It was a memorable day for 32 women from the Saartjie Baartman Centre for Women and Children on Saturday 26 September when the UCT Graduate School of Business’s 2009 Associate in Management (AIM) class treated them to a fun-filled day out in Cape Town.

The initiative was led by Wilmot Abrahams, who along with his fellow AIM classmates planned the activities for the day, which included a trip to Kirstenbosch Gardens and a boat trip to Seal Island.

According to Segran Nair, the Director of the AIM, students are encouraged to develop an awareness of important social issues and contribute to the wider community in any way possible.

“In one particular course, called Business Government and Society (BGS) within the AIM curriculum, students are introduced to corporate social responsibility. They are then encouraged by the GSB to undertake a community based project of their choosing. We stress the importance of students giving back and corporate social responsibility is a key part of this,” explained Nair.

Abrahams, who knew of the plight of the women and children at the Saartjie Baartman Centre through a friend, thought that the BGS assignment provided the perfect opportunity to get involved and spread some joy. “I wanted to plan a day for these women where new and positive memories could be created,” he said.

Fatima Ismail, Counselling and Awareness Co-ordinator at the Saartjie Baartman Centre explained that the women were taken, compliments of Hylton Ross tours, on a bus to the Kirstenbosch Gardens where they got to explore it in all of its beauty.

They then went to Hout Bay for a lovely meal at the Marina’s Wharf and also took a boat ride to Seal Island on a Circe Launches ferry.

“It was the first time for many of these women to experience Cape Town quite this way. Their circumstances never allowed for such trips before and you could see that they were all deeply grateful.

“The women, most of them mothers, also received some treats to take back to the centre for their children,” said Ismail.

The AIM class was also keen to leave a deeper impression on the women about education and the role it could play in creating a brighter future. They decided that a good way to do this was to give the women a tour of the UCT Graduate School of Business where they focused on telling them more about the AIM course (which is aimed at people without a formal tertiary education).

“Our greatest objective was to give these women memories to cherish and to let them know that a positive future is still a possibility. Many of them were deeply touched about learning about the GSB AIM course. I think they felt good knowing there are still ways to further educate themselves no matter what the circumstances,” explained Abrahams.

Saartjie Baartman Manager, Shaheema Macleod, had high praise for the GSB’s 2009 AIM class for their sense of social responsibility.

“We are extremely grateful to them for their generosity and for bringing smiles and hope to our women,” she said.

The Saartjie Baartman Centre for Women and Children has also made a lasting impression on the 2009 AIM class. Fazlin Harribi, one of the students, has since decided to become a volunteer at the Centre and Abrahams said that there would definitely be more opportunities in future to get involved in the good work of the Centre.

The 2009 AIM class thanked all the sponsors, including Alexander Forbes (who sponsored the lunch) for making the day possible.

For more details on how to apply for the AIM programme, contact the UCT GSB Admissions Department on 021 406 1338/9.