In today?s business world, Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is becoming more and more important, to increase the goodwill of companies. CIEL Group is trying to really make the difference by giving non governmental organisations (NGOs) an interactive platform for communication and training them to enhance the goodwill of their respective organizations through networking.

Fondation Nouveau Regard, the CSR department of CIEL group, launched on Tuesday4th March the website ? www.Actogether.mu ? to that effect. It will be used as a platform for communication by NGOs working in the fight against poverty and social exclusion as well as health, education and the training of the disabled.

The aim of this website is to be the link between NGOs and their different target groups. This includes sensitizing the public to various social issues and making politicians aware of the pertinent social issues. This will also apply to the private sector. This website will encourage private companies to contribute financially and sponsor NGOs. Fondation Nouveau Regard, through its website, will also serve as a link with the media to help NGOs in their sensitizing campaigns and to reach a greater public.

?This website will function as an interactive platform. The NGOs can at any time, modify or add information about their activities, reports, documents or social issues?, explains Delphine Bouic, responsible officer of Fondation Nouveau Regard. The NGOs will be able to post articles, documents, reports and newsletters regularly. They will also be given the opportunity to update and modify information about their organizations. Their newsletters will be sent by mail, to responsible officers of various organizations such as other NGOs and private firms, civil servants, journalists and the public in general.

This is a golden chance for NGOs, which do not have the appropriate resources to create their own websites. This website gives space for the NGOs to display information about themselves, who they are, the type of activity they do and about their field of specialization. Through the information displayed on the website and through the direct links being provided for those who already have a website, the NGOs will have access to a wider public. Thus, they will increase their visibility and enhance their communication with the media, the government, governmental organizations, the private sector, the public in general and prospective organizations that may eventually sponsor them.

<B>Establish trust</B>

Communication was indeed at the centre of the training session given to the NGOs present for the inauguration of the website. In their struggle in specific fields and also to affirm their identity, NGOs today need to understand the concept of organizational communication.

Communication will be the main tool for establishing their identity, attracting sponsors, for fund-raising activities, advertising and better pass messages for the purpose of sharing information and sensitizing the public, as well as for prevention and destigmatization.

By understanding the concept of communication, NGOs will be able to establish trust and a better credibility in the eyes of the public, their stakeholders and financiers. This will also help them to create a better networking with other NGOs in their struggle to help the needy and creating a better society. ?Communication has become an essential stake for every organization. www.Actogether.mu is thus bringing an efficient tool to pass messages without paying any fee? says Delphine Bouic.

<B>Bilkiss JAFFARALLI</B>