In line with Chevron’s values and our interest in contributing meaningfully to the development of skills that will respond directly to the needs of South Africa’s skills-hungry economy, we have continued our support of the Science, Mathematics and Technology Education (SMATE) programme at the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, in the Eastern Cape. The SMATE program, as the name indicates, was established to provide further teacher training in the areas of Mathematics, Science, and Technology. It was also developed in direct response to a research survey that provided evidence to the effect that more than 65% of all teachers in the Eastern Cape are considered to be either under-qualified or totally unqualified to teach. Also, while 25% of South Africa’s school-going pupils are in the Eastern Cape, the province only produces 6% of South Africa’s matriculants.
The 2008 SMATE function, attended by James Ngubo on behalf of Chevron, was held in mid-March at the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, in the Eastern Cape. This is an annual function aimed at celebrating new SMATE teacher graduates and sharing their experiences. One of the Chevron sponsored teachers present at the function, Mrs Naziema Reid explained how she felt much more empowered and self-confident after attending the course. “There are certainly two parts to my teaching career, no doubt”, she said. “The first part finished before I attended this course and the second one has just begun. I thank Chevron for having made this possible for me and for many of my teacher colleagues who also left the course more empowered to do better in their career”, she concluded.
James Ngubo, Community involvement Manager at Chevron, also shared his pride for representing a company that makes a difference exactly where it is most needed. “What I really like about SMATE is that it intervenes at just the right place, with the teachers. Until more investment is placed at ensuring that the very same people who are entrusted with the responsibility to shape the formative years of our children are sufficiently equipped to do so, the quality of our education system’s outputs, our matriculants, will continue to be poor in the crucial subjects that are at the core of the SMATE program and our growing economy.”
Corporate Social Investment in the area of education is at the core of Chevron’s new strategic thrust for such investment. Our company will thus continue its partnership with SMATE and other programs of its nature, where possible.
James Ngubo is also in the process of aligning Chevron South Africa’s Corporate Social Investment strategy with that of the entire Chevron Corporation, in line with recently approved guidelines. More communication on short and medium-term CSI plans will be shared in the Indaba Newsletter.
In another well celebrated endeavor at continued public involvement - and for the 8th year in a row - Chevron had the Durban Opera Playhouse rumbling in African traditional choral music when 65 Kwa-Zulu Natal High schools met again for an annual contest of voice and dance.
It all started eight years ago when a local school teacher and choir conductor decided that more needed to be done in order to get teenagers off the streets and encourage them to help preserve what is arguably the most celebrated art-form throughout the African continent, music. With support from successful musicians and several local radio stations secured, Caltex came on board as a sponsor for this annual celebration of local choral music, an art-form which remains as ingrained in the Zulu cultural expression as the idiom of language itself.
Professor Joseph Tshabalala – founder and leader of the celebrated Ladysmith Black Mambazo - was recognized for his tireless international promotion of Isicathamiya as a music form; Joe Hudla - well-known Ukhozi FM & TV Sports Presenter - received recognition for promoting Isicathamiya on Ukhozi FM – arguably the radio station with the highest Zulu listenership; and Chris Ntuli – tireless promoter of choral music at many provincial high schools - received recognition for his hard work. Chevron was represented by James Ngubo, Community Involvement Manager, and Miranda Anthony, Public Affairs Manager.
Khabazela (Hillcrest) walked away with the 1st Prize of R5000, a brand new computer and the big trophy. The 2nd Prize of R3000, a trophy, and a Certificate, went to Maqhutshana (Kwanyuswa) while Skhululiwe (Elandsdorp, Pietermaritzburg) took the 3rd Prize of R2000 and a trophy & Certificate. Ten other schools won Consolation Prizes of R400 for their participation.
“Events such as these bring our brand closer to the people that support it, the people that count for us, from the perspective of business growth. They enable us to be part of the communities that we operate in, in a big and personal way. I believe that this is how things should be”, explained in the end James Ngubo, Community Involvement Manager.
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