Entrepreneurs in support of Virgin Unite

When the three founders of Practicus joined Sir Richard Branson on a trip to South Africa, they saw first-hand how the work of his charity Virgin Unite has changed the lives of local entrepreneurs and those around them. This film shows some of the invaluable aid and education work carried out by Virgin Unite, and by sharing their experiences the Practicus team hope that other leaders will become as passionate as they are about building their business as a 'force for good'.

South Africa - a country of extremes. One of rich resource and one of grinding poverty.

Here, one in five children doesn't go to school, urban unemployment is close to 30%. South Africa is believed to have more people with HIV/AIDS than any other country.

This is a film about a small group of entrepreneurs who wanted to find out how business could be a 'force for good' in dealing with some of the world's most intractable problems.

After ranking 15th in the Sunday times Virgin Fast Track 100, the three co-owners of Interim Management business, Practicus, decided to give their support to Virgin Unite, an organisation aiming to use entrepreneurs and business as a force for good.

For the company's Managing Director, Jason Luckhurst, it wasn't just about making a donation.

Jason Luckhurst, Managing Director, Practicus
"The key thing for me is around the sustainability, because it's all very well and good donating money, but ultimately you need people to be self sufficient."

Virgin Unite is not short on ambition, as its founder explains:
Sir Richard Branson, Founder, Virgin Unite
"There are three major areas that Virgin Unite are looking at. One is conflict resolution and the second is trying to tackle diseases and the third is trying to get on top of the problem of global warming."

The three entrepreneurs went to South Africa to see for themselves where their support was going, to witness first hand, the difference it would make.

Tourists come to see the wildlife on Safari here in South Africa, and what wildlife there is to see.

Ranger
"This is a male cheetah, they can run at 120 kilometres per hour and they can keep that speed up for 500 metres."

In the bush there's a constant battle for survival, and only a few miles away, in this village community, there are other battles for survival going on - daily challenges for the basics in life.

Virgin Unite supports all kinds of projects including this orphanage near Ulusaba.

Lyndsay Hanekom, Pride and Purpose
"Out here in these villages we pretty much don't have any basics, we don't have any running water we don't have any medical assistance, we supply a lot of the kids we look after with transport to the clinics, if they didn't have that they wouldn't go and you need your basic healthcare systems to survive."

Not far away is the Bhubezi Community Health Centre - a staggering 20% of the local population here is living with HIV/AIDS.

Dr Hugo Templeman, Bhubezi Community Health Centre
"Literally it's the difference between life and death. The passion I have for this place is that I would love to create it together with the community in such a way that in a few year's they do not need the Virgin Unite and Hugo Templeman's or Richard Bransons, but they could stand up for themselves and manage it themselves."

Building sustainability is a key driver for all of the community projects here, and one which is a theme throughout Virgin Unite's involvement in this country.

Away from the rural areas, the challenges faced in urban environments are compounded.

Johannesburg is the largest city in South Africa - the authorities here are working hard to change its reputation as a city of high crime.

In the heart of it, is the Branson School of Entrepreneurship where students from Townships like Soweto are given the opportunity to learn some of the skills they will need if they go on to start up businesses.

James Wanjohi, Head of Branson School of Entrepreneurship
"We're trying to create employers not employees here."

The students pitch their business plans - everything from a video production company, to a mobile shower facility for communities without hot water.

Those who show real promise can end up with seed funding to get their enterprise off the ground.

Jason Luckhurst, Managing Director, Practicus
"You've obviously got real passion and I think you're going to be successful."

Students from years gone by have created successful businesses and employment opportunities for people in their community. This pottery employs up to 25 people and has been trading for 3 years.

Sonwabile Mngenela, Mngenela Productions
"I think I would never be where I am now without Branson's school. There are so many things that I have learnt from them. They are growing me."

These two entrepreneurs have managed to create entertainment centres for kids out of old shipping containers. As well as keeping children off dangerous streets, this business offers a range of other services as well.

Musa, Gaming Zone
"We rent out DVDs and people can get their DVDs repaired."

Amos believes that without the Branson School, the business wouldn't have survived.

Amos, Gaming Zone
"They have been mentoring us since the beginning of this year, and it has been fruitful. And the other thing is the financial support that they are giving us, because they've been very helpful in terms of that."

One of the most deprived areas of Johannesburg is Alexandra - it has the reputation for being one of the City's toughest neighbourhoods. This gym was set up in 2005 and is thriving.

Tumi Masite, Ikasi Gym
"We have 500 members in the gym, we open the gym from 5 o'clock in the morning until 10 o'clock at night, it's Monday to Sunday."

The theory that business can be a 'force for good' has become proven reality here in the Townships. For Tumi, there are many positive benefits that his enterprise has brought the local community.

Tumi Masite, Ikasi Gym
"It's getting more people into gyms and more people into a healthier life and more people away from crime. It has changed many lives of people and also has changed my life."

From the warm theory taught in Branson's classrooms, to the cold reality of running a business in a Township, Virgin Unite is demonstrating that entrepreneurial approaches matter in achieving economic empowerment.

Boyd Kershaw, Co-Owner, Practicus
"The small thing that we do, if we can do that as a collective we've got a better possibility to make change happen."

Paul Wandless, Co-Owner, Practicus
"I think they're making a difference, and a tangible difference. Guys with not very much have set up businesses and succeeded in changing their lives and the lives of the people around them."

Jason Luckhurst, Managing Director, Practicus
"What I found is actually the people here have inspired me a lot more than I could ever inspire them."

Boyd Kershaw, Co-Owner, Practicus
"Once you do get involved you will look at things in a different way, a hundred per cent."

Their Interim Management business is becoming a global concern, but these entrepreneurs have decided not to wait until the end of their journey to try and help.

Sir Richard Branson, Founder, Virgin Unite
"The wonderful thing about Practicus is they're practicing what they preach, they're out seeing if they can make a difference in the world today and I have a funny feeling they'll do a lot more over the years."

Some people in life are committed to making a difference.

The team at Virgin Unite are channelling their support and the support of entrepreneurs alike behind initiatives that will bring about sustainable change for all our benefit.

To view our other films please visit PracticusTV