Striata, where every message matters, but so do those in need

As the festive season fast approaches, we take time out to measure our success in 2011. This year, we grew the South African business by 23%: strong evidence that local businesses continue to embrace paperless communications.

However, the end of the year is not just for taking stock of our commercial successes - we also revisit our social investment, which is a key component of our company culture.

Striata supports a variety of charities in South Africa, including many that focus on the wellbeing of children. This includes Noah, Childline, Starfish, Refilwe, Freed Thinkers, Valued Citizens and Thursday Club. We extend our e-marketing expertise to help these valuable organisations market to donors and media partners, by providing them with free digital communication services, including creative, campaign and distribution work.

Our support of charities is through direct financial or business assistance, as well as by rallying the support of our staff, who participate enthusiastically in various annual charitable events organised by Striata.

Earlier this year, our staff marched off to Uitkoms Children's Home, toolboxes in hand. Their mission: to help improve the home's living conditions. These activities ranged from painting rooms and fixing the intercom system and electric fencing, to donating general house supplies. www.uitkoms.org.za

A Christmas without presents for any child is a heartbreaking thought, so we were keen to become involved in a gift-giving initiative. Striata staff, their friends and families donated filled gift boxes to the Kidz2Kidz Santa Shoebox initiative. We also sponsored one of the 'celebration days', where these gifts were handed out to the children, along with a party pack. www.santashoebox.co.za

During the year, Striata staff collect and donate bags of dog food to the Sandton SPCA, and during the winter months, we collect and donate warm clothes and blankets to the homeless.

To demonstrate our compassion for those battling with cancer, and in memory of our loved ones who have battled this indiscriminate disease, we host our own Shavathon day every year. The aim is to create awareness, as well as raise funds in support of CANSA.

This year, we had 21 participants in Movember under our 'The Moustachoes team'. Not only did our guys grow some of the most impressive Mos, they also raised a total of R6 736 in sponsorship of this worthy cause.

Finally, Striata recognises that unemployment is one of the biggest challenges South Africa is facing. Through active involvement with small and upcoming black-owned enterprises, Striata aims to contribute towards their economic growth and a sustainable income by enhancing innovation and thus competitiveness.

We support these enterprises by providing free subject matter expert advice, Web site innovation and development, database development, as well as hosting and distributing automated communications.

Striata would like to take this opportunity to wish you and your families not only a happy and safe festive season, but one that also includes the pleasure of giving to those that could use your help.

Alison Treadaway - Managing Director, Africa

Alison Treadaway is the Managing Director of Striata's African operations based in South Africa (SA). Alison has 15 years experience in Internet-related positions, including Group Marketing Executive at one of the first Internet Service Providers in South Africa and various positions within global IT services and solutions provider, Dimension Data.

Alison was a columnist for The Star newspaper and online news portal ITWeb for many years, writing about developments in the Web and electronic communication environments.

Her professional certifications and licenses include a Bachelor of Arts (English, German, WITS) and a Post-graduate Diploma in Business Administration (WITS Business School).