Sonae Novobord remains committed to our Corporate Social Investment Programme in 2013 following its inception dating back to 2006, with the activities administered by the Sonae Novobord CSI committee.
As a locally rooted business I view the investment back into our communities as an obligation rather than a duty. The prosperity of our country and its people is to the direct benefit of Sonae Novobord and our employees.
Our continued investment is driven by the success and results that we have achieved to date. Craig MacMurray - Chief Operating Officer.
The Programme is focused on two key points: Education and the Environment in South Africa.
1.Education
School Partnership Programme
In 2007 Sonae Novobord identified certain schools as school partners worthy of our support based on their proximity to Sonae Novobords operating sites and with a syllabus bias towards maths and science.
Passionate leadership from the educators were also key in the selection process. All our partnership schools have learners that have family members working at our various operations.
It is of great pride that not only do we support our local communities but as importantly our colleagues children directly benefit from the schools programmes.
Camden Combined School
located about 50 Kilometres from our plant in Panbult is the latest school to benefit from our schools programme.
With a brand new science laboratory transformed out of an old tractor garage, the lab is fully equipped and able to accommodate learners from grade 10 through to grade 12, thanks to the refurbishment.
Congratulations to the grade 12 class of 2011 for achieving an 89% pass rate. The school has come a long way from a pass rate of 60% in 2007.
An Educator hard at work at Camden Combined School |
Hazyview Comprehensive School
With a learnership of 988 learners continues to impress with their results. A 100% pass rate was achieved for grade 12?s in 2011 for engineering graphics and design.
The introduction in 2011 of an e - learning smart board for the engineering class went a long way in producing these fantastic results. The Science lab funded by Sonae Novobord has been completed and is fully fitted and equipped for physics and chemistry lectures.
Our two computer rooms were recently upgraded with new computer software, further improving the effectiveness of these classrooms.
The computer room at Hazyview Comprehensive School |
Lungisani Secondary School
Has come a long way from the days of no water, lights and no assembly point, to a school that can now offer all of the previously mentioned essentials.
It has taken a five year investment in the school and a committed group of educators to achieve this feat.
With a fully functional e learning smartboard in place and a trained up educator, physics and science learners are set to benefit further. A continued negotiation with Eskom has resulted in a 1 000 volt power supply being brought to the schools boundary.
Having installed a UPS system to support the power demand has allowed the school to still benefit from the computer room created by Sonae.
E-Learning Project
We remain committed in supporting the e-learning project, a computer based education programme utilizing interactive touch-screen technology.
The project is available to select schools including those currently supported under our school partnership programme. The enterprise now directly supports over 7 500 learners per year.
Thanks to Sonae and following a request from Frans at e-learning we were able to upgrade the servers operating system to 256GB of workable ram, which has benefitted the learners immensely.
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Skills to Furnish
Continued investment in Skills To Furnish, a non governmental organization furniture training centre, with financial assistance towards learners food, transport and the running costs of the Programme.
In total 12 learners from Alexandra have been assisted in 2012. The course was completed at the end of June with a 100% pass rate.
Occasional visits to STF with a surprise meal for all learners and staff remain a welcome additional support to all our hard working friends at STF.
Nobuhla Hostel
In association with Friends of Alex we were able to aid in the completion of a creche at the Nobuhla Hostel located in the Alexander Township situated near our head office in Woodmead.
Santa providing the kids with joy at Nobuhla hostel |
We continue to support them in the daily running of the creche. Christmas 2011 was once again an opportunity to bring joy to the kids at the creche when we spoiled them with gifts and a meal from Father Christmas, great fun was had by all.
2) Environment
South Africa is a chronically water stressed country with huge economic development pressures and social upliftment challenges.
Water availability is one of the most decisive factors that will affect the economic, social and environmental wellbeing of South Africa over the next decade, and its supply is already precariously limited. WWF South Africa.
Water Balance Programme
Through the Worldwide Fund for Nature (WWF) Sonae Novobord remains supportive of the WWF and their environmental activities. We pride ourselves at being a senior corporate member of the WWF.
The focus for 2013: Sustained participation in the WWF Water Balance Programme has resulted in 59 200kl being replenished back into the water supply of South Africa.
We actively invest in the clearing of alien invasive plants, mainly black and silver wattle, in the Enkangala Grasslands area.
At the discretion of the CSI Committee Sonae Novobord donate product in the form of board for the use in projects deemed to meet our criteria, this practice contributes towards creating a functional environment for those in need.
Before clearing the wattle invasion |
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After clearing the wattle invasion |
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