The fundraising programme was awarded Best CSR Initiative Linked to Loyalty, Best Long-Term Loyalty Programme and the Regional Loyalty Champions of the Year for Middle East & Africa award.

MySchool MyVillage MyPlanet entered the awards for the first time in 2013 and were the first South African entry to win an award at the internationally recognised event. They have since brought home five awards.

Held for the first time in 2012, the Loyalty Magazine Awards aim to recognise excellence, innovation and best practice in the loyalty industry across Europe, the Middle East and Africa.

The ceremony also aimed to pay tribute to the creativity, ingenuity and technical skill that it takes to produce a world-class loyalty initiative.

According to the organisers, they received a record number of entries this year from countries such as Canada, the United States, India, Germany, France, Italy, Russia, Australia and China.

Below are the details of each of the categories won:

1. Best CSR Initiative Linked to Loyalty

Winner: MySchool MyVillage MyPlanet for 'Investing in what matters most – customers and the community'.

South Africa’s MySchool MyVillage MyPlanet aims to connect people to their family, community and causes in a way that inspires and drives incremental sales growth and makes a sustainable, measurable difference.

2. Best Long-Term Loyalty Programme

Winner: MySchool MyVillage MyPlanet for 'Investing in what matters most reaps long-term benefits'.

For 20 years, MySchool MyVillage MyPlanet has aimed to make it possible to give back to the causes people care about, raising over R500-million in funding and delivering sustainable sales growth.

3. Middle East & Africa

Winner: MySchool MyVillage MyPlanet for 'Investing in what matters most reaps long-term benefits'.

"I am immensely proud of the MySchool MyVillage MyPlanet team who have worked hard to ensure that the brand delivers on its promises to South Africa. To be recognised as the regional loyalty champions for the Middle East and Africa is definitely a highlight on our journey," says general manager for the programme, Pieter Twine.

"Winning these awards is a testament to the long-term sustainable impact we have made together with all our stakeholders, not only our business partners but also our customers and the community within which we operate," adds Twine.

The national MySchool MyVillage MyPlanet fundraising programme currently has 1.2 million active cardholders and raises an average of R6-million per month for schools and charities, through retail partners such as Woolworths, Loot.co.za, Bidvest Waltons, Engen Foodstops and selected QuickShops, as well as other local partners.

For more information, visit www.myschool.co.za. You can also follow MySchool MyVillage MyPlanet on Facebook, Twitter or on Instagram.