Investing Through Technology: Making the Difference to Learners and the Community in KwaThema, Gauteng East
15 September 2009
The Cosira Group, one of South Africa's largest privately-owned structural steel fabrication and construction companies, has chosen to become a corporate sponsor to the Nkumbulo Comprehensive School which is situated in the heart of KwaThema, in a bid to improve learners' access to technology, and as the first of several actions, has donated 50 computers to the school, and has also renovated the computer studies room.
The Cosira Group has a proud history of entrepreneurship, investment in technology, innovation and the development of people - not only its staff and suppliers, but in adding value to the communities in which the Cosira Group operates, and in which Cosira people live and work.
This is according to Gift Phenethi, Corporate Strategy Director of the Cosira Group, speaking at the launch of the new computer facility at Nkumbulo, where members of the Cosira Group, the school staff and learners, together with representatives from the Gauteng Department of Education, Office of the Premier and other corporate sponsors, gathered to celebrate this improved access to technology and education.
“The Cosira Group's involvement in the KwaThema community in Gauteng East, began with the establishment of Cosira's new state-of-the-art facility, Cosira Vulcan, where many employees from the surrounding communities, such as KwaThema, are employed,” he says.
Says Phenethi: “Additional activities which are planned within the next year include renovation of ablution facilities, construction of a new school and community hall on the premises, and the sponsorship of the two top science students from the 2009 matriculants, to study further in the engineering, mechanical or technical fields and then work at the Cosira Group once their studies are completed.”
Cosira is totally committed to technological investment and development, and to the development and empowerment of its people. The company believes in a process and ethos of continual improvement in order to ensure future successes. In addition, the Cosira Group is committed to the social upliftment of the disadvantaged members of the community and through its Corporate Social Investment (CSI) programmes they have played a significant role in supporting and developing various social initiatives over the past years. This latest project reflects Cosira’s belief in the vital importance of education and its links with technology.
In his speech at the launch, Phenethi stressed the pivotal role of education and technological development in the success of South Africa as a nation. He said that the Cosira Group was committed to sharing its success; and that they valued partnerships and long-term relationships like the one with the Nkumbulo Comprehensive School.
“We were impressed with the achievements, in the face of very challenging circumstances, of Principal Fakude and the staff and students at Nkumbulo. We perceived a definite synergy with the Cosira Group, in terms of the school’s culture of, and dedication to, people development and empowerment,” Phenethi points out.
“We were therefore very pleased, through providing this computer facility, to invest in the human resources at the school – not only the pupils whose studies and abilities will improve as a result - but the teachers, some of whom will be selected to further their own education in computer studies in order to be able to better train and teach the students,” he adds.
Jabu Fakude, the Principal of the Nkumbulo Comprehensive School, expressed his gratitude to the Cosira Group for their investment in the school and the local community, saying that this initiative was a critical way to improve education and opportunities for the youth of South Africa.
“This difference will also be felt in the community who will benefit directly; as the skills found in the community will be used to complete the necessary infrastructure. Great things can be achieved in this country when private sector companies, such as the Cosira Group, work together with educational institutions and communities,” comments Fakude.
These sentiments were echoed by School President and KwaThema RCL representative, Success Mosheledi : “We would like to thank the Cosira Group as a sponsor for giving each and every student at the school the opportunity to improve our computer skills; which is something many township schools are not able to make available, resulting sadly in the failure of many students to secure employment without the vital computer skills. We now have that opportunity.”
Naledi Phala, Best Debater in 2008 and grade 2 student at Nkumbulo, agreed: “The computer literacy and skills we can now all access, will provide a firm foundation from which to pursue our future careers. This has really put our school on the map,” she concludes.