The Absa programme upskills students with various work-readiness skills
Absa supports the South African Government’s Adopt a TVET (Technical and Vocational Education Training colleges) programme by partnering with 36 TVETs across the country to support the development of artisan trades. Under this programme, Absa provides institutional support, which includes capacity building for administrators, guest lectures, and sponsoring government events focused on the artisan trades faculties; as well as direct support to the learners. Student value proposition is in the form of a unique work-based exposure (WBE) programme, which provides workplace experience opportunities for students who are in their final year of study to enable completion of their curriculum requirements.
The programme upskills students with various work-readiness skills, including “soft skills†such as punctuality, speech, confidence and business acumen, that equip them for the real world of work upon completion of their studies. Students receive a seven-day workplace exposure, comprising a two-day ready-to-work training where they are upskilled on work skills; people skills; money skills and entrepreneurial skills. This is followed by five-day work experience opportunities at Absa facilities across the country.
Mergon
Social upliftment efforts are most effective when businesses, communities, civil society and government work together. Mergon established the Nation Builder initiative as a collaborative platform that brings together business, government, civil society and the faith community to work together to build South Africa. Through this initiative, they equip and inspire business leaders to make a difference. They provide practical guidelines, workbooks, tools and workshops where ideas are shared and relationships unlocked in order to see South Africa prosper and grow.
Growth Smart
In 2009, Growthpoint Properties focused on their CSI projects in education, recognising that poor literacy disempowers people by influencing quality of life, education and future prospects. The grow smart initiative was conceived and launched in 2010, focusing on learners in grades four to six from previously disadvantaged schools, inspiring the children to work at refining their reading, writing and comprehension skills and thereby improving their future prospects.
The initiative began as an annual competition with 80 participating schools selected by the Western Cape education department (WCED), as being schools struggling with literacy performance. Eight years later, the initiative has grown to 150 participating schools and expanded, with separate competitions for story writing, maths and science. Since 2010, more than R3-million in prizes has been awarded to winning schools, learners and teachers. In addition, qualifying learners have received high school bursaries and full scholarships to Christel House South Africa. Growsmart benefits communities not just in terms of monetary value, but as an investment in their future. The initiative is fully supported by the WCED, and is heavily reliant on the services of volunteers. Growsmart has been the recipient of both national and international awards for community service.
