It does not take long for children to realise what an ugly place the world can really be. It is a well-known fact that our children are also our future leaders. Unfortunately, the welfare of children is often disregarded and overshadowed by things such as war, politics, the media – and, yes, even by adults.

A South African medical school has become the first in Africa to address the continent's chronic shortage of rural doctors. "The fact is that 43% of South Africans live in rural areas, but only 12% of doctors work there," says Hoffie Conradie, a former rural general practitioner who is director of the University of Stellenbosch's year-old Ukwanda Rural Clinical School.

To succeed in the shifting and challenging business landscape of the 21st century, employees need to rethink their old views and harness a new construction of attitudes and abilities. 

Last year, 2012, was a long year. Time will tell that it was the same length as the year before and it will be the same length this year. Time won’t tell the actual length between one lesson and the next. The clock does not speak the language of space-holding; times when your dream is in a physical non-state, where nothing moves forward, or even backward. All you have to do is keep holding the space where you believe that things will happen.

In South Africa, there is a need for initiatives that promote social growth. The country’s corporate law does not explicitly oblige businesses to engage in social initiatives. It does, however, have internationally renowned measures implemented to ensure businesses act socially responsive.