Diversity
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John Robertson | CIO - Discovery Holdings Discovery is a leader and innovator in the industries in which it chooses to operate. We aspire to make a tangible difference to the communities we serve and to all our trading partners. To achieve this, we need people with a “CAN DO” attitude which is the hallmark of Discovery people. Discovery people burrow through walls to make the difference and they take control of situations. Discovery offers you a challenge and a guarantee that, after a few years, you will probably be doing something very different at Discovery than you thought was possible when you joined. More than you ever dreamed. |  |
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Making a positive difference
Discovery announced a BEE transaction in September 2005, which sets out to empower and reward Discovery's talented black employees, make a positive contribution to the health care sector through the Discovery Foundation and achieve broad-based empowerment in partnership with WDB Investment Holdings, the investment arm of the WDB Group.
Broad-based empowerment through WDB Investment Holdings
For the past 13 years, the Women's Development Bank (WDB) Group has promoted the upliftment and development of women – by giving them access to not-for-profit micro loans to fund their rural business enterprises and by educating them on how to develop these businesses. Training programmes range from basic business computer skills to functional mother-tongue literacy. WDB bases their banking relationships with their clients on mutual trust, credit discipline, collective responsibility, accountability and savings. Since 1992, they've reached more than 14 000 women through their micro finance and training programmes.
The Discovery Foundation
Our empowerment transaction also aims to invest in the South African health care sector through the creation of the Discovery Foundation. The Foundation will spend R100 – 200 million over the next ten years on training and support initiatives to increase the number of black medical specialists in areas of urgent need. We will be working with medical training faculties and various other organisations to make it possible for more and more South Africans to receive world-class medical care when and where it's most needed. In addition, Dr Vincent Maphai, renowned business leader and current chairman of BHPBilliton, has agreed to partner with us as the Chairman of the Discovery Foundation and shareholder.
Discovery employees
Last but not least, each Discovery employee who was employed with us at the time of the announcement received shares in the company – a total of 5 390 000 shares, weighted to benefit employees from historically disadvantaged groups.
