At KPMG, our Community Leader Strategy encourages people to channel their enthusiasm and become engaged with communities and organizations. It’s about making a positive difference.

One of our summer interns, Salina Dharamsi from Vancouver, recently explored her passion in international development, while participating in KPMG’s Global Internship program in South Africa. She also invited Keitumetse Sekwele, a team member from KPMG’s Johannesburg office, to get involved in making a difference too.

In July 2011, Salina and Keitumese decided to get involved with UBC’s community-based program in South Africa called “ARC.” The ARC initiative brings together business people from Canada and South Africa, as well students, alumni and faculty from the University of British Columbia. Together, they facilitate a business conference for emerging entrepreneurs from Phalaborwa and nearby townships.

Conference delegates included Phalaborwa residents who owned a variety of businesses including companies involved in the construction, clothing, roof tiling, engineering, children’s entertainment and arts and crafts industries. Some delegates hoped to open businesses in the near future and shared their dreams of opening ecological centres, daycares, shoe repair facilities and other shops in Phalaborwa. Workshops focused on helping these emerging entrepreneurs gain a variety of marketing, finance, accounting, and strategy tools that could help them make business decisions and gain confidence.

Among the many activities was a live case where delegates were provided with background information on a handicraft store in Ethiopia that was thinking of opening a store in South Africa. As the owner of the store was present, delegates were able to interview her and ask questions that could help guide their analysis as to whether or not the expansion was in the best interest of the company. Keitumetse and Salina enjoyed helping delegates with the live case and were thoroughly impressed with the delegates’ ability to use the skills they had learned through the ARC initiative to unravel the case and present their findings.

At the end of the conference, participants were divided into groups and presented with a multi-page business case on a retail store that was experiencing some challenges. Groups worked together to tackle both the quantitative and qualitative aspects of the case and ultimately presented their findings to a panel of judges.

Keitumetse and Salina had a lot of fun helping guide their groups through the case and were thoroughly impressed with not only how well the delegates worked together but also the camaraderie and energy that resonated throughout the room. The top three teams were recognized at the Gala dinner where each ARC participant received a certificate, class photo and encouragement to continue to passionately work together and follow their dreams.

“I enjoyed every moment of my stay in Phalaborwa; for me, the highlight was visiting Bornwise, a local fashion designer and conference delegate, at his home. It was so inspiring to see the beautiful garments he makes and to hear of how his participation with ARC has helped him gain new skills and build not only his business but also a good life for himself and his family,” Salina said. “I feel truly blessed to be interning with a company [KPMG] that is so committed to using its resources to reach out to the communities and countries in which it operates and am thankful for the incredible opportunity to be a part of the good work happening in Phalaborwa.”

Salina (2nd from the left) and Keitumetse (right) celebrating at the Gala dinner!

Professor Jeff Kroeker congratulates conference participants who won the Innovation Challenge!

The ARC team visits Kruger! (Salina and Keitumetse are on the bottom row, right hand side)