Our training and mentoring programs for young South Africans

There are countless cases of the lack of education depriving young people of the opportunity to thrive and prosper, and that is why, as part of our Creating Shared Value agenda, we are committed to granting bursaries to young South Africans in need. We believe that education should be available to everyone, regardless of their social background. It is not where you come from, but how you move forward - especially through education - that plays an important role in paving the way to success. Our bursary program funds learners who want to finish school and school-leavers who want to study at university, but cannot afford to. Students identified as bursary recipients can study for the qualification of their choosing, at any educational institution. Through the program, 35 students have already received bursaries. Two great stories Two stories stand out. Michelle Blignaut, for example, discovered her passion for healthcare when, straight after school, she had to become a caregiver to a close relative who had been diagnosed with renal failure. Michelle was raised in the small town of Somerset East by a single parent who was the sole provider in the household. This lack of income meant that paying for tertiary education was not an option. But, seeing as the family lived near our Nojoli Wind Farm, in addition to having financial difficulties, Michelle was entitled to apply for a full bursary, in her case to study nursing. Her application was successful and she is currently a final-year student at Netcare Education, Eastern Cape Campus. Somila Solo, a student with a disability, was in a similar situation. His family was unable to provide the finances needed for his education. He had been attending Gill College in East London, but his family had already begun looking for a more affordable school for him. His life changed dramatically when he was awarded a full bursary to continue with his schooling. The opportunity came in the nick of time, because he loved his school and friends, and was sad at the thought of having to move to a new school. Luckily, our bursary enabled him to stay at his school and continue his studies. The importance of mentoring If bursaries are important, then mentors can also play a constructive role for post-school students and university graduates in the crucial transition to personal autonomy. For this reason, we partnered with Study Trust which put in place holistic interventions that are based on the three pillars, namely: Autonomy - giving individual attention; Relatedness - creating communities of belonging; and Competence - imparting skills aimed at developing the “5 Cs” of 21st-century learning: creativity, critical thinking, collaboration, communication and commitment to adding value. Study Trust also provides a program for developing and empowering our bursary recipients to transition to personal autonomy: for example, Life and thinking skills or Work and career readiness. So, while we are helping to make education available to more young people through our bursaries, we are also committed to getting them ready for the real world, their careers, and their personal lives. We believe this holistic approach will give them the advantages they need in order to prosper in all these areas.

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Our training and mentoring programs for young South Africans

Our training and mentoring programs for young South Africans