Impacting the lives of non-clients has strengthened our resolve to be a Force for Social Good

It’s been a challenging year, but 2020 has also driven home the power of Discovery’s Shared-value Insurance model – and the profound impact we strive to have on society. And indeed, are having. I was moved this week to receive a WhatsApp message from our CSI-partner, ChildSafe, who are the implementors for a flagship programme of the Discovery Fund – the Safe Travel to School programme.

Safe Travel to School, which is now in its sixth year, is the crystallisation of Discovery’s commitment to be a Force for Social Good. Discovery has a business model that seeks to change the behaviour of people in order “to make people healthier and to enhance and protect their lives”. At Discovery Insure, we take this a step further with our Ambition to Create a Nation of Great Drivers, Contribute to reducing road fatalities in South Africa and Impact the lives of at least one million non-clients by making them safer by 2023. The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic has meant our Safe Travel to School drivers have contributed so much more, in inculcating safe practices as our children travel to and from their homes during an unprecedented time.

The message I received was from a scholar-transporter in the programme to thank ChildSafe for the free spectacles he has received as part of the holistic series of interventions aimed at improving road safety, and through this phenomenal and one-of-a-kind programme.

“Three years ago I was given an opportunity to get a free pair of spectacles by ChildSafe. Now many would see it as just a pair of spectacles, but to me it was more. It meant that I could have clear vision when driving and that ensured safety for the learners in my vehicle and myself,” he writes.

“Due to this opportunity, just last year I was nominated the most improved safe driver and I received the gift that came with it. Again a few days ago, I got a new pair of spectacles. Thank you ChildSafe very much for making sure that the future leaders of this world are safe and delivered to their future. And for making sure that a poor-visioned man like me gets an opportunity to make this happen.”

We honour him, and this programme’s 1000 drivers (who safely transports 19,000 school children a day to-and-from school) for their steadfast commitment to keeping our most precious cargo safe under immensely difficult circumstances. 

I would also like to thank all our partners Shell, BP, Tiger Wheel & Tyre, St John International, and C-Track. I would like to extend Discovery’s deepest appreciation to our implementing-partner, ChildSafe, for running with the day-to-day requirements of the programme and ensuring that our plans have materialised to the great success that we are celebrating today.

We look forward to 2021 and driving the expansion of this important programme, of which we are enormously proud.