnecessary linens that need to be laundered after use.
• Choosing seasonal living plants instead of cut flowers and indigenous plants or flowers instead of imported
• Not pre-filling glasses
• Juice and tea were served from large containers
• Garnishes were eliminated on plates

EXHIBITION

• Ensure that all stands use energy saving light bulbs
• The lights, power and HVAC were reduced during move in and move out times in the exhibit hall.
• Stipulate that all lights and electrical appliances and equipment are turned on / plugged in only when needed and only when the exhibition is open
• Place recycling bins throughout the exhibition hall for easy access
• Ensure that all signs and handouts are recycled and that left over stationary is donated
• Place sustainability restrictions on the exhibitors e.g. prefer use of recycled paper and soy based ink on handouts, use recycled eco friendly giveaways such as pencils made from reclaimed wood, minimize use of cardboard boxes, plastic and shipping during the set up / breakdown process
• Ensure that the exhibition stands are made using sustainable building materials, paint, carpets etc
• Offer an incentive or award for the exhibitors to have the most environmentally friendly stand

HOTELS / ACCOMMODATION

• Determining which hotels have a green policy and if their staff are trained in following green procedures.  If not, encourage them to adopt greening practices for the duration of the conference.
• Request that the hotel uses energy-saving light bulbs and that the hotel implements an energy use-minimisation procedure.
• Checking whether the bathrooms have dual-flush toilets, low flow shower heads, refillable toiletry dispensers and air-dryers or cloth instead of paper towels
• Selecting accommodation that is close to the conference venue so that delegates can walk
• Not replacing consumable amenities daily unless they are gone
• Housekeeping will shut blinds and switch off air conditioning in unoccupied rooms
• Use glass or china catering plates, cups and glasses. (non disposable)
• By eliminating saucers under coffee
• Request that hotels only change sheets and towels on request to save water, electricity and cleaning supplies
• Implementing an outsourced recycling program throughout the hotel for the duration of the conference
• Request that the hotel use paper-less registration, check-in and communication methods with the delegates